Smith's Bible Dictionary

1. The nineteenth, last and best king of Israel. He succeeded Pekah, whom he slew in a successful conspiracy, thereby fulfilling a prophecy of Isaiah. Isa_7:16. In the third year of his reign, (B.C. 726), Shalmaneser cruelly stormed the strong caves of Beth-arbel, Hos_8:14, and made cruel tributary, 2Ki_17:3, for three years.

At the end of this period, Hoshea entered into a secret alliance with So, king of Egypt, to throw off the Assyrian yoke. The alliance did him no good; it was revealed, to the court of Nineveh by the Assyrian party in Ephraim, and Hoshea was immediately seized as a rebellious vasal, shut up in prison, and apparently treated with the utmost indignity. Mic_5:1 Of the subsequent fortunes of Hoshea, nothing is known.

2. The son of Nun, that is, Joshua, Deu_32:44, and also in Num_13:8, though there, the Authorized Version has Oshea.

3. Son of Azaziah, 1Ch_27:20, like his great namesake, a man of Ephraim, ruler of his tribe in the time of King David. (B.C. 1019).

4. One of the heads of the people who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah. Neh_10:23. (B.C. 410).