Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years.
Then the king of Assyria invaded the entire land and attacked Samaria, surrounding the city for three years.
The writer is describing how the Assyrian king conquered Israel's territory and laid siege to its capital city Samaria for three long years.
📚 Historical Context
In the 8th century BC, the Northern Kingdom of Israel was facing the aggressive expansion of the Assyrian Empire, a powerful military force that frequently conquered neighboring nations to expand its territory. The Assyrian king, likely Shalmaneser V, invaded the land and specifically targeted Samaria, the capital, besieging it for three years as part of a broader campaign that reflected God's judgment on Israel's persistent idolatry and rebellion. This event marked the beginning of the Assyrian exile, where many Israelites were deported, fulfilling prophecies about the consequences of unfaithfulness.
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