1In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea son of Elah reigned in Samaria over Israel for nine years.2He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, only not like the kings of Israel who were before him.3Shalmaneser king of Assyria marched against him, and Hoshea became his servant and brought him an offering.4But the king of Assyria discovered Hoshea's conspiracy, for he had sent messengers to Soa king of Egypt, and he did not bring the offering to the king of Assyria, as year by year. So the king of Assyria arrested him and bound him in prison.5Then the king of Assyria invaded the whole land, and he marched against Samaria and laid siege to it for three years.6In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and exiled Israel to Assyria. He settled them in Halah, in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of Madai.