2 Kings 18:1

1 In the third year of the reign of Hoshea son of Elah as king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz became king of Judah

2 Kings 18:1 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 18:1

Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah
king of Israel
That is, in the third year of his rebelling against the king of Assyria, when he shook off his yoke, and refused to be tributary to him any longer, see ( 2 Kings 17:1 ) ,

[that] Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign;
having finished the account of the kingdom of Israel, and the captivity of the people, the historian returns to the kingdom of Judah, and the things of it.

2 Kings 18:1 In-Context

1 In the third year of the reign of Hoshea son of Elah as king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz became king of Judah

2 at the age of twenty-five, and he ruled in Jerusalem for twenty-nine years. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.

3 Following the example of his ancestor King David, he did what was pleasing to the Lord.

4 He destroyed the pagan places of worship, broke the stone pillars, and cut down the images of the goddess Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze snake that Moses had made, which was called Nehushtan. Up to that time the people of Israel had burned incense in its honor.

5 Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel; Judah never had another king like him, either before or after his time.