The information in verses 9-12 repeats for the most part the contents of 2 Kgs 17.3-6. The events in verses 9-12 most likely refer to an earlier time than the events in verses 7b-8.

As in verse 1, most modern translations omit the Hebrew verbal transition (“And it happened”) at the beginning of this verse.

In the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea: The fourth year of King Hezekiah and the seventh year of Hoshea refer, of course, to the reigns of these two rulers and not to their respective ages. In order to show more clearly the relationship between these two dates, Bible en français courant translates which was as “which corresponded to.”

The detail that Hoshea was the son of Elah has been omitted by Good News Translation as being redundant since this information is given at the beginning of this chapter and in 2 Kgs 15.30 and 17.1.

Shalmaneser king of Assyria: See the comments at 2 Kgs 17.3.

Came up against Samaria: In this context, as in verse 13, came up against means “to begin a military campaign against.” Some better models for translating the verbal expression here are “marched against” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “invaded” (Good News Translation), and “attacked” (New American Bible). Samaria here refers to the capital city of Israel, not the whole country.

Besieged it: It will be recalled that the verb here involves the cutting off of all supplies to a city by encircling it with troops. See the comments at 1 Kgs 8.37; 15.27 and 2 Kgs 6.24. New Century Version reverses the order of the two verbs at the end of this verse and translates “surrounded Samaria and attacked it.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .