Hoshea

Hoshea (meaning salvation) was a name borne by several biblical figures, most significantly: (1) the original name of Joshua son of Nun, changed by Moses from Hoshea to Joshua (Yahweh is salvation) in Numbers 13:16; and (2) the last king of Israel (the northern kingdom), who reigned approximately 731–722 BC. This last king Hoshea came to power by assassinating Pekah and was himself eventually imprisoned by Shalmaneser V of Assyria after conspiring with Egypt to withhold tribute. Samaria fell after a three-year siege and the population was deported, ending the northern kingdom.

The biblical verdict on Hoshea is notably milder than on his predecessors: he did evil in the sight of the LORD, yet not as the kings of Israel who were before him (2 Kings 17:2), suggesting some moderation of the Jeroboam cult. However, his faithless reliance on Egypt rather than on God sealed the nation's fate. A third Hoshea was a leader from the tribe of Ephraim in David's administrative organization (1 Chronicles 27:20), and several other individuals bear the name in the postexilic period. The name's identity with Joshua and ultimately with Jesus—all meaning salvation—gave it lasting theological resonance.