This is a simplified version of the Bible story found in 2 Kings 17:1-5, written for children to understand. For the original version, please refer to the Bible passage.
Once upon a time, Hoshea became king of Israel. He wasn’t a very good king because he did some things that God did not like. But even though he wasn’t the best, he wasn’t as bad as some of the kings who came before him.
One day, the king of Assyria came to Hoshea’s land and Hoshea had to pay him money, or “tribute,” so that he wouldn’t attack. But Hoshea was sneaky and sent a message to the king of Egypt, hoping to get help from him instead. When the king of Assyria found out about this, he was very angry and put Hoshea in prison.
After a while, the king of Assyria came back and attacked Hoshea’s land. He surrounded the main city of Samaria and wouldn’t let anyone out or in for three whole years!
Biblical Lessons
- We should always be honest and truthful, even when it’s hard.
- We should trust in God to protect us and not try to rely on ourselves or others to solve our problems.
- Deception can lead to serious consequences, both for ourselves and for those around us.
- God’s commands are not suggestions, and it’s important to follow them even if we don’t fully understand why.
- Putting our trust in worldly things, like money or other people, can lead to disappointment and trouble.
- Even in the darkest of times, we can have hope and faith in God’s promises and his protection over our lives.