So
Summary
An Egyptian king to whom Hoshea, the last king of Israel, sent messengers seeking an alliance against Assyria.
☩Alliance with Hoshea
So was a king of Egypt whom Hoshea, the last king of Israel, contacted seeking military assistance against the Assyrians under Shalmaneser. By making this appeal, Hoshea was attempting to transfer his allegiance from Assyria to Egypt, and he stopped paying the yearly tribute to the Assyrian king. This diplomatic maneuver was evidently forbidden by the prophets, who constantly warned against trusting in Egypt and Ethiopia.
☩Identification
So is generally identified with Shabaka (Egyptian monuments) or Sabakon (Greek sources), who founded the Ethiopian XXVth dynasty of Egyptian kings around 715-707 BC. He may have been regent before his formal accession, which would explain the title 'king.' Some scholars identify him instead with Sevechus (Sebichos), the second king of the Ethiopian dynasty and immediate predecessor of Tirhakah.
☩Consequences
So's assistance proved worthless. He did not venture to encounter the Assyrian forces, effectively deserting his would-be ally. The result was disastrous for Israel: Shalmaneser invaded, imprisoned Hoshea, besieged Samaria for three years, and ultimately carried the ten northern tribes into captivity. Not long after Samaria's fall, So ventured an eastern campaign and was defeated by Sargon at the Battle of Raphia in 720 BC.
Related Verses1 mention
2 Kings· 1 verse
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "So," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IX (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "So," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "So," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).