¹⁹ Then Pul^[a](A) king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem gave him a thousand talents^[b] of silver to gain his support and strengthen his own hold on the kingdom.

²⁰ Menahem exacted this money from Israel. Every wealthy person had to contribute fifty shekels^[a] of silver to be given to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew^(A) and stayed in the land no longer.

³ Shalmaneser^(A) king of Assyria came up to attack Hoshea, who had been Shalmaneser’s vassal and had paid him tribute.^(B)

⁴ But the king of Assyria discovered that Hoshea was a traitor, for he had sent envoys to So^[a] king of Egypt,^(A) and he no longer paid tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year. Therefore Shalmaneser seized him and put him in prison.^(B)