The standard formula to introduce a king includes the following information here:

• (1) Beginning of the reign: In the twelfth year of the rule of Ahaz over the southern kingdom of Judah.

• (2) Name of the king: Hoshea the son of Elah. In languages that do not distinguish between the sounds “s” and “sh,” translators may wish to find some other way of distinguishing the name of this king from that of the better-known prophet, Hosea, even though the spelling is the same in Hebrew. Otherwise it will be essential to add a footnote advising the reader that this is not a reference to the prophet.

• (3) His capital: Samaria.

• (4) Length of his reign: nine years.

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 .