Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Kings 15:30

30 And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him , and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah .

Which he did more easily effect, because the people were enraged against Pekah, as the Man who by his murder of King Pekahiah the Son of Menahem, whom the Assyrian Monarch set up and favoured, and by his unnecessary War with Ahaz, had brought the Assyrian upon them, and caused the loss of one half of that Kingdom.

Quest. How could this be, when Iotham Reigned onely 16 Years, below, v. 33? Ans. The meaning is, That he began his Reign in the twentieth Year after the beginning of Iotham's Reign; or, which is the same thing, in the fourth Year of Ahaz, Son of Iotham, as appears from chap. 16. 1. But the Sacred Writer, having not yet ma[illegible: 1+ letters]e mention of Ahaz, thought it more proper to number Hoshea's Years by Iotham, of whom he had spoken, than by Ahaz. Besides, as Iotham did Reign divers Years in his Fathers life, so might Ahaz in Iotham's life, and Iotham might for divers reasons (which it is needless he[illegible: 1+ letters]e to enquire) resign up the Administration of the Kingdom wholly into Ahaz his hands some Years before his death, and therefore might be said to Reign but 16 Years, though he lived longer.