2 Kings 12:17

King James Version (KJV)

Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it: and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

Hazael - fought against Gath, and took it - This city, with its satrapy or lordship, had been taken from the Philistines by David, (see 2 Samuel 8:1, and 1 Chronicles 18:1;); and it had continued in the possession of the kings of Judah till this time. On what pretense Hazael seized it, we cannot tell; he had the ultima ratio regum, power to do it, and he wanted more territory.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

There was probably a considerable interval between the conclusion of the arrangement for the repairs and the Syrian expedition related in these verses. For the events which had happened, see 2 Chronicles 24:15-22.

2 Kings 12:17

This is the first and last time that we hear of the Damascene Syrians undertaking so distant an expedition. Gath (see Joshua 13:3 note) could only be reached from Syria through Israel or Judah. It was not more than 25 or 30 miles from Jerusalem. It is uncertain whether the city belonged at this time to Judah or to the Philistines.

Hazael set his face … - This is a phrase for determination generally, but especially for determination to proceed somewhere (compare Jeremiah 42:15; Luke 9:51). Jerusalem can scarcely have been the primary object of this expedition, or it would have been attacked by a less circuitous route. Perhaps the Syrians were induced to make a sudden march against the Jewish capital, by learning, while at Gath, that a revolution had occurred there (compare 2 Chronicles 24:18-23).

2 Kings 12:18

Jehoash did not submit without a struggle. See the details in Chronicles. It was not until his army was defeated that he followed the example of his ancestor, Asa, and bought the friendship of the Syrians with the temple treasures (1 Kings 15:18. Compare the conduct of Hezekiah, 2 Kings 18:15-16).

Jehoram and Ahaziah - Though these two monarchs had been worshippers of Baal, yet they had combined with that idolatrous cult a certain amount of decent respect for the old religion. It is evident from this passage that they had made costly offerings to the temple.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

Let us review the character of Jehoash, and consider what we may learn from it. When we see what a sad conclusion there was to so promising a beginning, it ought to make us seek into our spiritual declinings. If we know any thing of Christ as the foundation of our faith and hope, let us desire to know nothing but Christ. May the work of the blessed Spirit on our souls be manifest; may we see, feel, and be earnest, in seeking after Jesus in all his fulness, suitableness, and grace, that our souls may be brought over from dead works to serve the living and true God.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

17. Then Hazael. The events here mentioned took place not long after the repair of the Temple, which began in the 23d year of Jehoash’s reign (v. 6), the same year that Jehoahaz came to the throne in Israel (ch. 13:1). After the death of Jehoiada, Joash fell into sin, and brought upon himself the onslaughts of Hazael (2 Chron. 24:15-25).

Gath. Hazael reached this Philistine city probably via Beth-shan, the Jezreel Valley, and the coastal plain; hence he must have mastered the northern kingdom of Israel (see ch. 13:3). Gath, so far from Syria, must have reverted soon to Philistine control. Later Azariah of Judah broke down the wall of Gath (2 Chron. 26:6). The site of the city is uncertain. Most scholars have favored ‘Araq el-Menshiyeh, at the modern Kiryat Gat, 6 1/2 mi. (10.4 km.) west of Beit Jibrin (Eleutheropolis in NT times). But Beit Jibrin and Tell eá¹£-Ã¡Â¹Â¢ÃƒÂ¢fÃ„Â« (usually identified with Libnah) have been suggested also. A site immediately north of Kiryat Gat, supported by many Israeli scholars, is Tell Sheikh el-‘Areini, 6 1/2 mi. (10.4 km.) west of Beit Jibrin and 20 mi. (32 km.) west-northwest of Hebron.

To Jerusalem. When Hazael had taken Gath, he was southwest of Jerusalem, and the city lay on the road of a convenient way back to Damascus. It was probably on this occasion that the host of Syria came up “to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people” (2 Chron. 24:23). After the death of Jehoiada, the king of Judah and his princes “left the house of the Lord God of their fathers, and served groves and idols” (2 Chron. 24:18). When Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada, protested against this iniquity, they “stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the Lord” (2 Chron. 24:21). At this time Hazael came against Jerusalem, where he was met by “a very great host,” but gained the victory “with a small company,” because the people “had forsaken the Lord” (2 Chron. 24:24).

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Cross References

A. M. 3164. B.C. 840. Hazael

against Gath