2 Kings 8:28

King James Version (KJV)

And he went with Joram the son of Ahab to the war against Hazael king of Syria in Ramoth-gilead; and the Syrians wounded Joram.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

The Syrians wounded Joram - Ahaziah went with Joram to endeavor to wrest Ramoth-gilead out of the hands of the Syrians, which belonged to Israel and Judah. Ahab had endeavored to do this before, and was slain there; see 1 Kings 22:3; (note), etc., and the notes there.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

This war of the two kings against Hazael seems to have had for its object the recovery of Ramoth-gilead, which Ahab and Jehoshaphat had vainly attempted fourteen years earlier 2 Kings 9:14, and remained probably thenceforth in the hands of the Israelites.

The Syrians wounded Joram - According to Josephus, Joram was struck by an arrow in the course of the siege, but remained until the place was taken. He then withdrew to Jezreel 1 Kings 18:45; 1 Kings 21:1, leaving his army under Jehu within the walls of the town.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

Names do not make natures, but it was bad for Jehoshaphat's family to borrow names from Ahab's. Ahaziah's relation to Ahab's family was the occasion of his wickedness and of his fall. When men choose wives for themselves, let them remember they are choosing mothers for their children. Providence so ordered it, that Ahaziah might be cut off with the house of Ahab, when the measure of their iniquity was full. Those who partake with sinners in their sin, must expect to partake with them in their plagues. May all the changes, troubles, and wickedness of the world, make us more earnest to obtain an interest in the salvation of Christ.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

28. Went with Joram. The alliance between Israel and Judah was still in effect at this time, and Ahaziah would thus be expected to accompany his uncle on this campaign. In consideration of this alliance Jehoshaphat had gone with Ahab against Syria (1 Kings 22:29) and with Joram against Moab (2 Kings 3:7, 9).

Against Hazael. The wars between Israel and Syria, so frequent during the reign of Benhadad, continued during the reign of Hazael. At this time it was Israel that was on the offensive against Syria. Israel had suffered much at the hands of Benhadad, and was doubtless seeking the opportunity to even the score. A change in rulers in countries of the ancient East was frequently the signal for a series of wars; enemies would seek to attack before a new king had time to consolidate his position. Hazael is mentioned in an Aramaic inscription from Hamath in the same form as the Bible spells the name, also on ivory plaques which once served as decorations for the king’s bed. These plaques were found during the excavation of the north Syrian site known as Arslan Tash. In Assyrian documents the name appears in the form Haza’ilu.

Hazael had been seriously involved in a war with Shalmaneser III of Assyria. According to the Assyrian accounts Hazael was roundly defeated in this struggle, suffering the loss of 16,000 of his men, 1,131 chariots, 470 cavalry horses, as well as his camp. Shalmaneser relates how Hazael fled from him in order to save his life, and was shut up in his royal city Damascus. The country outside the capital was devastated as far south as the Hauran at the northern borders of Gilead, whereupon the Assyrian king made his departure for the seacoast and received tribute of Tyre and Sidon. Shalmaneser launched this attack in the 18th year of his reign, 841 b.c. That was the year in which Ahaziah ruled in Judah, and the year when Joram of Israel made his attack on Ramoth-gilead (see p. 82). After the serious reverse that Hazael had suffered at the hands of Shalmaneser, the moment would be opportune for Joram to bring Ramoth-gilead back under Israelite control. It was in the endeavor to take that stronghold some years before that Ahab lost his life (1 Kings 22:3-37).

Wounded Joram. Despite the wounds the siege nevertheless was successful, for Ramoth-gilead fell into Israelite hands (ch. 9:1, 4, 14, 15).

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Ellen G. White
Prophets and Kings, 214

Jehoram the son of Ahab was still reigning in the kingdom of Israel when his nephew, Ahaziah, came to the throne of Judah. Ahaziah ruled only one year, and during this time, influenced by his mother, Athaliah, “his counselor to do wickedly,” “he walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did evil in the sight of the Lord.” 2 Chronicles 22:3, 4; 2 Kings 8:27. Jezebel, his grandmother, was still living, and he allied himself boldly with Jehoram of Israel, his uncle. PK 214.1

Ahaziah of Judah soon met a tragic end. The surviving members of the house of Ahab were indeed “his counselors after the death of his father to his destruction.” 2 Chronicles 22:3, 4. While Ahaziah was visiting his uncle at Jezreel, the prophet Elisha was divinely directed to send one of the sons of the prophets to Ramoth-gilead to anoint Jehu king of Israel. The combined forces of Judah and Israel were at that time engaged in a military campaign against the Syrians of Ramoth-gilead. Jehoram had been wounded in battle, and had returned to Jezreel, leaving Jehu in charge of the royal armies. PK 214.2

In anointing Jehu, the messenger of Elisha declared, “I have anointed thee king over the people of the Lord, even over Israel.” And then he solemnly charged Jehu with a special commission from heaven. “Thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master,” the Lord declared through His messenger, “that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord, at the hand of Jezebel. For the whole house of Ahab shall perish.” 2 Kings 9:6-8. PK 214.3

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Cross References

A. M. 3120. B.C. 884. he went