2 Kings 12:17

The Death of Joash

17 At that time Hazael king of Aram marched up and fought against Gath and captured it. Then he decided to attack Jerusalem. ¹

2 Kings 12:17 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 12:17

Then Hazael king of Syria went up and fought against Gath, and
took it
When Jehoiada was dead, and Jehoash was become an apostate, the Lord suffered the king of Syria to be a scourge to him; who first attacked Gath, and took it, which was formerly one of the principalities of the Philistines, but was subdued by David, and had been in the hands of the Israelites ever since; the king of Syria began with this, as nearest to him, to open the way for what he had further in view:

and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem;
he made such preparations, and took such measures, as plainly indicated what his design was.

2 Kings 12:17 In-Context

15 No accounting was required from the men who received the money to pay the workmen, because they acted with integrity.

16 The money from the guilt offerings and sin offerings was not brought into the house of the LORD; it belonged to the priests.

17 At that time Hazael king of Aram marched up and fought against Gath and captured it. Then he decided to attack Jerusalem.

18 So King Joash of Judah took all the sacred objects dedicated by his fathers—Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah, the kings of Judah—along with his own consecrated items and all the gold found in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the royal palace, and he sent them to Hazael king of Aram. So Hazael withdrew from Jerusalem.

19 As for the rest of the acts of Joash, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

Cross References

• 1. (2 Chronicles 24:23–27)