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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 12:17-21

When Joash had revolted from God and become both an idolater and a persecutor the hand of the Lord went out against him, and his last state was worse than his first. I. His wealth and honour became an easy prey to his neighbours. Hazael, when he had chastised Israel (2 Kgs. 10:32), threatened Judah and Jerusalem likewise, took Gath, a strong city (2 Kgs. 12:17), and thence intended to march with his forces against Jerusalem, the royal city, the holy city, but whose defence, on account of its... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 12:18

And Jehoash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated ,.... To sacred uses, and had laid up in the temple: and his own hallowed things : which he had devoted to the same uses: and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of the Lord : which were gifts and presents from divers persons for sacred services: and sent it to Hazael king of Syria, and he went away from Jerusalem ;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 12:17

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. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 12:18

Took all the hallowed things - He dearly bought a peace which was of short duration, for the next year Hazael returned, and Jehoash, having no more treasures, was obliged to hazard a battle, which he lost, with the principal part of his nobility, so that Judah was totally ruined, and Jehoash shortly after slain in his bed by his own servants; 2 Chronicles 24:23 . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 12:1-21

THE REIGN OF JOASH . THE REPAIR OF THE TEMPLE . WAR OF JOASH WITH HAZAEL , AND HIS DEATH BY A CONSPIRACY . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 12:1-21

The history of Joash. "In the seventh year," etc. The whole story of Joash is soon told. He was a son of Ahaziah, and the only one of his children who escaped the murderous policy of Athaliah. "It would seem that this child, whom the pity and affection of a pious aunt (Jehosheba) had preserved, was the only surviving male representative of the line of Solomon. Jehoram, his grandfather, who married Athaliah, in order to strengthen his position on the throne, slew all his brethren, and all his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 12:17

Then Hazael King of Syria went up, and fought against Gath. Hitherto Judah had been safe from any attack on the part of Syria, since Israel had been interposed between the two powers. Now, however, that Hazael had conquered from Jehu the entire trans-Jordanic territory ( 2 Kings 10:33 ), the case was wholly altered—Judah and Syria had become conterminous along the line of the lower Jordan, and Syria could invade Judaea at any moment. It is surprising that Gath should have been the special... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 12:17-18

The war of Joash with Hazael . A considerable gap occurs between 2 Kings 12:16 and 2 Kings 12:17 . We learn from Chronicles some particulars of the interval. Not long after the completion of the repairs, Jehoiada, who had lived to a good old age in complete harmony with the monarch, expired. His piety, and his good services, as preserver of the house of David, as restorer of the temple-worship, and joint-repairer with Joash of the temple itself, were regarded as entitling him to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 12:17-21

The last days of Joash. He began well, but ended badly. The close of the reign of Joash is a melancholy contrast to its beginning. In a most remarkable way preserved, by the providence of God and the kindness of a God-fearing woman, from the massacre of his brothers; then kept safe in the house of the Lord for six years of his helpless childhood;—one would think he would never have forgotten how much he owed to the watchful care and goodness of God. He had been surrounded with good... read more

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