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
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