2 Chronicles 24:23

“And it came to pass at the end of the year, etc.] After the death of Zechariah; so soon had his prophecy its accomplishment: that the host of Syria came up against him; against Joash, king of Judah, under Hazael king of Syria, or however sent by him; for some think this is a different expedition from that in (<121217>2 Kings 12:17) though others take it to be the same: and they came to Judah and Jerusalem; not only came into the land of Judah, but as far as Jerusalem, the forces of Joash not being able to stop them: and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people; the idolatrous princes of Judah, (<142417>2 Chronicles 24:17), which is very remarkable that they should be…”

“HE IS SLAIN BY HIS SERVANTS. (Ch2 24:23-27) at the end of the year the host of Syria came up--This invasion took place under the personal conduct of Hazael, whom Joash, to save the miseries of a siege, prevailed on to withdraw his forces by a large present of gold (Kg2 12:18). Most probably, also, he promised the payment of an annual tribute, on the neglect or refusal of which the Syrians returned the following year, and with a mere handful of men inflicted a total and humiliating defeat on the collected force of the Hebrews.”

“On the unusual character of this expedition, see the marginal reference note. return to 'Top of Page'”

“The year - So soon did God hear the cry of his holy prophet's blood, and revenge it. The princes - That it might appear they were sent and directed by God to single out to destruction the first beginners of this general apostacy. 2 Chronicles 24:25”

“24:23-26 God could use war to render judgment on Israel just as surely as on any other nation; one of the characteristics of a “holy war” was a small force’s defeat of a much larger army.”

“am 3165, bc 839 at the end: Heb. in the revolution, Kg1 20:22, Kg1 20:26 the host: Deu 32:35; Kg2 12:17, Kg2 12:18 princes: Ch2 24:17, Ch2 24:18; Psa 2:10, Psa 2:11, Psa 58:10, Psa 58:11, Psa 82:6, Psa 82:7 Damascus: Heb. Darmesek 2 Chronicles 24:24”

“The punishment comes upon them. Joash afflicted by the invasion of Judah by Hazael the Syrian; and his death in consequence of a conspiracy against him. - These two events are narrated in Kg2 12:18-21 also, the progress of Hazael's invasion being more exactly traced; see the commentary on Kg2 12:18. The author of the Chronicle brings forward only those parts of it which show how God punished Joash for his defection from Him. "At the revolution of a year," i.e., scarcely a year after the murder of the prophet Zechariah, a Syrian army invaded Judah and advanced upon Jerusalem; "and they destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people," i.e., they smote the army of Joash in a…”