2 Kings 12:17

“Then Hazael king of Syria went up and fought against Gath, and took it, etc.] 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.”

“Then Hazael . . . fought against Gath--(See on Ch2 24:23).”

“There was probably a considerable interval between the conclusion of the arrangement for the repairs and the Syrian expedition related in these verses. For the events which had happened, see 2 Chronicles 24:15-22. 2 Kings 12:17 This is the first and last time that we hear of the Damascene Syrians undertaking so distant an expedition. Gath (see Joshua 13:3 note) could only be reached from Syria through Israel or Judah. It was not more than 25 or 30 miles from Jerusalem. It is uncertain whether the city belonged at this time to Judah or to the Philistines. Hazael set his face ... - This is a phrase for determination generally, but especially for determination to proceed somewhere (compare…”

“12:17 Hazael, a perennial oppressor of God’s people (8:28; 9:14-15; 10:32-33; 13:3), had assassinated the Aramean king Ben-hadad II and seized the throne (8:15). Hazael’s campaign against Israel and Judah probably came after the death of the Assyrian king Shamshi-adad V in 811 BC and before Adad-nirari III (810–783 BC) launched a series of campaigns in 805 BC, leading to the capture of Damascus in 802 BC. Free of Assyria’s heavy hand, Hazael could launch a campaign southward. • Whether Gath is the well-known city of the Philistines (1 Sam 5:8; 6:17) or a Hebrew city otherwise known as Gittaim (2 Sam 4:3; Neh 11:33) is disputed.”

“am 3164, bc 840 Hazael: Kg2 8:12-15 against Gath: Sa1 27:2; Kg1 2:39, Kg1 2:40; Ch1 8:13, Ch1 18:1 set his face: Jer 42:15; Luk 9:51, Luk 9:53 to Jerusalem: Ch2 24:23, Ch2 24:24 4 Kings (2 Kings) 12:18”

“The brief account of Hazael's campaign against Jerusalem is completed by Ch2 24:23-24. Hazael had gone down along the coast after defeating Israel (see Kg2 13:3), for the purpose of making war upon Judah also, and had taken Gath, which Rehoboam had fortified ( Ch2 11:8). He then set his face, i.e., determined, to advance to Jerusalem; and Joash took the temple treasures, etc. According to the Chronicles, he sent an army against Judah and Jerusalem, which destroyed all the princes of the nation and sent much booty to the king to Damascus, as the small army of the Syrians had smitten the very large army of Judah. To protect Jerusalem, after this defeat, from being taken by the Syrians, Joash…”