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, etc.] 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; to bribe him, that he might desist from his purpose; which showed a meanness of spirit, and was the effect of his idolatry and apostasy, having forsaken the Lord, and being forsaken by him; in whom should have been his…”

“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…”

“12:18 Sacred objects . . . gold: Such treasures had been contributed to the Temple earlier by Solomon and Asa (1 Kgs 7:51; 15:15). • Hazael had already begun the attack against Jerusalem, and Joash was wounded during the battle (2 Chr 24:25). Paying tribute to Hazael may have prevented further destruction in the city.”

“took all the hallowed: He dearly bought, by such unhallowed means, 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, and the principal part of his nobility, so that Judah was totally ruined, and Jehoash soon after slain in his bed by his own servants. Kg2 18:15, Kg2 18:16; Kg1 15:18; Ch2 16:2 went away: Heb. went up 4 Kings (2 Kings) 12:19”