2 Kings 12:17-18
12:17 a Hazael, a perennial oppressor of God’s people (8:28 b; 9:14-15 c; 10:32-33 d; 13:3 e), had assassinated the Aramean king Ben-hadad II and seized the throne (8:15 f). 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 g; 6:17 h) or a Hebrew city otherwise known as Gittaim (2 Sam 4:3 i; Neh 11:33 j) is disputed.
12:18 k Sacred objects ... gold: Such treasures had been contributed to the Temple earlier by Solomon and Asa (1 Kgs 7:51 l; 15:15 m).
• Hazael had already begun the attack against Jerusalem, and Joash was wounded during the battle (2 Chr 24:25 n). Paying tribute to Hazael may have prevented further destruction in the city.
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