Paul Kretzmann Commentary - 2 King 12:17 - 12:21

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Paul Kretzmann Commentary - 2 King 12:17 - 12:21


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War With Hazael

v. 17. Then Hazael, king of Syria,
the same king who had harassed Israel for so many years, went up and fought against Gath, the Philistine city which at that time was in the hands of Judah, 2Ch_11:8, Cf 2Ch_24:15-24, and took it; and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem, at which time, according to the account in Chronicles, he administered the severe defeat upon the army of Jehoash, who had forsaken Jehovah after the death of Jehoiada.

v. 18. And Jehoash, king of Judah, took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahazlah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated,
gifts of consecration to Jehovah, and his own hallowed things, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of the Lord and In the king's house, and sent It to Hazael, king of Syria; and he went away from Jerusalem. The utensils which, according to 2Ch_24:7, Athaliah and her sons had taken from the Temple, and misappropriated to the service of Baal, had no doubt been restored to their original purpose before the occasion mentioned in 2Ki_11:18. So Jehoash was obliged to buy the immunity of the city of Jerusalem from Hazael in such a shameful manner, all for his denial of the Lord in the last years of his reign.

v. 19. And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?


v. 20. And his servants,
who had not forgotten the tyranny of the king against the sons of Jehoiada, 2Ch_24:25, arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash In the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla, probably in the castle of the fortress of Jerusalem, where it bounded on the main street of the city.

v. 21. For Jozachar, the son of Shimmeath, and Jehozabad, the son of Shomer, his servants, smote him, and he died; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David. And Amaziah, his son, reigned in his stead.
Although Jehoash was buried in the city of David, he was not given the honor of a burial in the tombs of the kings, probably on account of the sins named 2Ch_24:17-22. This story is a solemn warning for such as have been enthusiastic in the service of the Lord, but afterward have fallen into ways of sin. Only he who is faithful to the end will be saved.