But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.
The verse belongs to the account of Israel's kings from Joram through the end of the kingdom, a period marked by oppression and later conquest, captivity, and scattering of the tribes. It records that Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz. That oppression continued Syrian depredations in Israel's territories, devastating the land and imposing tribute on Israel.
It reduced Jehoahaz's forces to fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen. It is described as the scourging of God's people under iron rods. It continued into the reign of Jehoash.
It was followed by a limited deliverance, for Elisha had prophesied that Joash would defeat Syria, but because Joash struck the ground with the arrows only three times, Israel won only three victories. Jeroboam II then completed Israel's deliverance from Syrian oppression.
The verse belongs to the account of Israel's kings from Joram through the end of the kingdom, a period marked by oppression and later conquest, captivity, and scattering of the tribes. It records that Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz. That oppression continued Syrian depredations in Israel's territories, devastating the land and imposing tribute on Israel.
It reduced Jehoahaz's forces to fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen. It is described as the scourging of God's people under iron rods. It continued into the reign of Jehoash.
It was followed by a limited deliverance, for Elisha had prophesied that Joash would defeat Syria, but because Joash struck the ground with the arrows only three times, Israel won only three victories. Jeroboam II then completed Israel's deliverance from Syrian oppression.