2 Kings 13:7
Neither did he leave of the people to Jehoahaz but fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria had destroyed them, and had made them like the dust by threshing. Neither did he leave of the people to Jehoahaz but fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria had destroyed them, and had made them like the dust by threshing.
During the reign of Jehoahaz, Syria under Hazael devastated Israel and ground its people like dust beaten out in threshing. The Syrian king destroyed them so completely that only fifty horsemen and ten chariots and ten thousand footmen were left to Jehoahaz. The ten tribes were laid under tribute to Syria during the reigns of Jehoahaz and Jehoash. That severe weakening was still evident when Joash came to the throne, with the army reduced to that same small remnant.
The verse stands in an account of the reigns of Israel in which Elisha makes a final effort to teach Joash persistence and faithfulness. That lesson Joash fails to learn. Israel's depleted strength and history of defeats under Syrian oppression help account for the king's hesitation and limited faith when commanded to strike the ground as a sign of victory.
The Syrian oppression that so badly weakened Israel is one example of Israel's persecution and enslavement. Through that persecution and enslavement the Scriptures were nevertheless preserved.