What does 2 Kings 12:17 mean?
"¶ Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it: and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem." - 2 Kings 12:17
2 Kings 12:17 (KJV) states: "Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it: and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem."
This verse is part of the historical account of the reign of King Joash of Judah, and it can be found in the Old Testament.
The context of this verse is crucial to understanding its significance. King Joash was a king of Judah who reigned from approximately 835-796 BC. He ascended to the throne at a young age and was heavily influenced by the priest Jehoiada. Under Jehoiada's guidance, King Joash initiated repairs to the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. This was a significant undertaking, as the temple had fallen into disrepair due to neglect and the actions of previous kings who had allowed it to be desecrated.
The verse chronicles the attack on the city of Gath by Hazael, the king of Syria. This event was part of Hazael's military campaign to expand his territory and assert his dominance in the region. The city of Gath was a significant target, as it was a major Philistine city located southwest of Jerusalem. Following the capture of Gath, Hazael turned his attention to Jerusalem, and the threat he posed was a serious concern to King Joash and his people.
Symbolically, the attack on Gath and the subsequent threat to Jerusalem can be seen as a reflection of the ongoing struggle between the forces of good and evil. Gath and Jerusalem represent opposing spiritual and moral forces, and the conquest of Gath by Hazael symbolizes the encroachment of darkness and corruption. The city of Jerusalem, in turn, represents the righteous and the faithful, and its potential fall to Hazael's forces represents the potential triumph of evil over good.
The verse also speaks to the concept of spiritual warfare, a recurring theme in the Bible. The attack on Gath and the looming threat to Jerusalem can be understood as a metaphor for the spiritual battles that believers face in their lives. It serves as a reminder that the forces of darkness are constantly at work, seeking to undermine and destroy the things of God.
The response of King Joash to the threat posed by Hazael is also noteworthy. The following verses describe how King Joash took the sacred things that his fathers, the kings of Judah, had dedicated and offered to the Lord in the temple and gave them to Hazael as tribute. This action, while a strategic move to appease Hazael and avert further destruction, also reflects a lack of faith and dependence on God. Instead of seeking God's protection and guidance in the face of the threat, King Joash resorts to offering material wealth in an attempt to secure peace.
The consequences of this decision are seen in the subsequent verses, as Hazael does not withdraw from Jerusalem but instead continues his attack, leading to the eventual death of King Joash at the hands of his own servants.
In conclusion, 2 Kings 12:17 captures a pivotal moment in the history of ancient Judah, and it holds several important themes and lessons for believers today. The verse serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle between good and evil and the reality of spiritual warfare. It also highlights the consequences of relying on human strength and wisdom instead of trusting in God. Ultimately, it underscores the importance of remaining faithful to God and seeking His protection and guidance in the face of adversity.
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2 Kings 12:17 - "¶ Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it: and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem."
"¶ Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it: and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem." - 2 Kings 12:17
2 Kings 17:12 - "For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing."
2 Kings 17:2 - "And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him."
2 Kings 19:17 - "Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands,"
Revelation 17:12 - "And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast."
1 Kings 12:17 - "But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them."
"For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing." - 2 Kings 17:12
1 Kings 17:2 - "And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,"
2 Kings 12:19 - "¶ 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?"
2 Kings 17:40 - "Howbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner."
2 Kings 17:8 - "And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made."
2 Kings 21:17 - "¶ Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and all that he did, and his sin that he sinned, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"
2 Kings 12:14 - "But they gave that to the workmen, and repaired therewith the house of the LORD."
2 Kings 17:17 - "And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger."
2 Kings 25:12 - "But the captain of the guard left of the poor of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen."
"And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him." - 2 Kings 17:2
"Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands," - 2 Kings 19:17
2 Kings 12:16 - "The trespass money and sin money was not brought into the house of the LORD: it was the priests'."
2 Kings 17:19 - "Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made."
2 Kings 12:12 - "And to masons, and hewers of stone, and to buy timber and hewed stone to repair the breaches of the house of the LORD, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it."
2 Kings 17:5 - "¶ Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years."
2 Kings 24:17 - "¶ And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah."
2 Kings 12:2 - "And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him."
2 Chronicles 17:12 - "¶ And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles, and cities of store."
2 Kings 17:22 - "For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them;"
2 Kings 17:14 - "Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God."
2 Kings 10:12 - "¶ And he arose and departed, and came to Samaria. And as he was at the shearing house in the way,"
2 Kings 13:12 - "And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might wherewith he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?"
2 Kings 14:12 - "And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to their tents."