2 Kings 10:32

KJV

In those days the LORD began to cut Israel short: and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel;

KJV (with Strong's)

In those days {H3117} the LORD {H3068} began {H2490} to cut {H7096} Israel {H3478} short {H7096}: and Hazael {H2371} smote {H5221} them in all the coasts {H1366} of Israel {H3478};

Complete Jewish Bible

It was during that period that ADONAI began to dismember Isra'el. Haza'el attacked them throughout the territory of Isra'el

Berean Standard Bible

In those days the LORD began to reduce the size of Israel. Hazael defeated the Israelites throughout their territory

American Standard Version

In those days Jehovah began to cut off from Israel: and Hazael smote them in all the borders of Israel;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Kings 10:32 marks a somber turning point in the history of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, signaling the commencement of its protracted decline and eventual downfall. This verse attributes the territorial losses and military defeats suffered by Israel not merely to geopolitical misfortune, but to the direct, sovereign hand of the LORD, who began to diminish Israel's strength and territory. This divine judgment was executed through Hazael, the formidable King of Aram (Syria), illustrating God's use of foreign powers as instruments of His righteous discipline against His unfaithful people.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the narrative of King Jehu's reign, a period marked by both zealous reform and significant spiritual compromise. Jehu was anointed by the prophet Elisha with the specific divine commission to eradicate the house of Ahab and purge Baal worship from Israel, a task he executed with ruthless efficiency, as detailed in [2 Kings 9:7-10:28](/2_kings/9-7 "2 Kings 9:7 - Jehu's Anointing and Commission"). However, immediately preceding this verse, the text delivers a crucial theological indictment: "But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin, namely, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan" ([2 Kings 10:29](/2_kings/10-29 "2 Kings 10:29 - Jehu's Partial Obedience")). Thus, 2 Kings 10:32 serves as the immediate consequence of Jehu's partial obedience and Israel's continued foundational idolatry, demonstrating that despite the purge of Baalism, God's judgment for persistent sin had begun. It sets the stage for the subsequent weakening of the Northern Kingdom.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period of Jehu's reign (c. 841-814 BC) was one of significant geopolitical flux in the ancient Near East. Israel and Aram (Syria), with its capital Damascus, were frequently at odds, vying for regional dominance. Hazael, the King of Aram, was a particularly brutal and effective military leader whose rise to power was itself a fulfillment of prophecy, as Elisha had foretold his future atrocities against Israel ([2 Kings 8:12-13](/2_kings/8-12 "2 Kings 8:12-13 - Elisha's Prophecy to Hazael")). The phrase "in all the coasts of Israel" signifies that Hazael's attacks were not isolated skirmishes but widespread territorial encroachments, targeting Israel's borders and regions. This systematic weakening by Aram was a direct manifestation of God's covenant curses for disobedience, as outlined in the Mosaic Law, where foreign oppression was a promised consequence of abandoning God.
* **Key Themes:** Second Kings 10:32 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Kings and the broader Old Testament narrative. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Judgment**, clearly articulated by the phrase "the LORD began to cut Israel short." This emphasizes God's active, sovereign involvement in history, orchestrating even geopolitical conflicts as instruments of His justice against His unfaithful people. It underscores the principle that national prosperity and security are contingent upon covenant faithfulness, aligning with the warnings found throughout [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses"). Closely related is the theme of **Consequences of Persistent Idolatry and Partial Obedience**. Despite Jehu's decisive action against Baal worship, his failure to dismantle the golden calves at Bethel and Dan represented a fundamental breach of the covenant, demonstrating that outward reform without a complete turning of the heart to God is insufficient to avert divine discipline. Finally, this verse inaugurates the **Decline of the Northern Kingdom**, marking the beginning of a prolonged period of military weakness, territorial loss, and political instability that would ultimately culminate in its destruction and exile by the Assyrians.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **cut short (Hebrew, _leqatzot'_):** The verb לְקַצּוֹת (_leqatzot_), derived from the root קָצַץ (_qatzatz_), literally means "to cut off," "to cut down," or "to curtail." In this context, it conveys the idea of God beginning to diminish, reduce, or prune Israel's power, territory, and perhaps even its population. It implies a gradual but decisive process of weakening, a severe pruning rather than a sudden, complete annihilation, indicating a strategic and deliberate act of divine judgment that would unfold over time.
* **smote (Hebrew, _vayakkem'_):** The verb וַיַּכֵּם (_vayakkem_), from the root נָכָה (_nakah_), means "to strike," "to hit," "to defeat," or "to conquer." When used in a military context, as here, it denotes a forceful and destructive blow, signifying military defeat and devastation. It highlights Hazael's role as the active instrument through whom God's judgment was delivered, resulting in tangible losses for Israel.
* **coasts (Hebrew, _gevulot'_):** The noun גְּבוּלֹת (_gevulot_), the plural of גְּבוּל (_gevul_), refers to "borders," "boundaries," or "territories." The phrase "in all the coasts of Israel" therefore indicates that Hazael's attacks were comprehensive and widespread, affecting all regions and peripheral areas of the Northern Kingdom. This emphasizes the thoroughness of the territorial losses and the pervasive nature of the judgment.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"In those days":** This phrase serves as a temporal marker, situating the events within the historical period of Jehu's reign, specifically after his initial zealous reforms and the subsequent revelation of his partial obedience. It connects the unfolding judgment directly to the preceding narrative of Israel's spiritual state.
* **"the LORD began to cut Israel short":** This is the theological heart of the verse, unequivocally attributing the subsequent national decline to divine initiative. It signifies that the military setbacks were not mere coincidences or solely the result of Hazael's prowess, but a deliberate act of God's sovereign will. The use of "began" suggests the initiation of a prolonged period of weakening and judgment, a process that would continue through subsequent reigns.
* **"and Hazael smote them":** This clause identifies the human agent through whom God's judgment was executed. Hazael, the King of Aram, is presented as the instrument in God's hand, fulfilling a prophetic word and demonstrating God's capacity to use even foreign, hostile powers to accomplish His purposes of discipline against His own people.
* **"in all the coasts of Israel":** This specifies the scope and severity of Hazael's attacks. It indicates that the territorial losses and military defeats were comprehensive, affecting the entire breadth of the Northern Kingdom's borders and regions, underscoring the widespread nature of the judgment and the diminishing of Israel's power.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Divine Agency/Causation** is paramount, with "the LORD began to cut Israel short" clearly establishing God as the primary cause behind the nation's decline, even while Hazael is the visible instrument. This highlights God's active involvement in human history and His sovereign control over nations. There is also a strong element of **Fulfillment of Prophecy**, as Hazael's destructive actions against Israel were explicitly foretold by Elisha to Hazael himself in [2 Kings 8:12-13](/2_kings/8-12 "2 Kings 8:12-13 - Elisha's Prophecy to Hazael"), underscoring the reliability of God's word. Furthermore, the narrative contains a subtle **Irony**: Jehu, who was raised up by God to purge Israel of Baal worship, paradoxically presides over the beginning of Israel's decline due to his own failure to eradicate the foundational idolatry of the golden calves. This serves as a powerful **Foreshadowing**, as the "cutting short" initiated here will continue relentlessly, leading ultimately to the complete destruction and exile of the Northern Kingdom, a trajectory that began with this divine act of judgment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Second Kings 10:32 serves as a stark reminder of God's unwavering justice and His covenant faithfulness, even when it manifests as judgment. It underscores the profound theological truth that God holds nations accountable for their obedience or disobedience to His revealed will. Israel, as God's chosen people, was bound by a covenant that promised blessing for obedience and curses for rebellion. This verse demonstrates that God does not merely observe; He actively intervenes in history to enforce His covenant, using even foreign adversaries as instruments of His righteous discipline. The "cutting short" of Israel was not arbitrary but a direct consequence of their persistent idolatry, particularly the entrenched sin of the golden calves, which Jehu failed to remove. This highlights the insufficiency of partial obedience and the absolute necessity of wholehearted devotion to God for true national and spiritual well-being.

* [Deuteronomy 28:15](/deuteronomy/28-15 "Deuteronomy 28:15 - Curses for Disobedience")
* [Hosea 8:4](/hosea/8-4 "Hosea 8:4 - Israel's Self-Appointed Kings")
* [Amos 1:3-5](/amos/1-3 "Amos 1:3-5 - Prophecy Against Damascus")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Second Kings 10:32 offers profound lessons for contemporary believers and communities, serving as a sober reminder of God's active involvement in the affairs of humanity and the serious consequences of spiritual compromise. It challenges us to consider that even seemingly "natural" geopolitical or personal struggles can, at times, be instruments in God's sovereign hand, designed to bring about repentance, discipline, or the fulfillment of His purposes. The narrative of Jehu's partial obedience—his zeal against Baalism contrasted with his failure to remove the golden calves—is particularly poignant. It teaches us that outward religious performance or selective obedience, no matter how impressive, cannot compensate for a lack of wholehearted devotion to God's complete truth. True faithfulness requires a radical commitment to dismantle all forms of idolatry, both overt and subtle, in our lives and in our communities. This verse calls us to examine our own hearts and the spiritual health of our churches and nations, asking if there are "golden calves" we cling to, which, if left unaddressed, could lead to a "cutting short" of spiritual vitality, influence, or blessing.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does this verse challenge our understanding of God's justice and sovereignty in the face of national or personal struggles, especially when we perceive ourselves to be "doing good"?**
* **Where might we be tempted towards "partial obedience" in our own lives, neglecting foundational truths or commands while excelling in others, and what are the potential consequences of such compromise?**
* **What "idols" (whether overt or subtle, personal or cultural) might be "cutting short" our spiritual vitality, our effectiveness, or the health of our community today?**

### FAQ

**Why did God begin to "cut Israel short" during Jehu's reign, especially after he purged Baal worship?**

Answer: While Jehu did indeed carry out God's specific command to eradicate the house of Ahab and Baal worship from Israel, his obedience was incomplete and ultimately compromised. Second Kings 10:29 explicitly states that Jehu "departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin, namely, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan." These golden calves represented a foundational idolatry established at the very inception of the Northern Kingdom, a rival worship system to that ordained by God in Jerusalem. This persistent, institutionalized idolatry demonstrated a lack of wholehearted devotion to the LORD and a fundamental breach of the covenant. God's judgment, therefore, was not a reaction to Jehu's zeal against Baal but a consequence of Israel's deeper, unaddressed spiritual rebellion. The "cutting short" was a divine response to a nation that, despite outward reform, remained fundamentally unfaithful to its covenant Lord.

**Who was Hazael, and why was he chosen as God's instrument?**

Answer: Hazael was a high-ranking official in the court of Ben-Hadad II, King of Aram (Syria), who violently seized the throne after Elisha prophesied to him that he would become king and inflict great harm upon Israel ([2 Kings 8:12-15](/2_kings/8-12 "2 Kings 8:12 - Elisha's Prophecy to Hazael")). Hazael became a formidable and ruthless adversary to Israel, fulfilling Elisha's prophecy by oppressing them severely. He was chosen as God's instrument not because of his righteousness, but because God sovereignly uses even wicked nations and individuals to accomplish His purposes, particularly His judgments against unfaithful people. Just as God used Assyria and Babylon later, Hazael served as a divinely appointed agent of discipline, demonstrating God's control over all nations and His determination to hold His people accountable for their covenant violations (see [Isaiah 10:5-6](/isaiah/10-5 "Isaiah 10:5 - Assyria, the Rod of God's Anger")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The "cutting short" of Israel in 2 Kings 10:32, a consequence of their persistent sin and partial obedience, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate need for a perfect King and a new covenant. Israel's repeated failures, culminating in such divine judgments, underscore humanity's inability to perfectly uphold God's law and live in full covenant faithfulness. This narrative points to Jesus Christ, who alone fulfills the law and the prophets, not abrogating them but bringing them to their intended purpose ([Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Jesus Fulfills the Law")). Where Israel's kingdom was "cut short" due to unfaithfulness, Christ establishes an eternal kingdom that will never be diminished or destroyed ([Daniel 7:13-14](/daniel/7-13 "Daniel 7:13 - Son of Man Given Dominion"), [Luke 1:32-33](/luke/1-32 "Luke 1:32 - Jesus' Eternal Kingdom")). Moreover, the judgment that fell upon Israel for its sin finds its ultimate and redemptive fulfillment in Christ, who, as the spotless Lamb of God, took upon Himself the full weight of divine wrath for the sins of humanity. He was "cut off" not for His own transgressions but for ours, bearing the judgment we deserved, so that through faith in Him, we might receive righteousness and eternal life ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us"), [Romans 3:23-26](/romans/3-23 "Romans 3:23 - All Have Sinned")). Thus, the cycles of judgment and decline in the Old Testament ultimately direct our gaze to the cross, where God's justice and mercy perfectly converge, offering a way out of the cycle of sin and its consequences into the freedom and fullness found only in Christ ([Galatians 5:1](/galatians/5-1 "Galatians 5:1 - Freedom in Christ")). His triumph over sin and death ensures that His spiritual kingdom will never be "cut short," but will expand to encompass all the earth ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers"), [Revelation 19:11-16](/revelation/19-11 "Revelation 19:11 - Christ's Triumphant Return")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Kings 8:12

And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child.

1 Kings 19:17

And it shall come to pass, [that] him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.

2 Kings 13:22

But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.

2 Kings 13:25

And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael the cities, which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times did Joash beat him, and recovered the cities of Israel.

2 Kings 14:25

He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which [was] of Gathhepher.