2 Kings 13:3

And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, all [their] days.

And the anger {H639} of the LORD {H3068} was kindled {H2734} against Israel {H3478}, and he delivered {H5414} them into the hand {H3027} of Hazael {H2371} king {H4428} of Syria {H758}, and into the hand {H3027} of Benhadad {H1130} the son {H1121} of Hazael {H2371}, all their days {H3117}.

ADONAI's anger burned against Isra'el, and he kept handing them over to Haza'el king of Aram and Ben-Hadad the son of Haza'el.

So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He delivered them continually into the hands of Hazael king of Aram and his son Ben-hadad.

And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael, continually.

Commentary

2 Kings 13:3 describes a period of severe divine judgment upon the Northern Kingdom of Israel, highlighting the direct consequences of their persistent disobedience and idolatry against the LORD.

Context

This verse falls within the turbulent history of the Divided Monarchy, specifically during the reign of King Jehoahaz of Israel (not explicitly named in this verse, but implied by "all their days," referring to his reign and the subsequent period of oppression under his son Joash). The prophet Elijah had previously been commanded to anoint Hazael as king over Syria (1 Kings 19:15), indicating God's sovereign plan to use him as an instrument of judgment against Israel. Throughout the books of Kings, the northern kingdom repeatedly falls into idolatry, particularly the worship of Baal and the golden calves set up by Jeroboam I, leading to God's righteous anger being kindled.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment: The phrase "the anger of the LORD was kindled" underscores God's active and righteous indignation against sin. This was not a passive withdrawal but a deliberate act of judgment, demonstrating His justice.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: Israel's repeated turning away from God, despite warnings from prophets, directly led to this severe oppression. This serves as a stark reminder that choices have consequences, as outlined in the covenant curses in Deuteronomy 28:15 and following.
  • God's Sovereignty Over Nations: The LORD delivered Israel "into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael." This illustrates God's sovereign control over world leaders and empires, using them as instruments to achieve His purposes, even when those leaders are unaware.
  • Sustained Oppression: The phrase "all their days" indicates a prolonged period of hardship and subjugation under Syrian rule, emphasizing the severity and duration of God's judgment.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase translated as "the anger of the LORD was kindled" is 'ap Yahweh charah (ืึทืฃ ื™ึฐื”ื•ึธื” ื—ึธืจึธื”), which vividly portrays a burning, intense indignation. It's a strong anthropomorphism, describing God's righteous wrath against sin, not a human-like fit of temper. The verb "delivered" (ื ึธืชึทืŸ - nathan) emphasizes God's active role in handing Israel over to their enemies, underscoring His direct involvement in their suffering as a consequence of their actions.

Historical & Cultural Significance

The Aramean (Syrian) kingdom of Damascus was a formidable regional power, and Hazael, a usurper to the Syrian throne, was particularly aggressive. His reign and that of his son Benhadad (often referred to as Ben-Hadad III) marked a period of significant military pressure and territorial loss for Israel. This historical reality serves as a tangible fulfillment of God's warnings and a demonstration of His covenant faithfulness โ€“ both in blessing obedience and in disciplining disobedience.

Practical Application

This verse reminds us that God is holy and righteous, and He takes sin seriously. While we live under the New Covenant of grace, the principle of consequences for disobedience remains. It encourages believers to:

  • Examine Our Hearts: To reflect on areas of our lives where we might be persistently disobedient or engaging in spiritual idolatry (placing anything before God).
  • Seek Repentance: To turn from sin and seek God's forgiveness and mercy, recognizing that His discipline is often intended to draw us back to Him (Hebrews 12:6).
  • Trust God's Sovereignty: To understand that even in difficult circumstances or through oppressive forces, God remains sovereign and can use such trials for His ultimate purposes, including our spiritual growth and refinement.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 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 13:24

    So Hazael king of Syria died; and Benhadad his son reigned in his stead.

  • 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.

  • Judges 2:14

    And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.

  • 2 Kings 12:17

    ยถ 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 13:22

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

  • Deuteronomy 28:25

    The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.