2 Kings 13:7

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

Neither did he leave {H7604} of the people {H5971} to Jehoahaz {H3059} but fifty {H2572} horsemen {H6571}, and ten {H6235} chariots {H7393}, and ten {H6235} thousand {H505} footmen {H7273}; for the king {H4428} of Syria {H758} had destroyed {H6} them, and had made {H7760} them like the dust {H6083} by threshing {H1758}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The king of Aram destroyed Y'ho'achaz's army, making them like chaff when grain is threshed, except for fifty horsemen, ten chariots and 10,000 foot soldiers.

Berean Standard Bible

Jehoahaz had no army left, except fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers, because the king of Aram had destroyed them and made them like the dust at threshing.

American Standard Version

For he left not to Jehoahaz of the people save fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria destroyed them, and made them like the dust in threshing.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Kings 13:7 vividly portrays the catastrophic decimation of the Northern Kingdom of Israel's military under King Jehoahaz, reduced to an almost negligible force by the relentless campaigns of Hazael, king of Syria. This verse serves as a grim and potent testament to the severe consequences of Israel's persistent idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness, illustrating a profound low point in the nation's strength and a clear manifestation of divine judgment.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the narrative of King Jehoahaz's reign over Israel (2 Kings 13:1-9), a period explicitly characterized by his continued "evil in the sight of the Lord" and adherence to the idolatrous practices introduced by Jeroboam son of Nebat. The preceding verses establish the Lord's anger and His subsequent act of delivering Israel into the oppressive hand of Hazael, king of Syria, and later his son, Ben-Hadad, for an extended period. Despite Jehoahaz's desperate prayer to the Lord in [2 Kings 13:4](/2_kings/13-4 "2 Kings 13:4 - Jehoahaz's Prayer"), which God partially answered by raising up a "savior" (a reference often interpreted as Elisha or a future deliverer), the immediate and severe consequence of their sin was profound military weakening. Verse 7 specifically details the extent of this devastation, setting the bleak stage for the limited relief and subsequent victories described later in the chapter through Elisha's final prophecies and Joash's reign (e.g., [2 Kings 13:14-19](/2_kings/13-14-19 "2 Kings 13:14-19 - Elisha's Final Prophecy and Joash's Visit")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The late 9th century BCE was a tumultuous era in the ancient Near East, marked by the ascendance of the Aramean kingdom of Damascus (Syria) as a dominant regional power under the formidable King Hazael. Hazael's military campaigns against Israel were notoriously brutal and highly effective, as starkly evidenced by the numbers cited in this verse. Fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen represent an astonishingly small and vulnerable force for a kingdom, especially when contrasted with the vast armies that could be mustered in that period (for instance, King Ahab's participation in the Battle of Qarqar, though an exceptional alliance, involved 2,000 chariots and 10,000 footmen). Chariots were the elite, decisive military units of the time, and their reduction to a mere ten underscores the complete emasculation of Israel's military might. The agricultural metaphor of "threshing" was universally understood in an agrarian society; it involved trampling or beating grain to separate it from the chaff, often leaving the grain (or, in this case, the people) pulverized and scattered like dust, powerfully highlighting utter destruction and powerlessness.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully underscores several key themes pervasive throughout the Deuteronomistic History (spanning Joshua through Kings). Foremost is the **Consequences of Disobedience**, where Israel's persistent idolatry directly leads to divine judgment in the form of foreign oppression, fulfilling the curses outlined in [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses for Obedience and Disobedience"). It also highlights **Divine Discipline**, demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty over nations as He uses Hazael as an instrument to chastise His unfaithful covenant people. The detailed military reduction emphasizes Israel's **Utter Humiliation and Weakness**, a stark contrast to their former glory and a clear sign of God's withdrawal of His protective hand. Furthermore, the narrative implicitly points to God's **Covenant Faithfulness**, as even in judgment, He is working to bring His people back to Himself, preserving a remnant, and ultimately fulfilling His promises, as seen in the partial deliverance that follows this low point (e.g., [2 Kings 13:5](/2_kings/13-5 "2 Kings 13:5 - God Sends a Deliverer")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **destroyed (Hebrew, _ʼâbad'_):** This verb (H6) indicates a complete loss or perishing, often implying utter annihilation or destruction. It signifies not merely defeat but a state of being rendered void, undone, or having no way to flee. In this context, it underscores the totality of the Syrian king's destructive impact on Israel's military, leaving them utterly without strength or means of escape.
* **dust (Hebrew, _ʻâphâr'_):** This term (H6083) refers to fine, loose earth or powder. In biblical imagery, "dust" frequently symbolizes insignificance, mortality, humility, or utter brokenness. To be made "like the dust" implies being reduced to nothing, scattered, and easily swept away, devoid of substance, power, or cohesion.
* **threshing (Hebrew, _dûwsh'_):** This agricultural process (H1758) involves trampling or beating grain to separate it from its husks, typically on a threshing floor. The imagery here is one of violent and destructive pulverization; the Israelite forces were not merely separated but crushed, ground into fine particles, signifying their complete military and national breakdown and their utter helplessness before their oppressor.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Neither did he leave of the people to Jehoahaz but fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen;":** This clause starkly reveals the catastrophic state of Israel's military under King Jehoahaz. The precise numbers, while literal, are also symbolic, emphasizing the extreme reduction from what would have been a significant army to a mere token force. Fifty horsemen and ten chariots, once the formidable backbone of ancient armies, represent a virtually nonexistent offensive or defensive capability against a powerful foe like Syria. Ten thousand footmen, while a larger number, would have been easily overwhelmed by a well-equipped and numerous enemy. This detail underscores Israel's profound vulnerability and humiliation, a direct and severe consequence of God's judgment upon their persistent sin.
* **"for the king of Syria had destroyed them, and had made them like the dust by threshing.":** This explanatory clause provides the explicit reason for Israel's military decimation and amplifies the severity of their defeat. Hazael, the king of Syria, is identified as the divinely appointed instrument of this destruction. The powerful agricultural metaphor "made them like the dust by threshing" vividly conveys the completeness of the devastation. Just as grain is crushed and pulverized into fine dust during threshing, so too were Israel's forces utterly broken, scattered, and rendered insignificant, stripped of all power and cohesion. This imagery highlights not just defeat, but total annihilation and profound humiliation.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device employed in 2 Kings 13:7 is **Metaphor**, specifically the vivid and brutal comparison "made them like the dust by threshing." This agricultural imagery powerfully conveys the complete and utter destruction of Israel's military forces. Threshing, a process of separating grain from chaff, is here transformed into a symbol of pulverization and scattering, emphasizing that the Israelite army was not merely defeated but ground into insignificance, like fine dust easily blown away by the wind. This metaphor evokes a profound sense of helplessness, vulnerability, and total humiliation. Additionally, there is an element of **Hyperbole** in the description of the remaining numbers; while specific, they are presented to underscore the *near total* annihilation rather than an exact census, emphasizing the dramatic and devastating impact of the Syrian campaigns and the depth of Israel's national weakness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly illustrates the principle of divine discipline within the context of God's covenant with Israel. The severe military decimation is not random misfortune but a direct consequence of Israel's persistent idolatry and unfaithfulness, as outlined in the Deuteronomic curses (e.g., [Deuteronomy 28:25](/deuteronomy/28-25 "Deuteronomy 28:25 - Consequences of Disobedience")). God, in His absolute sovereignty, uses foreign nations like Syria as instruments of His righteous judgment to bring His people to repentance. This demonstrates that while God is merciful, He is also perfectly just, and His covenant demands faithfulness. The "threshing" of Israel serves as a stark reminder that even His chosen people are not exempt from the consequences of rebellion, yet it also implicitly points to the hope of restoration if they turn back to Him, as the ultimate purpose of divine discipline is redemptive and designed to restore the relationship.

* [Deuteronomy 28:48](/deuteronomy/28-48 "Deuteronomy 28:48 - Slavery and Hunger as Punishment")
* [Isaiah 45:7](/isaiah/45-7 "Isaiah 45:7 - God's Sovereignty Over Good and Evil")
* [Lamentations 3:37-39](/lamentations/3-37-39 "Lamentations 3:37-39 - God's Sovereignty Over Affliction")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The stark reality of 2 Kings 13:7 serves as a powerful and sobering reminder that disobedience to God carries severe consequences, even for those within His covenant. The "threshing" of Israel's military, reducing them to dust, vividly illustrates how persistent sin can lead to a profound weakening and vulnerability, whether for an individual, a family, or a nation. This passage calls us to sober self-examination, prompting us to consider areas in our own lives where we might be drifting from God's commands or neglecting His will. While the imagery of being "like dust" can evoke feelings of brokenness and insignificance, it also implicitly points to the transformative power of humility and repentance. Just as God eventually provided a measure of relief for Israel, He is capable of raising us up from the lowest points of our lives, restoring strength and purpose when we genuinely turn back to Him in faith and obedience. This verse underscores the critical importance of national and individual repentance, reminding us that true security and strength are found not in military might or human resources, but in faithful reliance on the Lord, who alone can bring deliverance and lasting peace.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the imagery of being "made like the dust by threshing" challenge our understanding of God's discipline and the severe consequences of persistent sin?**
* **In what areas of our lives, or in our communities, might we be experiencing a form of "threshing" that calls for genuine repentance and renewed dependence on God?**
* **What hope can we draw from God's character and His covenant faithfulness, even when facing the severe consequences of disobedience and feeling utterly broken?**

### FAQ
**Why did God allow Syria to devastate Israel so severely?**

Answer: God allowed Syria to devastate Israel so severely as a direct and just consequence of Israel's persistent idolatry and unfaithfulness to His covenant. As explicitly stated in [2 Kings 13:2](/2_kings/13-2 "2 Kings 13:2 - Jehoahaz's Evil Reign"), King Jehoahaz "did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom." This pervasive pattern of sin, particularly the worship of false gods and the abandonment of the one true God, was a direct violation of the covenant God established with Israel at Mount Sinai. Throughout the Old Testament, God repeatedly warned Israel that disobedience would lead to foreign oppression and national weakening (e.g., [Deuteronomy 28:47-48](/deuteronomy/28-47-48 "Deuteronomy 28:47-48 - Consequences of Disobedience")). God, in His sovereignty and perfect justice, used Hazael, the king of Syria, as a divinely appointed instrument of His discipline to humble His rebellious people, bring them to repentance, and remind them of their absolute dependence on Him. This was not an act of abandonment but a severe form of fatherly discipline, ultimately intended to restore their relationship with Him and lead them back to covenant faithfulness.

**What is the significance of the specific numbers (fifty horsemen, ten chariots, ten thousand footmen)?**

Answer: The specific numbers—fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen—are profoundly significant in illustrating the extreme military decimation and profound humiliation of Israel. While they represent the literal remnant of Jehoahaz's forces, their primary significance lies in underscoring the *astonishing* reduction in military power. In ancient warfare, chariots were the most formidable and decisive units, serving as the ancient equivalent of tanks; to be left with only ten signifies a virtually nonexistent offensive or defensive capability. Similarly, fifty horsemen and ten thousand footmen would have been a meager and easily overwhelmed force for a kingdom, making them utterly vulnerable to powerful neighbors. These numbers stand in stark contrast to the larger, more formidable armies Israel had fielded in earlier periods and serve to emphasize the completeness of their destruction and their utter powerlessness, effectively "like the dust by threshing." It highlights the extent of God's righteous judgment and the depth of Israel's national weakness and vulnerability when they abandoned their covenant Lord.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The devastating "threshing" of Israel's military in 2 Kings 13:7, reducing them to scattered dust, finds its ultimate theological fulfillment and reversal in Jesus Christ. Israel's weakness and humiliation under divine judgment foreshadow humanity's inherent inability to stand before God's righteousness and save itself from the overwhelming consequences of sin. We, like Israel, are utterly helpless, "like dust" before the overwhelming power of sin and death, incapable of delivering ourselves from spiritual bondage. However, Christ, the true King of Israel and the Lamb of God, willingly allowed Himself to be "threshed" for our sake. He was "crushed for our iniquities" (as prophesied in [Isaiah 53:5](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5 - Christ's Suffering for Our Sins")), bearing the full weight of divine judgment that we, in our sinfulness, deserved. His suffering and death on the cross represent the ultimate act of being "made like the dust," humbling Himself to the point of death, even death on a cross ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Humiliation and Exaltation")). Yet, unlike Israel's military, which remained weak, Christ's "threshing" resulted in glorious victory over sin, death, and the powers of darkness ([Colossians 2:13-15](/colossians/2-13-15 "Colossians 2:13-15 - Christ's Triumph Over Sin and Powers")). Through His resurrection, He demonstrates that God can raise even the "dust" of fallen humanity to new life and strength, offering spiritual restoration and true deliverance. The ultimate deliverance and restoration that Israel dimly hoped for, and partially experienced, is fully realized in the spiritual kingdom established by Christ, where true power comes not from military might but from His atoning sacrifice and the indwelling of His Spirit, enabling us to live in righteousness and peace ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God's Love Demonstrated Through Christ")).

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

Amos 1:3

¶ Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away [the punishment] thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron:

2 Kings 10:32

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

1 Samuel 13:6

When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.

1 Samuel 13:7

And [some of] the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he [was] yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

1 Samuel 13:15

¶ And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people [that were] present with him, about six hundred men.

Joel 3:14

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD [is] near in the valley of decision.

Isaiah 36:8

Now therefore give pledges, I pray thee, to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.