2 Kings 10 32

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;

2 Kings 10:32 nkjv

In those days the LORD began to cut off parts of Israel; and Hazael conquered them in all the territory of Israel

2 Kings 10:32 niv

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

2 Kings 10:32 esv

In those days the LORD began to cut off parts of Israel. Hazael defeated them throughout the territory of Israel:

2 Kings 10:32 nlt

At about that time the LORD began to cut down the size of Israel's territory. King Hazael conquered several sections of the country

2 Kings 10 verses

2 Kings 10 32 Meaning

This verse declares that during the reign of Jehu, the LORD sovereignly initiated a process of reducing Israel's territory by allowing the Aramean king Hazael to attack and seize parts of the northern kingdom. It marks the beginning of the nation's decline and a period of divine judgment due to continued unfaithfulness.

2 Kings 10 32 Context

2 Kings chapter 10 recounts Jehu's ruthless purge of the house of Ahab and the worship of Baal, fulfilling prophetic words from God. While Jehu acted with zeal in eradicating Baalism (2 Ki 10:28), his obedience was incomplete. The preceding verse, 2 Kings 10:31, is crucial: "But Jehu did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin—that is, the golden calves that were in Bethel and in Dan." This partial obedience and continued idol worship became the immediate grounds for the judgment pronounced in verse 32. Historically, this period marks a time of vulnerability for the Northern Kingdom, caught between the rising power of Assyria and the immediate threat of Aram (Syria) under King Hazael, whom God uses as an instrument of His discipline.

2 Kings 10 32 Word analysis

• In those days: Refers specifically to the time of Jehu's reign over Israel. This phrase situates the onset of judgment directly within his period of rule.
• the LORD: Hebrew: יְהוָה (YHWH), "Yahweh," the covenant God of Israel. This emphasizes that the unfolding events are not random political misfortunes but are actively initiated and overseen by God as a direct consequence of His people's actions. It signifies divine sovereignty and justice.
• began to cut off: Hebrew: הֵחֵל לְקַצּוֹת (hēḥēl ləqaṣṣōṯ), from the root קָצַץ (qaṣaṣ), meaning "to cut off, to divide, to be curtailed." This indicates a progressive process of reduction or amputation, not an immediate and total destruction. It implies a gradual weakening and loss of power and territory, which foreshadows future exiles. The verb "began" suggests an opening phase of sustained decline.
• parts of Israel: Not the whole kingdom at once, but distinct regions. This shows the initial, yet significant, fragmentation of the Northern Kingdom's territory. These losses included Transjordanian regions like Gilead, previously contested but firmly within Israel's historical domain, emphasizing territorial diminution.
• and Hazael attacked them: Hazael (Hebrew: חֲזָאֵל, Ḥazā’ēl), King of Aram (Damascus), served as God's instrument for executing this judgment. His anointing by God through Elisha (1 Ki 19:15; 2 Ki 8:7-15) directly links his military campaigns to the divine plan, illustrating God's sovereignty over pagan rulers and nations. His actions were destructive, brutal, and widely effective.
• throughout all the territory of Israel: Indicates the widespread nature of Hazael's military incursions and the comprehensive nature of the initial territorial losses. This was not a localized raid but a broad campaign causing significant damage across the northern kingdom.

Words-group analysis

• the LORD began to cut off parts of Israel: This phrase attributes the territorial losses directly to divine agency. It's not merely that Hazael was a powerful foe; it was God who "began" this process of dismemberment. This underscores God's active involvement in the nation's affairs, responding to their spiritual condition. It serves as a reminder that external adversities are often expressions of God's righteous judgment.
• and Hazael attacked them throughout all the territory of Israel: This section highlights how God uses human agents to bring about His purposes. Hazael, an idolatrous king, became an unwitting tool in the hands of the LORD to bring discipline upon Israel. The description of his attacks emphasizes the severe, widespread consequences of Israel's disobedience, affecting their physical security and land, a key component of their covenant blessings. This demonstrates the powerful linkage between covenant fidelity and national well-being.

2 Kings 10 32 Bonus section

This verse subtly introduces a gradual nature of judgment ("began to cut off"), suggesting divine patience even amidst punitive actions. While the loss of territory was significant, God did not abandon Israel entirely or destroy them at this stage. This foreshadows the extended period of decline for the Northern Kingdom that would culminate in the Assyrian exile (2 Ki 17), revealing a pattern of repeated opportunities for repentance before ultimate devastation. The judgment against Israel via Hazael's invasions also serves as an example of how breaking the covenant, particularly through idolatry, leads to the forfeiture of the blessings of security and land, central to God's promise to Abraham.

2 Kings 10 32 Commentary

2 Kings 10:32 articulates a critical turning point in the history of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Despite Jehu's zealous efforts to eradicate Baal worship and the house of Ahab, his failure to remove the long-standing idolatry introduced by Jeroboam (the golden calves in Bethel and Dan) led to an immediate divine consequence. The verse emphasizes the LORD's direct initiation of judgment, signifying that Israel's territorial losses were not mere happenstance of war but deliberate acts of divine curtailment. Hazael, the King of Aram, functioned as God's designated instrument, a clear demonstration of God's sovereignty over the nations and His ability to use even pagan kings to accomplish His will. This judgment, described as "beginning to cut off," indicates a progressive, not instantaneous, decline, foreshadowing further diminishment and eventual exile, serving as a solemn warning against partial obedience and religious compromise.