2 Kings 13:3 kjv
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.
2 Kings 13:3 nkjv
Then the anger of the LORD was aroused 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, all their days.
2 Kings 13:3 niv
So the LORD's anger burned against Israel, and for a long time he kept them under the power of Hazael king of Aram and Ben-Hadad his son.
2 Kings 13:3 esv
And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he gave them continually into the hand of Hazael king of Syria and into the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael.
2 Kings 13:3 nlt
So the LORD was very angry with Israel, and he allowed King Hazael of Aram and his son Ben-hadad to defeat them repeatedly.
2 Kings 13 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 29:20 | ...the anger of the LORD and His jealousy will burn... | Divine anger against disobedience |
| Josh 23:16 | If you transgress the covenant...then the anger of the LORD will be... | Consequences of breaking God's covenant |
| Judg 2:14 | So the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and He delivered them. | Similar pattern of divine anger and deliverance to enemies |
| Psa 78:59-60 | God heard and was filled with wrath; He greatly abhorred Israel... | God's just anger against His rebellious people |
| Isa 9:12 | For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out | God's sustained wrath against unrepentant Israel |
| Lam 2:1-3 | How the Lord has covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in His anger! | Expression of God's profound anger leading to devastation |
| Rom 1:18 | For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness. | God's righteous anger against sin universally |
| Deut 28:48-50 | ...the LORD will send you against your enemies with hunger... | Threat of foreign invasion as judgment |
| Isa 10:5-6 | "Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger...I send him against a godless nation." | God uses foreign nations as instruments of judgment |
| Jer 25:9 | "...I will send and get all the families of the north,' says the LORD, 'and Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon...and will bring them against this land." | God raising up foreign oppressors |
| Hab 1:5-7 | "...I am raising up the Chaldeans, a bitter and hasty nation." | God using ruthless nations for discipline |
| 1 Kgs 12:28-30 | ...he made two calves of gold...This thing became a sin. | Introduction of Jeroboam's sin, continued by Israel |
| 2 Kgs 10:29 | ...Jehu did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam... | Jehu's dynasty persists in Jeroboam's sin, though partially faithful |
| 2 Kgs 13:2 | ...he did evil in the sight of the LORD and followed the sins of Jeroboam... | Direct context of King Jehoahaz's wickedness |
| 2 Kgs 17:7-18 | All this happened because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God... | Summary of Israel's widespread apostasy and its consequences |
| 1 Kgs 19:15-17 | "Anoint Hazael as king over Syria...whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, Elisha will kill." | Prophecy of Hazael's future oppressive role |
| 2 Kgs 8:12-13 | And Hazael said, "Why does my lord weep?" He answered, "Because I know the evil that you will do to the sons of Israel..." | Elisha's direct prophecy to Hazael of his cruelty |
| Prov 21:1 | The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water. | God's ultimate control over earthly rulers and their actions |
| Dan 2:21 | He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings. | God's sovereignty over kingdoms and rulers |
| Lev 26:17 | I will set My face against you, and you shall be defeated by your enemies. | God's promise to deliver Israel to enemies for disobedience |
| Deut 32:30 | How could one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them... | God giving over His people |
| Jer 21:7 | "Then afterward," says the LORD, "I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah...into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon." | Specific instance of God delivering kings/people to enemies |
2 Kings 13 verses
2 Kings 13 3 Meaning
The verse declares that the wrath of the LORD, the covenant God of Israel, was ignited against the Northern Kingdom due to their continuous disobedience and idolatry. As a consequence, God sovereignly permitted and used Hazael, king of Syria (Aram), and subsequently his son Ben-hadad, to oppress and bring hardship upon Israel throughout the reign of King Jehoahaz. This divine action was a righteous judgment for their persistent sin, serving as a form of disciplinary correction rather than an abandonment.
2 Kings 13 3 Context
Second Kings chapter 13 focuses on the reigns of Jehoahaz and his son Jehoash in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Verse 3 immediately follows the statement that King Jehoahaz "did evil in the sight of the LORD and followed the sins of Jeroboam" (2 Kgs 13:2). This established pattern of idolatry, specifically the worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan initiated by Jeroboam, was the persistent national sin of Israel. The kingdom had chosen a path of spiritual rebellion despite prior divine warnings and deliverances. Historically, during this period, Aram (Syria), under the leadership of Hazael and later his son Ben-hadad III, became a dominant regional power, frequently clashing with Israel. This verse explicitly presents Syria's oppressive power not as a random geopolitical event, but as a direct instrument of God's righteous judgment against His unfaithful people. It highlights the Deuteronomistic theology prevalent in Kings, where obedience brings blessing and disobedience results in divine punishment, often in the form of foreign oppression.
2 Kings 13 3 Word analysis
- And the anger (וַיִּֽחַר־אַף֙, vayyichar-af): The Hebrew idiom literally means "the nose burned" or "was hot," signifying intense displeasure and wrath. This is not arbitrary emotion but God's righteous response to Israel's violation of their covenant with Him. It underscores the severity of their sin.
- of the LORD (יְהוָ֑ה, YHWH): Refers to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, emphasizing that this is a divine, intentional action rooted in His justice and holiness, not mere fate or political chance.
- was kindled: Reinforces the idea of active and intense divine displeasure. The phrase "anger...was kindled" is a common biblical expression for the onset of divine wrath.
- against Israel (בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל, b'Yisrael): Specifically the Northern Kingdom, which consistently perpetuated the sin of Jeroboam I by worshiping the golden calves, a departure from the singular worship of YHWH at Jerusalem.
- and he delivered them (וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֖ם, vayyittenem): From the Hebrew nathan (to give, to place, to permit). This word conveys divine agency and sovereignty. God actively permitted or appointed them to be subdued, showcasing His control over historical events and nations, even over foreign kings. It is not merely a passive allowance, but an act of handing them over as a consequence.
- into the hand of Hazael king of Syria (בְּיַד֙ חֲזָאֵל֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ אֲרָ֔ם, b'yad Chazael melech Aram): "Hand of" (yad) signifies power, authority, and control. Hazael was a historical king of Aram, notorious for his cruelty against Israel, as foretold by the prophet Elisha (2 Kgs 8:12-13). This specific name highlights the concrete nature of the divine judgment. Syria (Aram) was a formidable military power in the region during this time.
- and into the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael: Indicates the continuation of the judgment across generations. Hazael's son Ben-hadad III maintained the oppression, confirming the long-term nature and severity of Israel's affliction.
- all their days (כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים, kol-hayyamim): This phrase suggests the prolonged duration of this hardship throughout the reign of King Jehoahaz (2 Kgs 13:1), and possibly implying a broader period of Syrian dominance over Israel. It emphasizes that this was not a temporary setback but a sustained state of vulnerability and oppression as a direct result of their sin.
2 Kings 13 3 Bonus section
The experience of Israel being delivered into the hands of an enemy "all their days" for their disobedience reflects a pattern seen repeatedly throughout biblical history, particularly in the book of Judges. There, God would allow oppression until the people cried out to Him in repentance, whereupon He would raise up a deliverer. This verse in 2 Kings, however, signifies a prolonged period of affliction within a single reign, suggesting a particularly stubborn state of rebellion. It underscores that God's justice is neither quick nor easily appeased when the turning is not sincere or complete. The foretelling of Hazael's cruelty by Elisha (2 Kgs 8) provides an important prophetic background, showing that these events were not random but part of a divine plan.
2 Kings 13 3 Commentary
2 Kings 13:3 starkly illustrates the covenant principle of cause and effect in the Deuteronomistic history. God's anger is ignited not by caprice, but by Israel's persistent disobedience, specifically their ongoing embrace of Jeroboam's idolatry mentioned in the preceding verse. The active delivery of Israel "into the hand" of Hazael and Ben-hadad underscores God's sovereignty over history and nations; He uses foreign powers as instruments of judgment and discipline for His covenant people. This severe affliction, prolonged "all their days," was designed to bring Israel to a point of repentance and to demonstrate that Yahweh alone is sovereign, powerful even over formidable human kingdoms, and utterly righteous in His judgment against sin. This passage reflects God's justice in holding His people accountable, even while the subsequent verses will show His continued grace in hearing their cry in distress.