2 kings 13:7 - For he didn’t leave to Jehoahaz of the people any more than fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria destroyed them, and made them like the dust in threshing.
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What does "2 kings 13:7" mean?
This verse from 2 Kings 13:7 describes the dire military situation of the Kingdom of Israel under King Jehoahaz, son of Jehu. Let's break it down:
"For he didn’t leave to Jehoahaz of the people any more than fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen...": This highlights the severely depleted state of the Israelite army. After repeated defeats by the Arameans (Syrians), Jehoahaz was left with only a tiny fraction of his former military strength:
Fifty horsemen: A negligible number of cavalry.
Ten chariots: Chariots were powerful war machines, but ten is a very small number.
Ten thousand footmen: While ten thousand infantrymen might sound like a lot, it's likely far less than what Israel had previously and insufficient for defense against a strong opponent like Syria.
"...for the king of Syria destroyed them, and made them like the dust in threshing.": This explains why the Israelite army was so weak. The King of Syria (likely Hazael or Ben-Hadad) had repeatedly defeated and decimated the army of Jehoahaz. The phrase "made them like the dust in threshing" is a powerful metaphor:
Threshing: Threshing is the process of separating grain from the husk. This was done by beating or trampling the grain on a threshing floor.
Dust in threshing: The husk and debris that were pulverized into dust during threshing were considered worthless and easily scattered by the wind.
Therefore, the verse is saying that the Syrian army completely crushed the Israelite army, reducing them to an insignificant and vulnerable state, like worthless dust.
In Summary:
2 Kings 13:7 paints a picture of Israel's utter military weakness under Jehoahaz due to the relentless aggression of the Syrian army. The Syrians were so dominant that they essentially wiped out the bulk of Israel's forces, leaving them with a pathetic remnant. The phrase "like the dust in threshing" vividly illustrates the complete and humiliating defeat suffered by the Israelites. This sets the stage for understanding Israel's vulnerability and dependence on divine intervention in the following chapters.
2 kings 13:7 - For he didn’t leave to Jehoahaz of the people any more than fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria destroyed them, and made them like the dust in threshing.
What does "2 kings 13:7" mean?
This verse from 2 Kings 13:7 describes the dire military situation of the Kingdom of Israel under King Jehoahaz, son of Jehu. Let's break it down:
"For he didn’t leave to Jehoahaz of the people any more than fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen...": This highlights the severely depleted state of the Israelite army. After repeated defeats by the Arameans (Syrians), Jehoahaz was left with only a tiny fraction of his former military strength:
Fifty horsemen: A negligible number of cavalry.
Ten chariots: Chariots were powerful war machines, but ten is a very small number.
Ten thousand footmen: While ten thousand infantrymen might sound like a lot, it's likely far less than what Israel had previously and insufficient for defense against a strong opponent like Syria.
"...for the king of Syria destroyed them, and made them like the dust in threshing.": This explains why the Israelite army was so weak. The King of Syria (likely Hazael or Ben-Hadad) had repeatedly defeated and decimated the army of Jehoahaz. The phrase "made them like the dust in threshing" is a powerful metaphor:
Threshing: Threshing is the process of separating grain from the husk. This was done by beating or trampling the grain on a threshing floor.
Dust in threshing: The husk and debris that were pulverized into dust during threshing were considered worthless and easily scattered by the wind.
Therefore, the verse is saying that the Syrian army completely crushed the Israelite army, reducing them to an insignificant and vulnerable state, like worthless dust.
In Summary:
2 Kings 13:7 paints a picture of Israel's utter military weakness under Jehoahaz due to the relentless aggression of the Syrian army. The Syrians were so dominant that they essentially wiped out the bulk of Israel's forces, leaving them with a pathetic remnant. The phrase "like the dust in threshing" vividly illustrates the complete and humiliating defeat suffered by the Israelites. This sets the stage for understanding Israel's vulnerability and dependence on divine intervention in the following chapters.