Then. — At that time, viz., after the events just related. Hazaeľs invasion of the south followed upon his successes against Jehoahaz, who became king of the northern kingdom in the very year when Jehoash took in hand the restoration of the Temple. (Comp. 2 Kings 12:6 with 2 Kings 13:1; 2 Kings 13:3.) It appears from 2 Chronicles 24:23 that the high priest Jehoiada was dead, and Jehoash had already swerved from his counsels.
Fought against Gath. — Which, therefore, at the time either belonged to, or was in league with, Judah. Rehoboam had included this town in his system of national defences (2 Chronicles 11:8); and it was perhaps at this time the only important outpost of the capital on the western side. Ewald assumes that the petty Philistine states had invited the intervention of Hazael between themselves and their suzerain, the king of Judah. Gaza, Ashdod, Ascalon, and Ekron, but not Gath, appear as Philistine kingdoms in the annals of Sennacherib and Esarhaddon, a century later. This agrees with what is stated in 2 Chronicles 26:6 as to Uzziah having destroyed the walls of Gath. (Comp. Amos 6:2.)
Set his face. — Comp. Luke 9:51.
To go up to. — Or, against.