Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Kings 10:32

"In those days Jehovah began to cut off from Israel: and Hazael smote them in all the borders of Israel;" — 2 Kings 10:32 (ASV)

In those days. —As a vassal and ally of Assyria (see Notes on 2 Kings 9:2), Jehu drew upon himself the active hostility of Hazael. (See Note on 2 Kings 8:15.) Schröder remarks that it was quite natural for the Israelite sovereign to “throw himself into the arms of distant Assyria, in order to get protection against his immediate neighbour Syria, Israel’s hereditary foe.” Compare the similar conduct of Ahaz against Pekah and Rezin (2 Kings 16:7). From the point of view of the sacred writer, this verse states the consequence of Jehu’s neglect of walking in Jehovah’s instruction with all his heart (2 Kings 10:31).

The Lord began. —Through Hazael and the Syrians. (Isaiah 7:20; Isaiah 10:5–6.)

To cut Israel short. —Literally, to cut off in Israel—that is, to cut off part after part of Israelite territory. (The verb means to cut off the extremities, Proverbs 26:6.) This refers to the conquests of Hazael. The Targum explains, “The wrath of the Lord began to be strong against Israel;” and the Vulgate has, “tædere super Israel.” Thenius conjectures from this that we should read, “to be wrathful with Israel;” but the construction would not then be usual.

In all the coasts. —Rather, on the whole border—that is, conterminous with Syria.