12:17 Hazael, a perennial oppressor of God’s people (8:28; 9:14-15; 10:32-33; 13:3), had assassinated the Aramean king Ben-hadad II and seized the throne (8:15). Hazael’s campaign against Israel and Judah probably came after the death of the Assyrian king Shamshi-adad V in 811 BC and before Adad-nirari III (810–783 BC) launched a series of campaigns in 805 BC, leading to the capture of Damascus in 802 BC. Free of Assyria’s heavy hand, Hazael could launch a campaign southward. • Whether Gath is the well-known city of the Philistines (1 Sam 5:8; 6:17) or a Hebrew city otherwise known as Gittaim (2 Sam 4:3; Neh 11:33) is disputed.