And it came to pass at the end of the year
After the death of Zechariah; so soon had his prophecy its accomplishment:
that the host of Syria came up against him;
against Joash, king of Judah, under Hazael king of Syria, or however sent by him; for some think this is a different expedition from that in ( 2 Kings 12:17 ) though others take it to be the same:
and they came to Judah and Jerusalem;
not only came into the land of Judah, but as far as Jerusalem, the forces of Joash not being able to stop them:
and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people;
the idolatrous princes of Judah, ( 2 Chronicles 24:17 ) , which is very remarkable that they should be distinguished from the people in their destruction, who had been the chief cause of the wrath of God coming upon them:
and sent all the spoil of them unto the king of Damascus;
all the riches that were taken from them were sent to the king of Syria at Damascus; this looks as if Hazael was not with this army.