³² In those days the Lord began to reduce^(A) the size of Israel. Hazael^(B) overpowered the Israelites throughout their territory

¹² “Why is my lord weeping?” asked Hazael.

“Because I know the harm^(A) you will do to the Israelites,” he answered. “You will set fire to their fortified places, kill their young men with the sword, dash^(B) their little children^(C) to the ground, and rip open^(D) their pregnant women.”

¹⁷ Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael,^(A) and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu.^(B)

²⁵ Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz recaptured from Ben-Hadad son of Hazael the towns he had taken in battle from his father Jehoahaz. Three times^(A) Jehoash defeated him, and so he recovered^(B) the Israelite towns.

²² Hazael king of Aram oppressed^(A) Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz.

²⁵ He was the one who restored the boundaries of Israel from Lebo Hamath^(A) to the Dead Sea,^[a](B) in accordance with the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, spoken through his servant Jonah^(C) son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher.