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 Kg2 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, Ch2 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.