מלכים ב, פרק י״ג, פסוק ג׳

The rising power of the Aramean kingdom brought about a painful and continuous era of suffering for the Israelites [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Triggered by the anger of God, a harsh decree condemned the nation to fall under the strict rule of Hazael, the king of Aram, and his son Ben-hadad [מלבי"ם].

Although the historical account implies that this subjugation was permanent, this presents a logical challenge, as the Israelites did not remain under Aramean control forever and eventually broke free. To clarify the exact timeline of this punishment, there are two distinct ways to understand its duration.

One perspective limits the suffering to a specific generation, explaining that the oppression lasted exactly for the duration of the life of Jehoahaz, the king of Israel [מצודת דוד]. Another view suggests a different measure for the decree. According to this approach, the punishment, which a prophet surely warned the people about in advance, was strictly tied to the lives of the Aramean rulers themselves. Once Hazael and Ben-hadad died, the decree expired, and the era of subjugation naturally came to an end [מלבי"ם].