The meaning is that the Lord began to cut off, or trim off, parts of the territory of Israel. Enemies were allowed to vex the borders, a harbinger of the doom that would come upon the entire nation if the inhabitants did not return to righteousness and God.

 In fulfillment of the prophecy of Elisha (ch. 8:12). Shalmaneser III claims that in his 18th year he received tribute from Jehu. This, evidently, was the year in which Jehu came to the throne (see on ch. 9:2). Inasmuch as both Shalmaneser and Jehu were then enemies of Syria, Jehu probably thought it well, as soon as he became king of Israel, to make his peace with him by sending him a present. Upon the departure of Shalmaneser for his own land, Hazael could be expected to vent his wrath upon Jehu. The kings of Assyria appear not to have returned again to the Mediterranean coastlands till about 805 B.C., under Adad-nirari III. Syria would thus have a free hand against Israel.