Hazael Murders Ben-Hadad

Elisha went to Damascus,(A) and Ben-Hadad(B) king of Aram was ill. When the king was told, “The man of God has come all the way up here,” he said to Hazael,(C) “Take a gift(D) with you and go to meet the man of God. Consult(E) the Lord through him; ask him, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’”

Hazael went to meet Elisha, taking with him as a gift forty camel-loads of all the finest wares of Damascus. He went in and stood before him, and said, “Your son Ben-Hadad king of Aram has sent me to ask, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’”

10 Elisha answered, “Go and say to him, ‘You will certainly recover.’(F) Nevertheless,[a] the Lord has revealed to me that he will in fact die.” 11 He stared at him with a fixed gaze until Hazael was embarrassed.(G) Then the man of God began to weep.(H)

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

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

13 Hazael said, “How could your servant, a mere dog,(M) accomplish such a feat?”

“The Lord has shown me that you will become king(N) of Aram,” answered Elisha.

14 Then Hazael left Elisha and returned to his master. When Ben-Hadad asked, “What did Elisha say to you?” Hazael replied, “He told me that you would certainly recover.” 15 But the next day he took a thick cloth, soaked it in water and spread it over the king’s face, so that he died.(O) Then Hazael succeeded him as king.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 8:10 The Hebrew may also be read Go and say, ‘You will certainly not recover,’ for.

And Elisha came to Damascus; and Benhadad the king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come hither.

And the king said unto Hazael, Take a present in thine hand, and go, meet the man of God, and enquire of the Lord by him, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?

So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Thy son Benhadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?

10 And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him, Thou mayest certainly recover: howbeit the Lord hath shewed me that he shall surely die.

11 And he settled his countenance stedfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept.

12 And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child.

13 And Hazael said, But what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The Lord hath shewed me that thou shalt be king over Syria.

14 So he departed from Elisha, and came to his master; who said to him, What said Elisha to thee? And he answered, He told me that thou shouldest surely recover.

15 And it came to pass on the morrow, that he took a thick cloth, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died: and Hazael reigned in his stead.

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Death of Ben-Hadad

Then Elisha went to Damascus, and (A)Ben-Hadad king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, “The man of God has come here.” And the king said to (B)Hazael, (C)“Take a present in your hand, and go to meet the man of God, and (D)inquire of the Lord by him, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this disease?’ ” So (E)Hazael went to meet him and took a present with him, of every good thing of Damascus, forty camel-loads; and he came and stood before him, and said, “Your son Ben-Hadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this disease?’ ”

10 And Elisha said to him, “Go, say to him, ‘You shall certainly recover.’ However the Lord has shown me that (F)he will really die.” 11 Then he [a]set his countenance in a stare until he was ashamed; and the man of God (G)wept. 12 And Hazael said, “Why is my lord weeping?”

He answered, “Because I know (H)the evil that you will do to the children of Israel: Their strongholds you will set on fire, and their young men you will kill with the sword; and you (I)will dash their children, and rip open their women with child.”

13 So Hazael said, “But what (J)is your servant—a dog, that he should do this gross thing?”

And Elisha answered, (K)“The Lord has shown me that you will become king over Syria.”

14 Then he departed from Elisha, and came to his master, who said to him, “What did Elisha say to you?” And he answered, “He told me you would surely recover.” 15 But it happened on the next day that he took a thick cloth and dipped it in water, and spread it over his face so that he died; and Hazael reigned in his place.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 8:11 fixed his gaze