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.

Hazael Murders Ben-hadad

Now Elisha came to (A)Damascus. (B)Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick. And when it was told him, “The man of God has come here,” the king said to (C)Hazael, (D)“Take a present with you and go to meet the man of God, (E)and inquire of the Lord through him, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this sickness?’” So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, all kinds of goods of Damascus, forty camels' loads. When he came and stood before him, he said, (F)“Your son Ben-hadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this sickness?’” 10 And Elisha said to him, (G)“Go, say to him, ‘You shall certainly recover,’ but[a] the Lord has shown me that (H)he shall certainly die.” 11 And he fixed his gaze and stared at him, (I)until he was embarrassed. And the man of God wept. 12 And Hazael said, “Why does my lord weep?” He answered, “Because I know (J)the evil that you will do to the people of Israel. You will set on fire their fortresses, and you will kill their young men with the sword (K)and dash in pieces their little ones and rip open their pregnant women.” 13 And Hazael said, “What is your servant, (L)who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing?” Elisha answered, (M)“The Lord has shown me that you are to be 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 (N)that you would certainly recover.” 15 But the next day he took the bed cloth[b] and dipped it in water and spread it over his face, till he died. And Hazael became king in his place.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 8:10 Some manuscripts say, ‘You shall certainly not recover,’ for
  2. 2 Kings 8:15 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain