2 Kings 8:7-15
The Voice
7 Now when Elisha arrived in Damascus, Aram’s king, Ben-hadad, was ill. A message arrived for the king: “The man of God has just arrived in Damascus.”
Ben-hadad (to Hazael): 8 Greet him with a gift and with kindness. Ask the man of God to speak with the Eternal One and find out, “Am I going to get well?”
9 Hazael greeted Elisha with a gift and with kindness. He did as instructed and offered him many excellent items from Damascus—40 camel loads of gifts.
Hazael (standing before Elisha): Ben-hadad, the king of Aram, who honors you like a father, has asked me to come to you and ask you, “Am I going to get well?”
Elisha: 10 Yes, he will get well, but the Eternal has revealed to me that Ben-hadad will certainly die.
11 Elisha held his gaze on Hazael until the prophet was ashamed, but then the man of God broke down and cried.
Hazael: 12 Why are you crying, my lord?
Elisha: Because I am aware of all the wicked things you will do to the Israelites. You will set their strongholds on fire, slaughter their young men with swords, dismember their children, and tear open the bodies of pregnant women.
Hazael: 13 But I have no such will or power. Am I, your servant, as low as a dog? Why do you think that I will do such a terrible thing?
Elisha: The Eternal has revealed to me that you will reign over Aram as king.
14 Hazael went away from Elisha and went back to his king.
Ben-hadad: What did Elisha tell you?
Hazael: He said that it is certain that you will get well.
15 The next day, Hazael grabbed the cover off Ben-hadad’s bed, soaked it in water, and put it over the king’s face until he died. Hazael then inherited the throne and reigned over Aram.
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