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Elisha came to Damascus; and Benhadad the king of Syria was sick. He was told, “The man of God has come here.”

The king said to Hazael, “Take a present in your hand, and go, meet the man of God, and inquire of Yahweh by him, saying, ‘Will I recover from this sickness?’”

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, “Your son Benhadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, ‘Will I recover from this sickness?’”

10 Elisha said to him, “Go, tell him, ‘You will surely recover;’ however Yahweh has shown me that he will surely die.” 11 He settled his gaze steadfastly on him, until he was ashamed. Then the man of God wept.

12 Hazael said, “Why do you weep, my lord?”

He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel. You will set their strongholds on fire, and you will kill their young men with the sword, and will dash their little ones in pieces, and rip up their pregnant women.”

13 Hazael said, “But what is your servant, who is but a dog, that he could do this great thing?”

Elisha answered, “Yahweh has shown me that you will 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?”

He answered, “He told me that you would surely recover.”

15 On the next day, he took a thick cloth, dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died. Then Hazael reigned in his place.

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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