Elisha Predicts to Hazael at Damascus the Possession of the Throne. - 2 Kings 8:7. Elisha then came to Damascus at the instigation of the Spirit of God, to carry out the commission which Elijah had received at Horeb with regard to Hazael (1 Kings 19:15). Benhadad king of Syria was sick at that time, and when Elisha's arrival was announced to him, sent Hazael with a considerable present to the man of God, to inquire of Jehovah through him concerning his illness. The form of the name חזהאל (here and 2 Kings 8:15) is etymologically correct; but afterwards it is always written without .ה דם וכל־טוּב ("and that all kinds of good of Damascus") follows with a more precise description of the minchah - "a burden of forty camels." The present consisted of produce or wares of the rich commercial city of Damascus, and was no doubt very considerable; at the same time, it was not so large that forty camels were required to carry it. The affair must be judged according to the Oriental custom, of making a grand display with the sending of presents, and employing as many men or beasts of burden as possible to carry them, every one carrying only a single article (cf. Harmar, Beobb. ii. p. 29, iii. p. 43, and Rosenmller, A. u. N. Morgenl. iii. p. 17).

2 Kings 8:15 Parallel Commentaries

And it came

2 Kings 8:13 And Hazael said, But what, is your servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered...

1 Samuel 16:12,13 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and with of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said...

1 Samuel 24:4-7,13 And the men of David said to him, Behold the day of which the LORD said to you, Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand...

1 Samuel 26:9-11 And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD's anointed, and be guiltless...

1 Kings 11:26-37 And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon's servant, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman...

on the morrow

Psalm 36:4 He devises mischief on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he abhors not evil.

Micah 2:1 Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil on their beds! when the morning is light, they practice it...

that he took a thick cloth There is a considerable degree of ambiguity in this passage. The pronoun [he] is generally referred to Hazael; but Dr. Geddes and others are decidedly of the opinion, that we should understand by it {Ben-hadad}; who, encouraged by the favourable answer of Elisha, as reported to Hazael, adopted a violent remedy to all the heat of his fever, and put over his face the {keever, or fly-net}. See note on

1 Samuel 19:13 And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth.

. dipped in water, which suddenly checked the perspiration, and occasioned his death.

so that he died

2 Kings 9:24 And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength, and smote Jehoram between his arms, and the arrow went out at his heart...

2 Kings 15:10-14,25,30 And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead...

1 Kings 15:28 Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay him, and reigned in his stead.

1 Kings 16:10,18 And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead...

Isaiah 33:1 Woe to you that spoil, and you were not spoiled; and deal treacherously...

Hazael

2 Kings 8:13 And Hazael said, But what, is your servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered...

1 Kings 19:15 And the LORD said to him, Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when you come, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: