2 Kings 8:7-15 ▼

7 Then Elisha (God is salvation) came to Damascus (well-watered land) while Ben-hadad (son of Hadad) king of Aram (exalted) was sick, and the king was told, “The man of God {Elohim} has come here.”

8 So the king said to Hazael (one who sees God), “Take a gift in your hand, go to meet the man of God {Elohim}, and inquire of the LORD {YHWH} through him, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’”

9 So Hazael (one who sees God) went to meet Elisha, taking with him a gift of forty camel loads (burden) of every good thing from Damascus (well-watered land). And he went in and stood before him and said, “Your son Ben-hadad (son of Hadad) king of Aram (exalted) has sent me to ask, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’”

10 Elisha (God is salvation) answered, “Go and tell him, ‘You will surely recover.’ But the LORD has shown me that in fact he will die.”

11 Elisha fixed his gaze steadily on him until Hazael became uncomfortable. Then the man of God {Elohim} began to weep.

12 “Why is my lord weeping?” asked Hazael (one who sees God). “Because I know the evil you will do to the Israelites (God prevails),” Elisha replied. “You will set fire to their fortresses, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little ones to pieces, and rip open their pregnant women.”

13 “But how could your servant, a mere dog, do such a monstrous thing?” said Hazael (one who sees God). And Elisha (God is salvation) answered, “The LORD {YHWH} has shown me that you will be king over Aram (exalted).”

14 So Hazael left Elisha (God is salvation) and went to his master, who asked him, “What did Elisha say to you?” And he replied, “He told me that you would surely recover.”

15 But the next day Hazael took a thick cloth, dipped it in water, and spread it over the king’s face. So Ben-hadad died, and Hazael (one who sees God) reigned in his place.