Elisha coming to Damascus, the capital of Syria, Benhadad, the
reigning monarch, being then indisposed, sent Hazael, who was one of his
principal officers, to wait upon the prophet, and consult him as to the
issue of his disorder, 2 Kings viii, 7–13. The prophet told Hazael that
certainly his master might recover, because his complaint was not
mortal; yet he was very well assured that he would not recover; and,
looking him steadfastly in the face, Elisha burst into tears. Surprised
at this conduct, Hazael inquired the cause. “Because I know,” said the
prophet, “the evil that thou wilt do to the children of Israel: their
strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay
with the sword, and wilt dash their infants against the stones, and rip
up their women with child.” Hazael indignantly exclaimed, “Is thy
servant a dog, that he should do this great thing?” Elisha merely
answered, “The Lord hath showed me that thou shalt be king over Syria,”
2 Kings viii, 7–13. On his return home, Hazael concealed from his master
Benhadad the prophet’s answer, and inspired him with hopes of recovery;
but on the following day, he took effectual means to prevent it, by
stifling the king with a thick cloth dipped with water; and, as Benhadad
had no son, and Hazael was a man much esteemed in the army, he was,
without difficulty declared his successor, A. M. 3120. Hazael soon
inflicted upon Israel all the cruelties which Elisha had foretold. For
when Jehu broke up the siege of Ramoth-Gilead, and came with his army to
Samaria, Hazael took advantage of his absence to fall upon his
territories beyond Jordan, destroying all the land of Gilead, Gad,
Reuben, and Manasseh, from Aroer to Bashan, 2 Kings x, 32. Some years
passed after this before Hazael undertook any thing against the kingdom
of Judah, it being remote from Damascus; but in the reign of Joash, the
son of Jehoahaz, A. M. 3165, he besieged the city of Gath, and, having
taken it, marched against Jerusalem, 2 Kings xii, 17, 18. But Joash,
conscious of his inferiority, bribed him at the price of all the money
he could raise, to evacuate Judea, with which he for the moment
complied; yet, in the following year, the army of Hazael returned,
entered the territories of Judah, and the city of Jerusalem, slew all
the princes of the people, and sent a valuable booty to their royal
master, 2 Kings xiii, 22; 2 Chron. xxiv, 23.
reigning monarch, being then indisposed, sent Hazael, who was one of his
principal officers, to wait upon the prophet, and consult him as to the
issue of his disorder, 2 Kings viii, 7–13. The prophet told Hazael that
certainly his master might recover, because his complaint was not
mortal; yet he was very well assured that he would not recover; and,
looking him steadfastly in the face, Elisha burst into tears. Surprised
at this conduct, Hazael inquired the cause. “Because I know,” said the
prophet, “the evil that thou wilt do to the children of Israel: their
strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay
with the sword, and wilt dash their infants against the stones, and rip
up their women with child.” Hazael indignantly exclaimed, “Is thy
servant a dog, that he should do this great thing?” Elisha merely
answered, “The Lord hath showed me that thou shalt be king over Syria,”
2 Kings viii, 7–13. On his return home, Hazael concealed from his master
Benhadad the prophet’s answer, and inspired him with hopes of recovery;
but on the following day, he took effectual means to prevent it, by
stifling the king with a thick cloth dipped with water; and, as Benhadad
had no son, and Hazael was a man much esteemed in the army, he was,
without difficulty declared his successor, A. M. 3120. Hazael soon
inflicted upon Israel all the cruelties which Elisha had foretold. For
when Jehu broke up the siege of Ramoth-Gilead, and came with his army to
Samaria, Hazael took advantage of his absence to fall upon his
territories beyond Jordan, destroying all the land of Gilead, Gad,
Reuben, and Manasseh, from Aroer to Bashan, 2 Kings x, 32. Some years
passed after this before Hazael undertook any thing against the kingdom
of Judah, it being remote from Damascus; but in the reign of Joash, the
son of Jehoahaz, A. M. 3165, he besieged the city of Gath, and, having
taken it, marched against Jerusalem, 2 Kings xii, 17, 18. But Joash,
conscious of his inferiority, bribed him at the price of all the money
he could raise, to evacuate Judea, with which he for the moment
complied; yet, in the following year, the army of Hazael returned,
entered the territories of Judah, and the city of Jerusalem, slew all
the princes of the people, and sent a valuable booty to their royal
master, 2 Kings xiii, 22; 2 Chron. xxiv, 23.