Hazael (1 Kings 19:15–17; 2 Kings 8:7–10; 2 Kings 8:11–13; 2 Kings 8:14–15; 2 Kings 8:28–29; 2 Kings 9:14–15; 2 Kings 10:32–33; 2 Kings 12:17–18; 2 Kings 13:3–7; 2 Kings 13:22–25; 2 Chronicles 22:5–6; Amos 1:4–5)

Servant of Ben-hadad, king over Syria

A servant of Ben-hadad king of Syria whom the LORD told Elijah to anoint king over Syria, whom Elisha at Damascus told that he would be king, and who reigned in Ben-hadad's stead, fought Joram, smote Israel, took Gath, and oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.

Hazael first appears in the LORD's words to Elijah at Horeb: “Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, thou shalt anoint Hazael to be king over Syria” (1 Kings 19:15). The LORD adds that “him that escapeth from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay; and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay” (1 Kings 19:17). Scripture does not record the anointing.

When Elisha came to Damascus, Ben-hadad king of Syria was sick, and he sent Hazael with a present to ask whether he would recover (2 Kings 8:7-9). Elisha fixed his gaze on Hazael and wept, because, he said, “I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel” (2 Kings 8:12). Hazael answered, “But what is thy servant, who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing?” (2 Kings 8:13) and Elisha said, “Jehovah hath showed me that thou shalt be king over Syria” (2 Kings 8:13). Of the next day the text says: “he took the coverlet, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died: and Hazael reigned in his stead” (2 Kings 8:15).

As king, Hazael fought Joram son of Ahab at Ramoth-gilead (2 Kings 8:28), and in Jehu's days “Jehovah began to cut off from Israel: and Hazael smote them in all the borders of Israel” (2 Kings 10:32). He took Gath and set his face toward Jerusalem, and Jehoash king of Judah sent him the hallowed things and the gold, “and he went away from Jerusalem” (2 Kings 12:18). “Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz” (2 Kings 13:22); then “Hazael king of Syria died; and Benhadad his son reigned in his stead” (2 Kings 13:24). The prophet Amos speaks the word of the LORD against him: “I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, and it shall devour the palaces of Ben-hadad” (Amos 1:4).

Weaknesses

• Smote Israel in all its borders
• Oppressed Israel

Themes

• The LORD's word to Elijah
• Syria and Israel
• Elisha's tears
• Oppression of Israel
• Judgment on the house of Hazael

Named to Elijah at Horeb (1 Kings 19:15–17)

The LORD tells Elijah to anoint Hazael king over Syria, Jehu king over Israel, and Elisha prophet, and says that the sword of Hazael, Jehu and Elisha will slay.

Sent by Ben-hadad to Elisha (2 Kings 8:7–10)

Ben-hadad king of Syria is sick; he sends Hazael with a present of forty camels' burden to ask the man of God whether he will recover.

Elisha weeps before Hazael (2 Kings 8:11–13)

Elisha settles his countenance upon Hazael until he is ashamed, weeps, tells the evil Hazael will do to Israel, and says the LORD has showed him that Hazael shall be king over Syria.

Elisha weeps before Hazael

Elisha had said of Ben-hadad, “Thou shalt surely recover; howbeit Jehovah hath showed me that he shall surely die” (2 Kings 8:10). Then “he settled his countenance stedfastly upon him, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept” (2 Kings 8:11).

“And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strongholds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash in pieces their little ones, and rip up their women with child” (2 Kings 8:12).

“And Hazael said, But what is thy servant, who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, Jehovah hath showed me that thou shalt be king over Syria” (2 Kings 8:13).

Ben-hadad dies and Hazael reigns (2 Kings 8:14–15)

Hazael returns to his master and says Elisha told him he would surely recover; on the morrow the coverlet is dipped in water and spread on Ben-hadad's face, so that he dies, and Hazael reigns in his stead.

Ben-hadad dies and Hazael reigns

“Then he departed from Elisha, and came to his master; who said to him, What said Elisha to thee? And he answered, He told me that thou wouldest surely recover” (2 Kings 8:14).

“And it came to pass on the morrow, that he took the coverlet, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died: and Hazael reigned in his stead” (2 Kings 8:15).

Fights Joram at Ramoth-gilead (2 Kings 8:28–29; 2 Kings 9:14–15; 2 Chronicles 22:5–6)

Joram son of Ahab goes to war against Hazael at Ramoth-gilead, the Syrians wound him, and he returns to Jezreel to be healed, while Jehu conspires against him.

Smites Israel east of the Jordan (2 Kings 10:32–33)

In Jehu's days the LORD begins to cut off from Israel, and Hazael smites them in all their borders, from the Jordan eastward through Gilead and Bashan.

Takes Gath; Judah sends gold (2 Kings 12:17–18)

Hazael fights against Gath and takes it and sets his face to go up to Jerusalem; Jehoash king of Judah sends him the hallowed things and the gold, and he goes away.

Oppresses Israel under Jehoahaz; dies (2 Kings 13:1–7; 2 Kings 13:22–25)

The LORD's anger delivers Israel into the hand of Hazael and of Ben-hadad his son; Hazael oppresses Israel all the days of Jehoahaz, and when he dies Ben-hadad his son reigns in his stead.

Oppresses Israel under Jehoahaz; dies

“And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, continually” (2 Kings 13:3). Of the people left to Jehoahaz, “the king of Syria destroyed them, and made them like the dust in threshing” (2 Kings 13:7).

“And Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. But Jehovah was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” (2 Kings 13:22-23).

“And Hazael king of Syria died; and Benhadad his son reigned in his stead. And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael the cities which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war” (2 Kings 13:24-25). The text gives neither the years of his reign nor the cause of his death.

Ben-hadad king of Syria (2 Kings 8:7–9; 2 Kings 8:14–15)

Sent Hazael with a present to Elisha; Hazael came to his master, and on the morrow he died and Hazael reigned in his stead.

Elijah (1 Kings 19:15–17)

The LORD told Elijah to anoint Hazael to be king over Syria.

Elisha (2 Kings 8:7–13)

The man of God at Damascus, whom Hazael called his lord, wept before him and said he would be king over Syria.

Jehoram of Israel (2 Kings 8:28–29; 2 Chronicles 22:5–6)

Joram son of Ahab went to war against Hazael at Ramoth-gilead, where the Syrians wounded him.

Joash king of Judah (2 Kings 12:17–18)

As Jehoash king of Judah, sent Hazael the hallowed things and the gold, and Hazael went away from Jerusalem.

Jehu (1 Kings 19:15–17; 2 Kings 10:32–33)

Named with Hazael in the LORD's word to Elijah; in Jehu's days Hazael smote Israel in all its borders.

Jehoahaz king of Israel (2 Kings 13:3–7; 2 Kings 13:22)

Israel was delivered into the hand of Hazael, who oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz, and the king of Syria made his people like the dust in threshing.

Major sections

• 1 Kings 19:15–17
• 2 Kings 8:7–15
• 2 Kings 8:28–9:15
• 2 Kings 10:32–13:25
• Amos 1:3–5

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