¹¹ He stared at him with a fixed gaze until Hazael was embarrassed.^(A) Then the man of God began to weep.^(B)

¹² “Why is my lord weeping?” asked Hazael.

“Because I know the harm^(C) you will do to the Israelites,” he answered. “You will set fire to their fortified places, kill their young men with the sword, dash^(D) their little children^(E) to the ground, and rip open^(F) their pregnant women.”

¹³ Hazael said, “How could your servant, a mere dog,^(G) accomplish such a feat?”

“The Lord has shown me that you will become king^(H) of Aram,” answered Elisha.

¹⁴ Then Hazael left Elisha and returned to his master. When Ben-Hadad asked, “What did Elisha say to you?” Hazael replied, “He told me that you would certainly recover.” ¹⁵ But the next day he took a thick cloth, soaked it in water and spread it over the king’s face, so that he died.^(I) Then Hazael succeeded him as king.

³ So the Lord’s anger^(A) burned against Israel, and for a long time he kept them under the power^(B) of Hazael king of Aram and Ben-Hadad^(C) his son.

²² Hazael king of Aram oppressed^(A) Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz.

²⁴ Hazael king of Aram died, and Ben-Hadad^(A) his son succeeded him as king.