¹¹ Then Elisha stared steadily at him until Hazael was ashamed.^(A)

The man of God wept,^{(B) 12} and Hazael asked, “Why is my lord weeping?”

He replied, “Because I know the evil you will do to the people of Israel. You will set their fortresses on fire. You will kill their young men with the sword. You will dash their little ones to pieces. You will rip open their pregnant women.”^(C)

¹³ Hazael said, “How could your servant, a mere dog,^(D) do this monstrous thing?”

Elisha answered, “The Lord has shown me that you will be king over Aram.”^(E)

¹⁴ Hazael left Elisha and went to his master, who asked him, “What did Elisha say to you?”

He responded, “He told me you are sure to recover.” ¹⁵ The next day Hazael took a heavy cloth, dipped it in water, and spread it over the king’s face. Ben-hadad died, and Hazael reigned instead of him.

³ So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel,^(A) and He surrendered them to the power of Hazael^(B) king of Aram and his son Ben-hadad^(C) during their reigns.

God’s Mercy on Israel

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

²⁴ King Hazael of Aram died, and his son Ben-hadad^(A) became king in his place.