In brief
Hazael is a king of Syria in the time of the prophet Elisha. God tells Elijah that he will become king, then Elisha, consulted by Hazael on behalf of the sick King Ben-hadad, weeps as he sees the harm Hazael will do to Israel. The next day Hazael smothers his master and reigns in his place. He then oppresses Israel throughout the life of King Jehoahaz. He is remembered as an instrument of God's judgment whose crimes remain his own.
What does the name Hazael mean?
The name Hazael is generally linked to the expression "God sees" or "God has seen", formed from a verb meaning to see and the word El, God. The Bible gives no explanation of this name. It is borne by a Syrian, not by an Israelite.
The story of Hazael
A name announced to Elijah
1 Kings 19:15-17Discouraged, Elijah flees as far as Horeb. There the Lord speaks to him and gives him a mission: go to Damascus and anoint Hazael king of Syria, then Jehu king of Israel and Elisha as prophet. God announces that the sword of Hazael will strike Israel, which has turned away from his covenant.
Sent to consult Elisha
2 Kings 8:7-10Ben-hadad, king of Syria, is sick when Elisha arrives in Damascus. He sends Hazael with a gift of forty camel loads to ask whether he will recover from his illness. Elisha answers that the king will recover, but that the Lord has shown him that he will die.
The prophet's tears
2 Kings 8:11-13Elisha stares at Hazael for a long time, then weeps. He announces the harm Hazael will do to the people of Israel: cities set on fire, young men killed, children and women slaughtered. Hazael protests that he is only a dog, his servant, and could not do such great things. Elisha replies that the Lord has shown him that Hazael will be king of Syria.
He takes his master's throne
2 Kings 8:14-15Back with Ben-hadad, Hazael reports only the first part of the message: he will recover. The next day he dips a cloth in water and spreads it over the king's face, and the king dies. Hazael reigns in his place. The prophecy did not force him to kill: he chose this murder himself.
At war with Israel and Judah
2 Kings 8:28-29Joram, king of Israel, and Ahaziah, king of Judah, go to war against Hazael at Ramoth-gilead. The Syrians wound Joram, who has to return to Jezreel to recover. Elisha's words begin to come true: Hazael becomes a fearsome enemy of God's people.
Oppression under Jehoahaz
2 Kings 13:3-7, 22-25Because Israel follows the sins of Jeroboam, the Lord gives it into the hand of Hazael and of his son Ben-hadad. Hazael oppresses Israel throughout the life of Jehoahaz. But God has compassion because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. After Hazael's death, Jehoash recovers the lost cities.
What Hazael teaches us
- God governs the history of nations and can use even a pagan king to discipline his people.
- Knowing in advance what God allows never justifies sin: Hazael remains responsible for his crimes.
- Elisha's tears show that God's heart suffers over the misfortune that strikes his people.
- People do not always know the evil their own heart is capable of, hence the need to watch over it.
- Even in discipline, God stays faithful to his covenant and shows mercy.
Key verses
Elisha weeps because he knows the harm Hazael will do to the people of Israel. The prophet takes no pleasure in judgment: he bears its pain.
Hazael calls himself a dog and seems not to believe he is capable of such things. This verse reminds us how little the human heart can know itself.
Despite Hazael's oppression, the Lord shows mercy to Israel because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God's faithfulness goes beyond the unfaithfulness of the people.
Bible verses to meditate on
Frequently asked questions
Did Elijah anoint Hazael?
In 1 Kings 19:15, God commands Elijah to anoint Hazael king of Syria. The Bible does not tell of this anointing. It is Elisha, Elijah's successor, who tells Hazael that he will be king, in 2 Kings 8:13. It is best not to claim more than the text says.
Why did Elisha weep before Hazael?
Elisha weeps because God has shown him the harm Hazael will do to the people of Israel: cities burned, young men killed, children and women slaughtered (2 Kings 8:12). His tears express the prophet's compassion for his people.
Where can I find the story of Hazael in the Bible?
Hazael is announced in 1 Kings 19:15-17. His meeting with Elisha and his seizure of the throne are told in 2 Kings 8:7-15, his wars in 2 Kings 8:28-29 and in the following chapters, and his death in 2 Kings 13:24. The prophet Amos also mentions the house of Hazael.