=ELISHA – A MAN OF MIRACLES=

The Cutthroat of Syria

I. THE OF HAZAEL (c. 880 BC) – II Kings 8:7-9

A. “Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come hither. And the
king said unto Hazael, Take a present in thine hand, and go, meet the man of God, and inquire of the Lord by
him, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?” (verses 7-8).
1. Elisha’s meeting with Hazael came about when Hazael was sent by Ben-hadad,
, to see the prophet Elisha.
2. It was common in those days for the sick to contact some prophet or religious medium to ask about the
outcome of their sickness. It was mainly the seeking for of their sickness.
3. Unfortunately, Ben-hadad's concern was limited to his needs.
B. The fact that Elisha was in Syria made the assignment of Hazael .
1. In fact, the mission was made when the king heard of Elisha's presence in .
2. Elisha coming to Syria was a bold move since it brought him right into the lions' den.
3. Yet, in spite of all of this, Elisha went to Syria and made no attempt to his
presence when there.
a. As a result, Elisha’s presence in Syria was quickly made known to Ben-hadad.
b. God was His prophet; and so the people were not hostile to him.
c. In fact, Elisha is referred to as “the of ” (verses 7-8) by the
Syrians, including Ben-hadad.
C. Ben-hadad ordered Hazael to “take a in thine hand” (verse 8) when he went to see
Elisha.
1. The “ ” consisted of “every good thing of Damascus” (verse 9) and was loaded on
forty camels to bring it to Elisha.
a. The “ ” does not mean forty camels loaded to the limit,
but rather that forty camels were employed to carry the contribution.
b. Ben-hadad was endeavoring to give great to Elisha by parading forty
camels to meet Elisha.
2. It was common to bring a to a prophet when seeking his help.

II. THE FOR HAZAEL (c. 880 BC) – II Kings 8:9-13

A. After Hazael had conveyed Ben-hadad's question to Elisha, the prophet then gave Hazael a message.
B. The message contained predictions and had more to do with Hazael than it did with Ben-hadad.
1. The question of Ben-hadad, which was relayed to Elisha by Hazael, was, “Shall I recover of this
disease?” (verse 9).
a. Elisha's response to Hazael about the inquiry was, “Go, say unto him, Thou mayest certainly
recover; howbeit, the Lord hath showed me that he shall surely die” (verse 10).
b. What Elisha said was that the would not kill Ben-hadad but
something else would.
c. Ben-hadad faced another problem—an .
2. After Elisha made the prediction about the outcome of Ben-hadad's sickness, “he settled his countenance
stedfastly, until he was ” (verse 11).
a. This prediction about the assassin was made by a , NOT a speech.
b. Elisha stared at Hazael with a penetrating look until Hazael became ashamed.
c. Why was Hazael shamed? Because he was plotting to Ben-hadad;
and the penetrating look of the prophet convinced Hazael that his secret plans were known.
3. Elisha made a prediction about the cutthroat of Hazael.
a. After the stare down of Hazael, “the man of God ” (verse 11).
b. Hazael then asked Elisha, “Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil
that thou wilt do unto 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 children, and rip up their women
with child” (verse 12).
c. Elisha saw the awful and of the judgment that
would come upon Israel through the cruelty of Hazael.
4. This fourth prediction of Elisha's message said, “The Lord hath showed me that thou shalt be
over Syria” (verse 13).
a. This prediction had been made years earlier by the Lord to Elijah in I Kings 19:15.
 b. It was a prediction made long before circumstances suggested the event, and yet it was fulfilled to
the letter.
C. Hazael did agree with Elisha's prediction that he would be such a terror to Israel: “But what, is thy
servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? (verse 13).
1. Hazael was as to how it was possible that he would ever wage war with Israel
and do the great things which Elisha has predicted of him.
a. This reference by Hazael to him being a “dog” was a common cliché of .
So the use of “ ” here emphasizes lowliness of position, not cruelty of character.
b. Hazael saw himself in too low a position to bring about what Elisha was describing.
c. “ ” does not refer to evil. Hazael viewed this slaughter of
Israel, which Elisha spoke of, as a great military achievement, something, therefore, in which to
glory.
2. Hazael would in his cutthroat character. Paul spoke of those “whose glory is in
their shame” (Philippians 3:19).
D. Elisha answered the protest of Hazael by saying, “The Lord hath showed me that thou shalt be king over
Syria”(verse 13).
1. Hazael’s answer reveals that he was not protesting his ; but only that he
did not have the or authority to do what Elisha described.
2. Being king would give Hazael all the power he needed to bring about such atrocities.

III. THE BY HAZAEL (c. 880 BC) – II Kings 8:14-15

A. After his meeting with Elisha, Hazael “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 shouldest surely recover. And it came to pass on
the morrow, that he took a thick cloth, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died; and
Hazael reigned in his stead” (verses 14-15).
1. The encounter with Elisha had affected Hazael's heart one single bit.
2. Although the stare did cause him to be ashamed momentarily, yet his hard heart was unmoved.
3. When Ben-hadad asked what Elisha said, Hazael told him he would recover.
a. The message would be welcomed news to Ben-hadad and make him feel more .
b. A ruler on his death bed easily gets very concerned and about the
actions of those around him.
4. Satan loves to the Word of God—in this case the prophet's prediction.
a. So while Ben-hadad seems to be the victim here, Elisha is also being harmed by the .
b. When Ben-hadad dies, those who know about the prediction will be quick to point out that Elisha
said he would die.
B. Hazael kills Ben-hadad in a very clever way which leaves no marks of violence or foul play.
1. When he was with Ben-hadad as a close attendant of the king, he placed a wet
thick cloth on the face of Ben-hadad.
2. Once the king , the cloth is removed and no marks of foul play exist.
3. Hazael is suspected, he then lays claim to the throne, and the people approve.