2 Kings 8:11-21

11 He fixed his gaze steadily on him 1until he was ashamed, and 2the man of God wept.
12 Hazael said, "Why does my lord weep?" Then he answered, "Because 3I know the evil that you will do to the sons of Israel: their strongholds you will set on fire, and their young men you will kill with the sword, and their little ones you 4will dash in pieces, and their women with child you will rip up."
13 Then Hazael said, "But what is your servant, 5who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing?" And Elisha answered, "6The LORD has shown me that you will be king over Aram."
14 So he departed from Elisha and returned to his master, who said to him, "What did Elisha say to you?" And he answered, "He told me that 7you would surely recover."
15 On the following day, he took the cover and dipped it in water and spread it on his face, 8so that he died. And Hazael became king in his place.

Another Jehoram Reigns in Judah

16 Now in the fifth year of 9Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being then the king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah became king.
17 He was 10thirty-two * years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
18 He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done, for 11the daughter of Ahab became his wife; and he did evil in the sight of the LORD.
19 However, the LORD was not willing to destroy Judah, for the sake of David His servant, 12since He had promised him to give a lamp to him through his sons always *.
20 In his days 13Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves.
21 Then Joram crossed over to Zair, and all his chariots with him. And he arose by night and struck the Edomites who had surrounded him and the captains of the chariots; 14but his army fled to their tents.

2 Kings 8:11-21 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 8

This chapter gives an account of some advice Elisha had formerly given to the Shunammite woman, and of the success of it, 2Ki 8:1-6 and of the sickness of the king of Syria, who sent to Elisha, then being at Damascus, by Hazael, to know whether he should recover; by whom a message was returned, and Hazael was told by the prophet he should be king of Syria, and exercise great cruelty in Israel, 2Ki 8:7-15 and of the bad reign of Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat, over Judah, 2Ki 8:16-24 and of the reign of his son Ahaziah, 2Ki 8:25-29.

Cross References 14

  • 1. 2 Kings 2:17
  • 2. Luke 19:41
  • 3. 2 Kings 10:32, 33; 2 Kings 12:17; 2 Kings 13:3, 7
  • 4. 2 Kings 15:16; Nahum 3:10
  • 5. 1 Samuel 17:43; 2 Samuel 9:8
  • 6. 1 Kings 19:15
  • 7. 2 Kings 8:10
  • 8. 2 Kings 8:10
  • 9. 2 Kings 1:17; 2 Kings 3:1
  • 10. 2 Chronicles 21:5-10
  • 11. 2 Kings 8:27
  • 12. 2 Samuel 7:12-15; 1 Kings 11:36
  • 13. 1 Kings 22:47; 2 Kin 3:9, 26, 27; 2 Kings 8:22
  • 14. 2 Samuel 18:17; 2 Samuel 19:8

Footnotes 7

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