2 Kings 8:11

11 And he fixed his countenance steadfastly until Hazael was ashamed; and the man of God wept.

2 Kings 8:11 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 8:11

And he settled his countenance steadfastly
Refrained himself as much as possible, that he might not weep, as some Jewish writers interpret it; or, as others, he turned his face on one side, and covered it with his hands, that Hazael might not see him weep; or rather he set his face on Hazael, and looked at him so wistly:

until he was ashamed;
that is, Hazael; the prophet looked him out of countenance:

and the man of God wept;
at the thought of what calamities the man before him, he looked on, would be the cause of in Israel, as the following words show.

2 Kings 8:11 In-Context

9 So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' burden, and came and stood before him and said, "Thy son Benhadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying, `Shall I recover from this disease?'"

10 And Elisha said unto him, "Go, say unto him, `Thou mayest certainly recover'. However the LORD hath shown me that he shall surely die."

11 And he fixed his countenance steadfastly until Hazael was ashamed; and the man of God wept.

12 And Hazael said, "Why weepeth my lord?" And he answered, "Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel. Their strongholds 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."

13 And Hazael said, "But what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing?" And Elisha answered, "The LORD hath shown me that thou shalt be king over Syria."