2 Kings 8:12

12 And Hazael said, Why is my lord weeping? Then he said in answer, Because I see the evil which you will do to the children of Israel: burning down their strong towns, putting their young men to death with the sword, smashing their little ones against the stones, and cutting open the women who are with child.

2 Kings 8:12 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 8:12

And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord?
&c.] Imagining it was for the death of Benhadad he had predicted, for which he could see no reason; of the title, "my lord", see ( 1 Kings 18:7 )

and he answered, because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the
children of Israel;
which he foresaw by a spirit of prophecy; and Israel being his own people, he sympathized in their calamities before they came:

their strong holds wilt thou set on fire;
which should be taken by him, see ( 2 Kings 10:32 )

and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword;
in battle:

and wilt dash their children;
against rocks and stones, or stone walls, or upon the ground, floor, or pavement, as was usual in war ^F7, see ( Psalms 137:9 ) ,

and rip up their women with child:
which was the height of barbarity and cruelty. Ben Gersom and Ben Melech interpret this of breaking down the walls of fortified cities, built strong, like hills and mountains; but this is supposed in the first clause.

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FOOTNOTES:

F7 Vid. Homer. Iliad. 22. ver. 63, 64.

2 Kings 8:12 In-Context

10 And Elisha said to him, Go, say to him, You will certainly get better; but the Lord has made it clear to me that only death is before him.

11 And he kept his eyes fixed on him till he was shamed, and the man of God was overcome with weeping.

12 And Hazael said, Why is my lord weeping? Then he said in answer, Because I see the evil which you will do to the children of Israel: burning down their strong towns, putting their young men to death with the sword, smashing their little ones against the stones, and cutting open the women who are with child.

13 And Hazael said, How is it possible that your servant, who is only a dog, will do this great thing? And Elisha said, The Lord has made it clear to me that you will be king over Aram.

14 Then he went away from Elisha and came in to his master, who said to him, What did Elisha say to you? And his answer was, He said that you would certainly get well.