Treachery of Hazael

Reading:   2 Kings 8-9

It's one thing to premeditate a murder but to premeditate a murder, get called out from a man of God who has seen your future action, and then commit the murder anyway - quite on another level of wrong!  Yet here, in chapter eight, we are witness to such an occurrence.

The king of Syria was sick and, curious as to what the future held, he sent his right hand man, Hazael, to inquire of the Israelite prophet (after so many encounters with Elisha, I'm sure the king had much respect for the man).  Hazael went forth as requested but, in the dark chambers of his heart, planned to slay the king upon his return...

2 KINGS 8:10, 14-15

10 And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him, Thou mayest certainly recover: howbeit the Lord hath shewed me that he shall surely die. 

14 So he 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. 

15 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. 

Now let me add some additional spiritual shackles to good 'ol Hazael.  I'm sure you noticd there are a few missing verses (11-13), I wanted to let the actual murder happen in verse so that you could see how conniving and deceitful Mr. Hazael ("I'm in a mist, I'm in a mist," a little nod to Watership Down) was when confronted.  Elisha prophesied that the king would recover but also stated that "...he [would] surely die."  Hazael, no doubt, was a bit shocked by this statement and wondered if Elisha might know of his murderous intent.   Elisha then started to weep, having seen the truth in Hazael's reaction (v.11).  This is where Hazael had to be quick on his toes in order to mask his surprise...

2 KINGS 8:12-13

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 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.  

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

Hazael asked, with dramatic concern, why the prophet was distressed and was probably not prepared for Elisha's lurid response.  Back pedaling, Hazael sputtered a retort, "What, why? Am I a dog...why would I do such a thing?"  But Elisha stuck it to him, "...Thou shalt be king, that's why!"

At that point, Hazael had no more reason to continue the ruse and responded by shrugging his shoulders, maybe even pointed a finger at Elisha and winked as if to acknowledge his prophetic prowess, then, with a smirk on his face and excitement in his heart (after all, a man of God just told him he would be king), he simply departed.

Hazael was so full of himself and so locked on his endgame (the crown) that he couldn't see the spiritual noose tightening around his neck and though I'm sure he gave some credence to the man of God, he went ahead with his plan and cared not who knew (even God).

Wo be unto the foolish who mock God!  Benjamin Franklin said,

Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools,
that don't have brains enough to be honest.

Amen, brother Benji!!

~Kipling