2 Kings 8:9 kjv
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 of this disease?
2 Kings 8:9 nkjv
So Hazael went to meet him and took a present with him, of every good thing of Damascus, forty camel-loads; and he came and stood before him, and said, "Your son Ben-Hadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, 'Shall I recover from this disease?' "
2 Kings 8:9 niv
Hazael went to meet Elisha, taking with him as a gift forty camel-loads of all the finest wares of Damascus. He went in and stood before him, and said, "Your son Ben-Hadad king of Aram has sent me to ask, 'Will I recover from this illness?'?"
2 Kings 8:9 esv
So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, all kinds of goods of Damascus, forty camels' loads. When he came and stood before him, he said, "Your son Ben-hadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, 'Shall I recover from this sickness?'"
2 Kings 8:9 nlt
So Hazael loaded down forty camels with the finest products of Damascus as a gift for Elisha. He went to him and said, "Your servant Ben-hadad, the king of Aram, has sent me to ask, 'Will I recover from this illness?'"
2 Kings 8 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kgs 19:15-18 | The Lord said to him, "Go, return... you shall anoint Hazael king over Aram." | Hazael's future kingship previously foretold by YHWH. |
| 2 Kgs 1:2-3 | Ahaziah sent messengers, saying, "Go inquire of Baal-Zebub..." But the angel... said to Elijah... "Is it because there is no God in Israel?" | Contrast: Pagan king seeks YHWH's prophet, unlike an apostate Israelite king seeking Baal. |
| 2 Kgs 5:1-14 | Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man... a leper... went... and stood at the door of Elisha's house... | A powerful Aramaean seeking Elisha for healing from God. |
| 2 Kgs 6:8-23 | When the king of Aram was warring against Israel... Elisha... warned the king... | Elisha's previous involvement in Aram's affairs, frustrating their military plans. |
| 2 Kgs 7:1-16 | Thus says the Lord, "About this time tomorrow... Ben-Hadad had come in a great host." | Recalls prior military actions by Ben-Hadad, showing past animosity now supplanted by urgent need. |
| 2 Kgs 8:10 | Elisha said to him, "Go, say to him, 'You shall certainly recover.' But the Lord has shown me that he will certainly die." | The divine revelation about Ben-Hadad's actual fate immediately following this inquiry. |
| 2 Kgs 8:12-13 | And Hazael said, "But what is your servant, who is but a dog, that he would do this great thing?"... Elisha wept... | Elisha foresees and predicts Hazael's future atrocities against Israel. |
| 2 Kgs 10:32 | In those days the Lord began to cut off parts of Israel; and Hazael attacked them... | Fulfillment: Hazael oppresses Israel as an instrument of divine judgment. |
| 2 Kgs 13:3-7 | The anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and He gave them into the hand of Hazael king of Aram... | Further fulfillment of Hazael's destructive role against Israel. |
| 1 Sam 9:7-8 | Saul said to his servant, "If we go, what shall we bring the man?... I have... a quarter of a shekel of silver; I will give that to the man of God..." | Illustrates the custom of bringing a gift when seeking a prophet's counsel. |
| 1 Kgs 22:5-7 | Then Jehoshaphat said, "Please inquire first for the word of the Lord." | The common practice of kings consulting prophets before making important decisions. |
| Prov 18:16 | A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before great men. | Explains the strategic value of the massive gift Hazael brought. |
| Isa 38:1 | In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill... Isaiah the prophet... came to him... | Example of a king's serious illness and inquiry to a prophet for divine word. |
| Gen 32:13-21 | Jacob took from what he had with him a present for Esau his brother... | Large gifts used in diplomatic or reconciliatory contexts to influence an outcome. |
| Gen 43:11 | "Take some of the best products of the land in your bags, and bring a present for the man..." | Emphasizes the giving of "the best" as a gesture of respect or entreaty. |
| Dan 2:20-21 | He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men... | Highlights God's sovereign control over rulers and national destinies. |
| Jer 27:3 | ...send them to the king of Edom... king of Moab... king of Ammon... | Kings dispatching envoys with messages and likely gifts to other significant figures. |
| Amos 1:3-5 | Thus says the Lord, "For three transgressions of Damascus and for four... I will send fire upon the house of Hazael..." | Divine judgment pronounced on Damascus for the future atrocities committed by Hazael. |
| Prov 21:1 | The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes. | God's absolute sovereignty, even over pagan kings and their decisions or life/death. |
| Psa 41:3 | The Lord will sustain him upon his sickbed; In his illness You restore him to health. | Acknowledges God's power over sickness, though in Ben-Hadad's case, His purpose was death. |
| Matt 8:5-10 | When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him... saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed... Jesus said to the centurion... I will come and heal him." | Though different contexts, shows powerful individuals from outside Israel seeking healing/favor from divine authority. |
| Acts 8:18-19 | When Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money... | Though negative, highlights a perception that spiritual power can be influenced by gifts. |
2 Kings 8 verses
2 Kings 8 9 Meaning
This verse details Hazael, an official from Damascus, presenting himself before the prophet Elisha in Syria. He brings an immense diplomatic gift of "every good thing of Damascus," transported on forty camels, on behalf of his king, Ben-Hadad. The king is gravely ill and has sent Hazael to Elisha to inquire about his prospects for recovery. The inquiry reveals Ben-Hadad's desperation and his acknowledgement of Elisha's prophetic authority and connection to divine power, even as a pagan king.
2 Kings 8 9 Context
Chapter 8 of 2 Kings begins with Elisha warning the Shunammite woman to leave Israel to escape an impending seven-year famine, demonstrating his divine foresight and concern. After her return, the king of Israel restores her land and property due to Gehazi recounting Elisha's miraculous raising of her son. The narrative then shifts focus to Elisha's journey to Damascus, the capital of Aram (Syria), a long-standing rival of Israel. Ben-Hadad, the Aramean king, hears of Elisha's presence and, gravely ill, dispatches his trusted official, Hazael, to seek a divine oracle regarding his illness. This sets the stage for a crucial prophetic encounter where the destiny of both Ben-Hadad and Hazael, and consequently Israel, is dramatically revealed.
2 Kings 8 9 Word analysis
- So Hazael: Hazael (חֲזָאֵל, Ḥazael), meaning "God has seen" or "vision of God." He was a high-ranking official, perhaps even Ben-Hadad's chief minister or general. His presence signifies a royal, high-level delegation, underlining the seriousness of the king's request.
- went to meet him: Implies active seeking and a formal approach, showing respect and deference to Elisha's prophetic authority.
- and took a present with him: The word for "present" is מִנְחָה (minḥah), often translated as an offering or tribute. Here, it signifies a valuable gift to seek favor, obtain a privilege, or show homage, typical for seeking counsel from a revered prophet or powerful figure. Its substantial nature underscores the urgency and importance of Ben-Hadad's plea.
- of every good thing of Damascus: (כָּל-טוּב דַּמֶּשֶׂק, kol-ṭūḇ dammeśeq). This indicates that the gift was not just large in quantity but also consisted of the finest, most valuable products of Aram's rich capital—perhaps precious metals, exotic spices, rare fabrics, or valuable manufactured goods. It represents the height of Aramean wealth and craftsmanship.
- forty camel loads: אַרְבָּעִים גְּמַלִּים מַשְׂאָה (ʾarbaʿîm gemallîm mas'â). This is an enormous quantity. A camel can carry hundreds of pounds, so forty camel-loads represent several tons of goods. It is an extraordinary, almost unparalleled, diplomatic or propitiatory gift in biblical narratives. This lavish scale communicates Ben-Hadad's profound desperation and his willingness to spend immense wealth to save his life or secure a positive word.
- and he came and stood before him: This posture conveys respect, readiness, and submission to Elisha's authority, acknowledging the prophet's unique standing.
- and said, "Your son Ben-Hadad king of Aram has sent me to you: "Your son" (בִּנְךָ, bin'ka) is a respectful or honorific title, acknowledging Elisha's seniority, wisdom, or spiritual authority, much like a disciple to a master, or perhaps as a term of flattery. Ben-Hadad (בֶּן-הֲדַד, Ben-Hadad), meaning "son of Hadad" (the Aramean storm god), identifies the powerful monarch who ruled Aram, Israel's long-standing enemy.
- "Will I recover from this sickness?": הַאֲחֶיֶה מֵהַחֹלִי הַזֶּה (ha'aḥayeh mehaḥoli hazzeh). This is a direct, urgent, and personal question. The king is not seeking general advice but a definitive divine word on his imminent health and survival, indicating that his illness is severe and life-threatening. The form of the question (expecting a yes/no) shows his desire for a clear oracle.
Words-group Analysis
- "took a present with him, of every good thing of Damascus, forty camel loads": This phrase dramatically highlights the unparalleled nature of the offering. It wasn't merely a token; it was an immense show of wealth and a desperate attempt to honor Elisha, likely to sway his prophetic word or curry divine favor. This also reveals the wealth and strategic importance of Damascus as a regional power. The act signifies humility and reverence from a powerful pagan king toward a prophet of YHWH, implicitly acknowledging YHWH's authority even in Aram.
- "Your son Ben-Hadad king of Aram has sent me to you": The respectful "Your son" coupled with the formal "has sent me" emphasizes the king's humility and desperation. It is a striking posture for a pagan monarch, given the historical animosity between Aram and Israel. This signals a desperate pragmatism, prioritizing potential healing over national pride or pagan religious beliefs, thus implicitly acknowledging the superior power or efficacy of Elisha's God.
- "Will I recover from this sickness?": This core question reveals Ben-Hadad's deep fear and vulnerability in the face of death. Despite his royal power and pagan worship, he turns to the prophet of Israel's God, underscoring the universal human confrontation with mortality and the perceived final authority of divine knowledge, wherever it may be found. The subsequent verses reveal the deceptive nature of the oracle and Ben-Hadad's true fate.
2 Kings 8 9 Bonus section
The visit of Hazael to Elisha, bringing the "every good thing of Damascus," holds an implicit polemical message. Ben-Hadad, a worshipper of the storm-god Hadad, a chief deity of the Arameans, finds himself turning to YHWH's prophet in his time of need. This indicates a recognition that his own gods cannot grant him the necessary healing or revelation regarding his fate. The grand display of wealth and homage from Damascus to Elisha further reinforces the supremacy of YHWH over the gods of Aram, without explicitly stating it. The sheer scale of the gift might also suggest Ben-Hadad's concern that Elisha, being Israelite, might be reluctant to help an Aramean king who had caused much trouble for Israel, hence the need for extreme persuasion.
2 Kings 8 9 Commentary
2 Kings 8:9 marks a pivotal moment where a powerful pagan king humbles himself, sending his most trusted official with an extraordinarily lavish gift, to seek a word of life from the God of Israel through His prophet. This scene underscores Elisha's esteemed reputation across national borders and religious divides. Ben-Hadad's immense "present" and the deferential tone ("your son") illustrate his desperate recognition of Elisha's spiritual authority. It reveals that even the most powerful of monarchs ultimately face mortality and, in their distress, may turn to unexpected sources for help, implicitly acknowledging the efficacy of YHWH's power over their own deities. The query "Will I recover from this sickness?" sets the stage for a tragic and divinely ordained unfolding of events that will reshape the power dynamics in the region. This visit, initially framed by Ben-Hadad's personal illness, is ultimately orchestrated by God to further His plans for both Aram and Israel through Hazael's impending succession.