2 Kings 8:12

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.

And Hazael {H2371} said {H559}, Why weepeth {H1058} my lord {H113}? And he answered {H559}, Because I know {H3045} the evil {H7451} that thou wilt do {H6213} unto the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478}: their strong holds {H4013} wilt thou set {H7971} on fire {H784}, and their young men {H970} wilt thou slay {H2026} with the sword {H2719}, and wilt dash {H7376} their children {H5768}, and rip up {H1234} their women with child {H2030}.

Haza'el asked, "Why is my lord crying?" He answered, "Because I know the disasters you will bring on the people of Isra'el - you will set their fortresses on fire, you will kill their young men with the sword, you will dash their little ones to pieces and rip their pregnant women apart."

“Why is my lord weeping?” asked Hazael. “Because I know the evil you will do to the Israelites,” Elisha replied. “You will set fire to their fortresses, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little ones to pieces, and rip open their pregnant women.”

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 in pieces their little ones, and rip up their women with child.

Commentary

2 Kings 8:12 records a poignant and chilling moment where the prophet Elisha weeps as he foretells the horrific atrocities Hazael, a Syrian official, will commit against the nation of Israel. This verse reveals the prophet's burden and God's foreknowledge of future events, even those involving immense human cruelty.

Context

This verse is set in Damascus, the capital of Aram (Syria), where the prophet Elisha has traveled. King Ben-Hadad of Aram is gravely ill and sends his chief official, Hazael, to inquire of Elisha whether he will recover (2 Kings 8:7-8). Elisha informs Hazael that Ben-Hadad will indeed die, but then gazes intently at Hazael until the Syrian official becomes uncomfortable. Elisha then begins to weep, explaining that he foresees the terrible evil Hazael himself will inflict upon the children of Israel once he becomes king. This prophecy immediately precedes Hazael's return to Ben-Hadad and his subsequent actions that lead to his ascension to the throne (2 Kings 8:15).

Key Themes

  • Divine Foreknowledge and Sovereignty: The most prominent theme is God's absolute knowledge of future events, including the specific, brutal actions of individuals and nations. Elisha's prophecy is not a guess but a divine revelation, demonstrating God's sovereign control over history and the rise and fall of kings.
  • The Burden of the Prophet: Elisha's tears highlight the immense emotional weight and sorrow that prophets often carried. Knowing the suffering that Israel would endure, even though it was part of God's plan or judgment, caused the prophet deep anguish. It reflects a compassionate heart that grieves over human wickedness and its consequences.
  • Human Depravity and Cruelty: The verse graphically details the horrific acts Hazael would perpetrate: burning strongholds, slaying young men, dashing children, and ripping up pregnant women. These descriptions underscore the depths of human cruelty and the brutality of ancient warfare, serving as a stark reminder of the evil that can arise from unchecked power and malice.
  • Consequences for Israel: This prophecy foreshadows a period of severe oppression and suffering for Israel under Hazael's reign, which is later recounted in 2 Kings 10:32 and 2 Kings 13:3-7. It suggests a divine allowance, if not direct judgment, upon Israel for its disobedience and idolatry.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV translation of this verse is particularly stark and vivid, conveying the brutal nature of the foreseen acts. The phrase "rip up their women with child" (Hebrew: baqa', meaning 'to cleave, break open') describes an act of extreme barbarity, not uncommon in ancient warfare tactics, designed to utterly demoralize and destroy an enemy population. This specific atrocity is also mentioned in prophecies against other nations for their cruelty, such as in Amos 1:13, emphasizing its reprehensible nature.

Practical Application

This verse offers several profound lessons for today:

  • A Call to Compassion: Elisha's tears remind us of the importance of empathy and compassion for those who suffer. Even when we cannot prevent evil, we can grieve with those who are afflicted.
  • Understanding Human Nature: It serves as a somber reminder of the capacity for evil within the human heart when it is not restrained by moral or divine principles. It highlights the constant need for justice, righteousness, and the transformative power of God's Spirit.
  • Trusting God's Sovereignty: Despite the horrific nature of the prophecy, the fact that God reveals it beforehand assures us of His ultimate control over history. Even in the face of immense suffering and injustice, God remains sovereign, and His purposes will ultimately prevail.
  • The Reality of Spiritual Warfare: The prophet's ability to foresee such evil underscores the spiritual realities at play in the world, reminding believers to be vigilant and to pray against the forces of darkness and human depravity.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Hosea 13:16 (9 votes)

    Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.

  • Nahum 3:10 (8 votes)

    Yet [was] she carried away, she went into captivity: her young children also were dashed in pieces at the top of all the streets: and they cast lots for her honourable men, and all her great men were bound in chains.

  • 2 Kings 12:17 (6 votes)

    ¶ Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it: and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem.

  • 2 Kings 13:3 (6 votes)

    And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, all [their] days.

  • 2 Kings 15:16 (6 votes)

    Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that [were] therein, and the coasts thereof from Tirzah: because they opened not [to him], therefore he smote [it; and] all the women therein that were with child he ripped up.

  • Amos 1:13 (5 votes)

    Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away [the punishment] thereof; because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border:

  • Isaiah 13:16 (5 votes)

    Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished.