2 Kings 8:15
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.
And it came to pass on the morrow {H4283}, that he took {H3947} a thick cloth {H4346}, and dipped {H2881} it in water {H4325}, and spread {H6566} it on his face {H6440}, so that he died {H4191}: and Hazael {H2371} reigned {H4427} in his stead.
The next day he took a blanket, dipped it in water and spread it on his face, so that he died; and Haza'el took his place as king.
But the next day Hazael took a thick cloth, dipped it in water, and spread it over the kingโs face. So Ben-hadad died, and Hazael reigned in his place.
And it came to pass on the morrow, that he took the coverlet, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died: and Hazael reigned in his stead.
Cross-References
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2 Kings 8:13
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. -
Isaiah 33:1
ยถ Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou [wast] not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; [and] when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee. -
Psalms 36:4
He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way [that is] not good; he abhorreth not evil. -
1 Kings 15:28
Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay him, and reigned in his stead. -
2 Kings 15:30
And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah. -
1 Kings 16:10
And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead. -
1 Samuel 24:13
As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
Commentary
2 Kings 8:15 describes a pivotal and dramatic moment in the succession of the Syrian throne, highlighting the immediate fulfillment of a prophetic word spoken by the prophet Elisha.
Context
This verse immediately follows the account of the prophet Elisha's visit to Damascus, the capital of Aram (Syria). King Ben-hadad of Syria was ill and sent his servant Hazael to Elisha to inquire if he would recover. Elisha told Hazael that Ben-hadad would surely die, and then, with tears, revealed that Hazael himself would become king and inflict terrible atrocities upon Israel (2 Kings 8:11-13). Hazael returned to Ben-hadad, initially reporting only the king's impending death, but the very next day, he took matters into his own hands.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "took a thick cloth, and dipped [it] in water, and spread [it] on his face" describes a deliberate and insidious act of suffocation. The Hebrew for "thick cloth" (ืึทืึฐืึผึตืจ, makber) suggests a heavy, woven fabric, making it an effective tool for smothering. The act was not one of open combat or poisoning, but a quiet, intimate murder designed to appear as a natural death from the king's illness, or at least to prevent any struggle or outcry.
Practical Application
This verse reminds us that even wicked human actions can, in God's sovereignty, align with His overarching plan, though this does not excuse the sinfulness of the act. It challenges us to reflect on the nature of ambition and the pursuit of power, and to consider the ethical implications of our actions. While God's foreknowledge is absolute, human responsibility for choices remains intact.
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