⁹Hazael went to meet Elisha. He took with him a present and all kinds of goods from Damascus. He had loaded the goods on 40 camels. He stood in front of Elisha and said, “Your humble servant King Benhadad of Aram has sent me to you. He asks whether he will recover from this illness.”

¹⁰Elisha replied, “Tell him that he will get better, although the Lord has shown me that he is actually going to die.” ¹¹He stared at him until he became embarrassed. Then the man of God began to cry.

¹²“Sir, why are you crying?” Hazael asked.

Elisha answered, “I know the evil you will do to the Israelites: You will set their fortresses on fire, kill their best young men, smash their little children, and rip open their pregnant women.”

¹³But Hazael asked, “How can a dog like me do such a significant thing?”

Elisha answered, “The Lord has shown me that you will become king of Aram.” ¹⁴Hazael left Elisha and went to his master Benhadad, who asked him what Elisha had said.

Hazael answered, “He told me that you will get better.”

¹⁵But the next day Hazael took a blanket, soaked it in water, and smothered the king with it. Hazael ruled as king in his place.

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