2 Kings 8:7

Elisha Meets with Hazael

8:7 Elisha traveled to Damascus while King Ben Hadad of Syria was sick. The king ¹  was told, “The prophet ²  has come here.”

2 Kings 8:12-13

8:12 Hazael asked, “Why are you crying, my master?” He replied, “Because I know the trouble you will cause the Israelites. You will set fire to their fortresses, kill their young men with the sword, smash their children to bits, and rip open their pregnant women.” 8:13 Hazael said, “How could your servant, who is as insignificant as a dog, accomplish this great military victory?” ³  Elisha answered, “The Lord has revealed to me that you will be the king of Syria.” ⁴ 

[8:7]  ¹ tn Heb “he”; the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[8:7]  ² tn Heb “man of God” (also a second time in this verse and in v. 11).

[8:13]  ³ tn Heb “Indeed, what is your servant, a dog, that he could do this great thing?” With his reference to a dog, Hazael is not denying that he is a “dog” and protesting that he would never commit such a dastardly “dog-like” deed. Rather, as Elisha’s response indicates, Hazael is suggesting that he, like a dog, is too insignificant to ever be in a position to lead such conquests.

[8:13]  ⁴ tn Heb “The Lord has shown me you [as] king over Syria.”