Death of Benhadad
Benhadad the king of Syria was sick and told his officer, Hazael to go to Elisha to find out if he would recover from his disease. Hazael used the information from Elisha to be greedy and corrupt and to do evil to King Benhadad. Elisha was faithful and obedient to the LORD. Hazael was unfaithful greedy and evil. We must be prayerful and watchful not to allow our greed to corrupt us into doing evil like Hazael did.
2 Kings 8:7–15
Elisha came to Damascus; and Benhadad the king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, the man of God is come here. The king told his officer, Hazael, to take a present to Elisha and find out if he shall recover from his disease.
Hazael met Elisha and took a present of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels’ burden, and came and stood before him, and asked if Benhadad king of Syria would recover of this disease?
Elisha said unto him, Go, and say unto him, that he shall recover; however the LORD has shown Elisha that the king shall surely die. Elisha wept. Elisha knew the evil that will be done unto the children of Israel: their strong holds will he set on fire, and their young men will he slay with the sword, and will dash their children, and rip up their women with child.
The LORD had showed Elisha that Hazael shall be king over Syria. Hazael departed from Elisha and went to King Benhadad and told him he would recover. The next day Hazael 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.
What Can This Story Teach Us?
Elisha is a truthful righteous man of the LORD God. Elisha had to tell Hazael that king Benhadad would recover if only Hazael didn’t plot to kill the king so he could take the throne. Hazael was a crafty, cruel evil man who saw a way to gain power and become king.
Elisha told Hazael that he knew the evil that Hazael would do to the children of Israel: their strong holds will he set on fire, and their young men would he slay with the sword, and will dash their children, and rip up their women with child. Apparently later he did killed Ben-hadad, and assumed the throne, and soon became engaged in a cruel war with the kings of Judah and Israel for the possession of the city of Ramoth-gilead.
Hazael had murder King Benhadad so he could gain the throne for himself. What crafty, cruel, evil men will do to gain position and power can be shocking. We must always be careful not to ruin our integrity, character or righteousness by resorting to all sorts of evil in order to gain worldly money or power.
Elisha was faithful and obedient to the LORD. Hazael was unfaithful greedy and evil. We must be prayerful and watchful not to allow our greed to corrupt us into doing evil like Hazael did.
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “Death of Benhadad:.” Becker Bible Studies Library Feb 2015.< https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2272,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015, February) “Death of Benhadad:.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2272,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015) “Death of Benhadad:.” Becker Bible Studies Library (February), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2272, (accessed).
