7 Elisha went to Aram’s (Syria’s) capital Damesek (Damascus) at a time when King Ben-Hadad of Aram was very sick, and someone told him that the man of God was in town. 8 The king instructed an official named Hazael, “Take a gift with you and go and meet the man of God. Then inquire from Yahweh through him to find out if I’ll recover from this sickness.” 9 So Hazael went to meet Elisha and took presents with him loaded on forty camels—some of every good thing that he could find in Damesek. He went and stood in front of him and asked, “Your servant, King Ben-Hadad sent me to ask you if he’ll recover from his sickness?”

10 “Go and tell him that he’ll surely live,” Elisha answered. “But Yahweh has shown me that he’ll definitely die.” 11 Then Elisha stared at him until Hazael felt embarrassed, and then the man of God started to cry.

12 “Why are you crying, my master?” Hazael asked.

“Because I know what evil things you’ll do to the Israelis,” he said. “You’ll burn down their fortresses and kill their young men with the sword. You’ll smash their children’s heads on rocks, and rip open the bellies of their pregnant women.”

13 Hazael asked, “But how could your servant be in a position to do such a major thing when he’s only minor, like a dog in the palace?”

“Yahweh has let me see you as king over Aram (Syria).” Elisha replied.

14 Then he left Elisha and went back to his master who asked him, “What did Elisha tell you?”

And he answered, “He told me that you’ll certainly live.” 15 the very next day, Hazael dipped Ben-Hadad’s blanket in water and held it over his face until he died, and then Hazael started to reign in his place.