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Thursday, July 17th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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The NET Bible®

2 Kings 8:9

So Hazael went to visit Elisha. He took along a gift, as well as forty camel loads of all the fine things of Damascus. When he arrived, he stood before him and said, "Your son, King Ben Hadad of Syria, has sent me to you with this question, ‘Will I recover from this sickness?'"

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Ben-Hadad;   Camel;   Elisha;   Falsehood;   Hazael;   Prophets;   Thompson Chain Reference - Caravans;   Giving;   Liberality-Parsimony;   Munificence;   Presents;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Camel, the;   Presents;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Ben-Hadad;   Camel;   Gifts;   Hazael;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Ben-hadad;   Elisha;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Ben-Hadad;   Camel;   Elijah;   Elisha;   Gift;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Ben-Hadad;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Damascus;   Elisha;   Hazael;   Kings, 1 and 2;   Transportation and Travel;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Gift, Giving;   Trade and Commerce;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Benhadad ;   Hazael ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Ramothgilead;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Benbadad;   Camel;   Elisha;   Hazael;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Ben-Ha'dad;   Haz'a-El;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Gifts;   Hazael;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Israel;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Benhadad;   Burden;   Elijah;   Elisha;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Benhadad;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Ben-Hadad;   Gifts;   Rezin;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Hazael went to meet Elisha, taking with him a gift: forty camel-loads of all the finest products of Damascus. When he came and stood before him, he said, “Your son, King Ben-hadad of Aram, has sent me to ask you, ‘Will I recover from this sickness?’”
Hebrew Names Version
So Haza'el went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Dammesek, forty camels' burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Your son Ben-Hadad king of Aram has sent me to you, saying, Shall I recover of this sickness?
King James Version
So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Thy son Benhadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?
English Standard Version
So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, all kinds of goods of Damascus, forty camels' loads. When he came and stood before him, he said, "Your son Ben-hadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this sickness?'"
New Century Version
So Hazael went to meet Elisha, taking with him a gift of forty camels loaded with every good thing in Damascus. He came and stood before Elisha and said, "Your son Ben-Hadad king of Aram sent me to you. He asks if he will recover from his sickness."
Amplified Bible
So Hazael went to meet Elisha and took a gift with him of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' loads; and he came and stood before him and said, "Your son Ben-hadad king of Aram has sent me to you, asking, 'Will I recover from this illness?'"
New American Standard Bible
So Hazael went to meet him and took a gift in his hand, even every kind of good thing of Damascus, forty camels' loads; and he came and stood before him and said, "Your son Ben-hadad king of Aram has sent me to you, saying, 'Will I recover from this sickness?'"
Geneva Bible (1587)
So Hazael went to meete him, and tooke the present in his hand, and of euery good thing of Damascus, euen the burden of fourtie camels, and came and stood before him, and sayde, Thy sonne Ben-hadad King of Aram hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recouer of this disease?
Legacy Standard Bible
So Hazael went to meet him and took a present in his hand, even every kind of good thing of Damascus, forty camels' loads; and he came and stood before him and said, "Your son Ben-hadad king of Aram has sent me to you, saying, ‘Will I be restored to life from this sickness?'"
Contemporary English Version
Hazael left with forty camel loads of the best things made in Damascus as a gift for Elisha. He found the prophet and said, "Your servant, King Benhadad, wants to know if he will get well."
Complete Jewish Bible
Haza'el went to meet him, taking with him a gift that included everything good Dammesek had, forty camel-loads. He came, stood before him and said, "Your son Ben-Hadad king of Aram has sent me to you; he asks, ‘Will I recover from this illness?'"
Darby Translation
And Hazael went to meet him, and took with him a present, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' burden; and he came and stood before him, and said, Thy son Ben-Hadad king of Syria has sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recover from this disease?
Easy-to-Read Version
So Hazael went to meet Elisha. Hazael brought a gift with him. He brought all kinds of good things from Damascus. It took 40 camels to carry everything. Hazael came to Elisha and said, "Your follower, King Ben-Hadad of Aram, sent me to you. He asks if he will get well from his sickness."
George Lamsa Translation
So Hazael went to meet him and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels burden, and came and stood before him and said to him, Your son Bar-hadad king of Aram has sent me to you, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?
Good News Translation
So Hazael loaded forty camels with all kinds of the finest products of Damascus and went to Elisha. When Hazael met him, he said, "Your servant King Benhadad has sent me to ask you whether or not he will recover from his sickness."
Lexham English Bible
So Hazael went to meet him and took a gift in his hand of all of the good things of Damascus, a load on each of forty camels, and he came and stood before him. Then he said, "Your son Ben-Hadad king of Aram has sent me to you, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this illness?'"
Literal Translation
And Hazael went to meet him and took a present in his hand, even of every good thing from Damascus, a burden of forty camels. And he came in and stood before him, and said, Your son Ben-hadad, the king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, ShallI revive from this sickness?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Hasael wente for to mete him, and toke rewardes with him, and of all the goodes at Damasco, as moch as fortye Camels mighte beare. And whan he came, he stode before him, and sayde: Thy sonne Benadab the kynge of Syria hath sent me vnto the, sayenge: Maye I recouer from this siknes?
American Standard Version
So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Thy son Ben-hadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recover of this sickness?
Bible in Basic English
So Hazael went to see him, taking with him forty camels with offerings on their backs of every sort of good thing from Damascus; and when he came before him, he said, Your son Ben-hadad, king of Aram, has sent me to you, saying, Will I get better from this disease?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And so Hazael went to meete him, and toke the present with him, and of euery good thing of Damascon, euen as much as fourtie camels coulde beare: & came and presented him selfe before him, and said: Thy sonne Benhadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying: Shal I recouer of this disease?
JPS Old Testament (1917)
So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' burden, and came and stood before him, and said: 'Thy son Ben-hadad king of Aram hath sent me to thee, saying: Shall I recover of this sickness?'
King James Version (1611)
So Hazael went to meete him, and tooke a present with him, euen of euery good thing of Damascus, fourtie camels burden, and came, and stood before him, and said, Thy sonne Benhadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recouer of this disease?
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Azael went to meet him, and he took a present in his hand, and all the good things of Damascus, forty camels’ load, and came and stood before him, and said to Elisaie, Thy son the son of Ader, the king of Syria, has sent me to thee to enquire, saying, Shall I recover of this my disease?
English Revised Version
So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels’ burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Thy son Ben–hadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recover of this sickness.
Berean Standard Bible
So Hazael went to meet Elisha, taking with him a gift of forty camel-loads of every good thing from Damascus. And he went in and stood before him and said, "Your son Ben-hadad king of Aram has sent me to ask, 'Will I recover from this illness?'"
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor Azael yede in to the meetyng of hym, and hadde with hym silf yiftis, and alle the goodis of Damask, the burthuns of fourti camels. And whanne he hadde stonde bifor Elisee, he seide, Thi sone, Benadab, kyng of Sirie, sente me to thee, and seide, Whether Y may be helid of this `sikenesse of me?
Young's Literal Translation
And Hazael goeth to meet him, and taketh a present in his hand, even of every good thing of Damascus, a burden of forty camels, and he cometh in and standeth before him, and saith, `Thy son Ben-Hadad, king of Aram, hath sent me unto thee, saying, Do I revive from this sickness?'
Update Bible Version
So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Your son Benhadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, Shall I recover of this sickness?
Webster's Bible Translation
So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Thy son Ben-hadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?
World English Bible
So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Your son Benhadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, Shall I recover of this sickness?
New King James Version
So Hazael went to meet him and took a present with him, of every good thing of Damascus, forty camel-loads; and he came and stood before him, and said, "Your son Ben-Hadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, "Shall I recover from this disease?"'
New Living Translation
So Hazael loaded down forty camels with the finest products of Damascus as a gift for Elisha. He went to him and said, "Your servant Ben-hadad, the king of Aram, has sent me to ask, ‘Will I recover from this illness?'"
New Life Bible
So Hazael went to meet Elisha and took with him a gift of every kind of good thing of Damascus. It took forty camels to carry it all. He came and stood in front of Elisha and said, "Your son Ben-hadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, ‘Will I get better from this sickness?'"
New Revised Standard
So Hazael went to meet him, taking a present with him, all kinds of goods of Damascus, forty camel loads. When he entered and stood before him, he said, "Your son King Ben-hadad of Aram has sent me to you, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this illness?'"
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present in his hand, even every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' burden, - and came, and stood before him, and said - Thy son, Ben-hadad king of Syria, hath sent me unto thee, saying, Shall I recover from this sickness?
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Hazael went to meet him, taking with him presents, and all the good things of Damascus, the burdens of forty camels. And when he stood before him, he said: Thy son, Benadad, the king of Syria, hath sent me to thee, saying: Can I recover of this my illness?
Revised Standard Version
So Haz'ael went to meet him, and took a present with him, all kinds of goods of Damascus, forty camel loads. When he came and stood before him, he said, "Your son Ben-ha'dad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, 'Shall I recover from this sickness?'"
THE MESSAGE
Hazael went and met with Elisha. He brought with him every choice thing he could think of from Damascus—forty camel-loads of items! When he arrived he stood before Elisha and said, "Your son Ben-Hadad, king of Aram, sent me here to ask you, ‘Am I going to recover from this sickness?'"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
So Hazael went to meet him and took a gift in his hand, even every kind of good thing of Damascus, forty camels' loads; and he came and stood before him and said, "Your son Ben-hadad king of Aram has sent me to you, saying, 'Will I recover from this sickness?'"

Contextual Overview

7 Elisha traveled to Damascus while King Ben Hadad of Syria was sick. The king was told, "The prophet has come here." 8 So the king told Hazael, "Take a gift and go visit the prophet. Request from him an oracle from the Lord . Ask him, ‘Will I recover from this sickness?'" 9 So Hazael went to visit Elisha. He took along a gift, as well as forty camel loads of all the fine things of Damascus. When he arrived, he stood before him and said, "Your son, King Ben Hadad of Syria, has sent me to you with this question, ‘Will I recover from this sickness?'" 10 Elisha said to him, "Go and tell him, ‘You will surely recover,' but the Lord has revealed to me that he will surely die." 11 Elisha just stared at him until Hazael became uncomfortable. Then the prophet started crying. 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." 13 Hazael said, "How could your servant, who is as insignificant as a dog, accomplish this great military victory?" Elisha answered, "The Lord has revealed to me that you will be the king of Syria." 14 He left Elisha and went to his master. Ben Hadad asked him, "What did Elisha tell you?" Hazael replied, "He told me you would surely recover." 15 The next day Hazael took a piece of cloth, dipped it in water, and spread it over Ben Hadad's face until he died. Then Hazael replaced him as king.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Hazael: 1 Kings 19:15

with him: Heb. in his hand, 2 Kings 5:5

Thy son Benhadad: 2 Kings 6:21, 2 Kings 13:14, 2 Kings 16:7, 1 Samuel 25:8, Philemon 1:14

Reciprocal: Judges 17:10 - a father Judges 18:19 - a father Ecclesiastes 3:6 - time to get Isaiah 60:6 - multitude Acts 8:18 - he offered Acts 28:10 - laded Revelation 12:16 - General

Cross-References

Deuteronomy 28:65
Among those nations you will have no rest nor will there be a place of peaceful rest for the soles of your feet, for there the Lord will give you an anxious heart, failing eyesight, and a spirit of despair.
Psalms 116:7
Rest once more, my soul, for the Lord has vindicated you.
Isaiah 60:8
Who are these who float along like a cloud, who fly like doves to their shelters?
Ezekiel 7:16
Their survivors will escape to the mountains and become like doves of the valleys; all of them will moan—each one for his iniquity.
Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
John 16:33
I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage—I have conquered the world."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him,.... As was usual when a prophet or seer was consulted, see 1 Samuel 9:7

even of every good thing of Damascus; which was a very fruitful place, and had abundance of gardens and orchards in it, which yielded excellent fruit, and of such it is probable the present consisted, and which was large:

even forty camels' burden: which, as they are strong creatures, will bear a great deal. Abarbinel thinks, bread, flesh, and wine, and fowls, were in the present, but not gold, silver, and raiment, which the prophet had refused to take of Naaman; the Jews have a fable, that there was a precious stone in it, worth all the good things of Damascus:

and came and stood before him, and said, thy son Benhadad, king of Syria, hath sent me to thee, saying, shall I recover of this disease? he calls him his son, in veneration of the prophet as a father, as such men were called.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Every good thing of Damascus - Probably, besides rich robes and precious metals, the luscious wine of Helbon, which was the drink of the Persian kings, the soft white wool of the anti-Libanus Ezekiel 27:18, damask coverings of couches Amos 3:12, and numerous manufactured articles of luxury, which the Syrian capital imported from Tyre, Egypt, Nineveh, and Babylon. Forty camels were laden with it, and this goodly caravan paraded the streets of the town, conveying to the prophet the splendid gift designed for him. Eastern ostentation induces donors to make the greatest possible show of their gifts, and each camel would probably bear only one or two articles.

Thy son Ben-hadad - A phrase indicative of the greatest respect, no doubt used at the command of Benhadad in order to dispose the prophet favorably toward him. Compare 2 Kings 6:21.


 
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