Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, March 19th, 2024
the Fifth Week of Lent
There are 12 days til Easter!
Attention!
We are taking food to Ukrainians still living near the front lines. You can help by getting your church involved.
Click to donate today!

Bible Dictionaries
Hazael

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

Search for…
or
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Prev Entry
Hay
Next Entry
Hazaiah
Resource Toolbox
Additional Links

HAZAEL usurped the throne of Syria ( c [Note: circa, about.] . 844 b.c.) by murdering Ben-hadad ii. (Hazael’s successor was probably Ben-hadad iii., the Mari of the inscriptions.) The form and fragmentary character of the OT references to Hazael demand caution in drawing conclusions from them. According to 1 Kings 19:15 , Elijah is sent to anoint Hazael king of Syria; he is regarded as Jahweb’s instrument who is to punish the Baal-worshippers in Israel ( 1 Kings 19:18 ). The next mention of him describes how Ben-hadad, Hazael’s predecessor, who is ill, sends Hazael to Elisha, to inquire whether he will recover ( 2 Kings 8:7 ff.); at the interview which Hazael has with the Israelite prophet, the murder of the Syrian king is arranged, and Elisha designates Hazael as his successor on the throne. Both these passages introduce Hazael somewhat abruptly; in each case the Israelite prophet goes to Damascus; and each passage has for its central point the question of Hazael’s succeeding to the throne of Syria; these considerations (not to mention others) suggest that the passages come from different sources, and are dealing with two accounts of the same event.

The next mention of Hazael shows him fighting at Ramoth-gilead against the allied armies of Joram, king of Israel, and Ahaziah, king of Judah (2 Kings 8:28-29; 2 Kings 9:14; 2 Kings 9:16 ); the narrative here breaks off to deal with other matters, and does not say what the result of the fighting was, but from 2 Kings 10:32 ff. it is clear not only that Hazael was victorious then, but that he continued to be so for a number of years (see, further, 2 Kings 12:17 ff., cf. Amos 1:3-5 ); indeed, it was not until his death that the Israelites were once more able to assert themselves.

W. O. E. Oesterley.

Bibliography Information
Hastings, James. Entry for 'Hazael'. Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​hdb/​h/hazael.html. 1909.
adsFree icon
Ads FreeProfile