Who Was Hazael in the Bible — Meaning Explained

Hazael's story begins in 1 Kings 19, where God commanded Elijah to anoint Hazael king over Syria. The actual anointing came through Elisha years later (2 Kings 8). Ben-hadad king of Syria was sick and sent Hazael to inquire of Elisha whether he would recover. Elisha gave a perplexing answer: 'Go, say unto him, Thou mayest certainly recover: howbeit the LORD hath shewed me that he shall surely die.' Then Elisha settled his face steadfastly on Hazael until he was ashamed, and the man of God wept. When Hazael asked why, Elisha said, 'Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child.' Hazael protested, 'But what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing?' Elisha answered, 'The LORD hath shewed me that thou shalt be king over Syria.' The next day Hazael took a thick cloth, dipped it in water, and spread it on Ben-hadad's face until he died. He then reigned in his place. His reign fulfilled Elisha's tearful prophecy. He repeatedly defeated Israel, oppressing them throughout the days of Jehu and Jehoahaz until 'Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz' (2 Kings 13:22). He captured Gath and was only deterred from attacking Jerusalem when King Joash of Judah stripped the temple treasury to buy him off. Hazael shows that God sometimes uses wicked rulers as instruments of judgment against His own people when they persist in idolatry, while still holding those rulers responsible for their cruelty. His denial — 'is thy servant a dog?' — also warns that the heart is capable of evils we cannot imagine when power is placed in our hands.