And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, 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 asked, 'Why are you crying, my lord?' Elisha answered, 'Because I know the terrible things you will do to the people of Israel: you will burn down their fortified cities, kill their young men with the sword, smash their children to death, and cut open pregnant women.'
The prophet Elisha weeps because God has shown him the brutal violence that Hazael will inflict on Israel when he becomes king of Syria.
📚 Historical Context
This conversation takes place between the prophet Elisha and Hazael, who would soon become king of Syria (around 842 BC). God had revealed to Elisha that Hazael would be an instrument of judgment against Israel for their unfaithfulness. The brutal warfare practices described were unfortunately common in ancient Near Eastern conflicts, where enemy populations were often treated with extreme cruelty to instill terror and prevent rebellion.
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