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
In the biblical narrative of 2 Kings, the prophet Elisha is in Damascus and encounters Hazael, a servant of the Syrian king, whom God has revealed will become the next ruler of Aram. Elisha weeps as he foretells the brutal acts Hazael will commit against Israel, including destroying their fortresses and killing their people, which reflects the ongoing wars and God's judgment on Israel's unfaithfulness during the divided kingdom period. This event is set in the 9th century BC, amid conflicts between Israel and neighboring kingdoms like Aram, highlighting the consequences of human ambition and divine prophecy.
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