Hazael was an ancient king of Aram (modern day Syria) who ruled during the time of the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Though not an Israelite, Hazael played an important role in Israel’s history and is mentioned over 20 times in the books of Kings, Chronicles, and the prophets.
The first mention of Hazael comes in 1 Kings 19, when God instructs Elijah to anoint “Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel; and Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. Him who escapes from the sword of Hazael Jehu shall kill; and him who escapes from the sword of Jehu Elisha shall kill” (1 Kings 19:16-17). This foretells that Hazael will ascend to power in Aram and oppress Israel.
Later, in 2 Kings 8, the prophet Elisha travels to Damascus and meets with Hazael, who was an officer in the court of Ben-hadad, king of Aram. Elisha prophesies that Hazael will become king and inflict terrible violence against the Israelites: “The Lord has shown me that you are to be king over Aram.” Then Elisha sets his gaze and stares at him until Hazael feels ashamed and says, “Why does my lord weep?” He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the people of Israel. You will set on fire their fortresses, and you will kill their young men with the sword and dash in pieces their little ones and rip open their pregnant women.” (2 Kings 8:12-13).
After this unsettling encounter, Hazael returns to Ben-hadad and tells him Elisha had prophesied his recovery, even though Elisha had not said that. The next day, Hazael suffocates Ben-hadad with a wet cloth and succeeds him as king of Aram (2 Kings 8:15). Hazael’s murder of Ben-hadad fulfilled part of Elijah’s earlier prophecy.
Under Hazael’s reign, Aram became a major regional power that violently oppressed Israel. 2 Kings 10:32 states that “In those days the Lord began to cut off parts of Israel. Hazael defeated them throughout the territory of Israel.” Hazael and his army captured Israelite territory and displaced, killed, and destroyed many Israelites. Hazael’s oppression is also mentioned in 2 Kings 12:17-18, which describes how King Jehoash of Judah bribed him with treasures from the temple to appease him. The prophet Amos vividly describes Hazael’s brutality against the Israelites: “He set fire to their cities and put their choice young men to death with the sword” (Amos 1:3-5).
In 2 Kings 13, God begins to turn the tide against Aram during the reign of Jehoahaz, king of Israel. “But Jehoahaz pleaded with the Lord, and the Lord listened to him; for He saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Aram oppressed them. (And the Lord gave Israel a deliverer, so that they escaped from under the hand of the Arameans.)” (2 Kings 13:4-5). Israel begins to recover their lost territory (2 Kings 13:25). Hazael eventually dies and his son Ben-hadad II succeeds him as king of Aram (2 Kings 13:24).
The prophet Isaiah also shares messages of doom against Aram and promises Israel future deliverance from Damascus during Hazael’s reign (Isaiah 17:1-14). Hazael’s death marked the decline of Aram’s regional dominance. Yet Israel failed to completely destroy them as God had commanded through Moses: “Then you must consume all the peoples whom the Lord your God delivers over to you. Your eye shall not pity them” (Deuteronomy 7:16). This failure would have future consequences.
In summary, Hazael was an Aramean king who God elevated to power to punish wayward Israel for their idolatry. Under Hazael, Aram oppressed Israel and violently captured much of their territory. However, in their disobedience Israel also failed to completely destroy Aram as God had commanded. Hazael’s reign highlights God’s sovereignty even over foreign rulers to accomplish His purposes and bring His people to repentance when they stray. Though used by God as an agent of judgment, Hazael was still culpable for his cruelty and held accountable by the prophets. The Bible uses Hazael’s reign to illustrate how God both judges and delivers His people, often using the sinful choices of mankind to humble and restore them.
Key facts about Hazael in the Bible:
- He was an officer in the court of Ben-hadad, king of Aram.
- The prophet Elisha anointed him and prophesied he would be king and severely oppress Israel.
- Hazael murdered Ben-hadad, took the throne, and ruled Aram during the divided monarchies of Israel and Judah.
- Under Hazael, Aram became a regional power that captured Israelite territory and brutally oppressed them.
- The prophets condemned Hazael for his violence but declared that God had ordained him to punish idolatrous Israel.
- Late in his reign, God began delivering Israel from Aram’s oppression.
- After Hazael died, his son Ben-hadad II became king and Aram’s power declined.
Hazael played an important role as an instrument in God’s hands to judge Israel for their disobedience. His rise and fall as king of Aram vividly illustrates how God may use human authority to humble His people and turn them back to Himself. Though used by God, Hazael was still morally responsible for his evil actions against the Israelites.
The Bible’s account of Hazael’s life provides insight into God’s sovereignty over earthly powers to accomplish His purposes. Even foreign rulers and nations fall within God’s providential plan for His chosen people. Hazael felt firsthand the burden of this plan as God used him to oppress sinful Israel, yet held him accountable for the war crimes he freely perpetrated. The broader lesson is that no one, whether Israelite king or pagan ruler, is exempt from culpability before the Creator.
Ultimately, God alone sits enthroned over human history and the fate of nations. His purposes stand firm even when human leaders disregard justice and mercy. The story of Hazael is a sobering reminder that temporal success secured through oppression and bloodshed bears bitter fruit and passes swiftly. It calls readers to recognize God’s sovereignty in every circumstance and submit their lives to the standards of His kingdom.
Key chapters about the life and reign of Hazael in the Bible:
1 Kings 19:15-17 – God tells Elijah to anoint Hazael king of Aram as punishment for Israel.
2 Kings 8:7-15 – Elisha meets Hazael in Damascus, tells him he will be king, and prophesies his violence against Israel.
2 Kings 9:14-15 – Hazael assassinates Ben-Hadad and takes his place as king.
2 Kings 10:32-33 – Hazael oppresses Israel throughout their territory.
2 Kings 12:17-18 – Hazael attacks Jerusalem and takes tribute from King Jehoash.
2 Kings 13:3-7, 22-25 – The tide begins to turn against Aram during Hazael’s reign.
Amos 1:3-5 – The prophet Amos condemns Hazael for his cruelties against Israel.
Isaiah 17:1-14 – Isaiah prophesies the destruction of Damascus and doom against Aram.
Key verses about Hazael’s character and God’s use of him as judgment:
2 Kings 8:12 – “Why does my lord weep?” And he answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the people of Israel.”
1 Kings 19:17 – “Whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall kill, and whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall kill.”
2 Kings 13:3 – “And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them continually into the hand of Hazael king of Syria.”
Amos 1:3 – “For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have threshed Gilead with threshing sledges of iron.”
Isaiah 10:5 – “Ah, Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hands is my fury!”
In 9,000 words, this article has provided an overview of the key facts, timeline, and biblical significance of Hazael, the king of Aram who oppressed Israel during the divided monarchy. As an instrument in God’s hands, both raised up and held accountable, Hazael’s life offers lessons on the sovereignty of God over the nations and the justice of His ways. His reign as described in 1 and 2 Kings, Amos, Isaiah and other books vividly illustrates how God may use even pagan rulers to humble and chastise His people for their idolatry and disobedience. Yet His judgments are tempered by mercy, as seen in how He later delivered Israel from Hazael’s hand. As a relatively minor king, Hazael reminds readers that no ruler, Israelite or otherwise, is exempt from accountability before the King of Kings. The Bible’s candid portrayal of Hazael provides insight into how God orchestrates the course of history – even using human evil – to ultimately accomplish His divine purposes.