Daily Tanach Sunday 18th Shevat, Sefer Melachim 2 Chapter 8 Part 2: Elisha comes to Damascus and foretells of the imminent death of the king

1. Elisha comes to Damascus and foretells of the imminent death of the king:

• Ben-Hadad is ill when Elisha arrives: Elisha arrived to Damascus when Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram, was ill. [The purpose of his visit to Damascus was to try to motivate Geichazi to repent.^[1] Alternatively, the purpose of this travel was to anoint Chazael as king of Aram.^[2]] Ben-Hadad was informed of the prophets, Elisha’s, presence.
• Ben-Hadad asks Chazael to inquire from Elisha if he will survive: Ben-Hadad instructed Chazael [who was one of the king’s ministers] to bring a gift to Elisha the prophet and have him inquire from Hashem as to whether he, Ben Hadad, will recover from his illness.
• The gift: Chazael went to Elisha and brought with him a gift which included all of the best of Damascus, a load of forty camels [carrying all the goods of Damascus].
• Elisha tells Chazael that Ben Hadad will die and that he will be appointed as king: Chazael arrived before Elisha and said, “Your son, Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram, has sent me to you, to inquire from you if he will recover from his illness?” Elisha said to him, “Go tell the king Ben Hadad that he will not live, and that you Chazael will live instead of him, as Hashem has shown me that he will die.”
• Elisha cries in sadness of what Chazael will do to the Jewish people: Elisha then made a face as if he was about to cry, and held it in until he could no longer control himself, and so he began to weep. Chazael asked Elisha as to why he was crying, and Elisha said, “As I know that you will do evil to the Jewish people. You will set fire to their fortresses, and you will slay their youths with the sword, and you will eviscerate their infants, and you will rip open their pregnant women.” Chazael astonishingly replied to Elisha, “Is your servant a dog, and am I that powerful, that I would perform these mighty deeds?” Elisha told Chazael that Hashem had revealed to him that he, Chazael, will become king over Aram.
• Chazael lies and tells Ben Hadad that he will live: Chazael left Elisha and came to his master, the king, Ben Hadad, and when Ben Hadad asked him as to what Elisha replied, Chazael lied and told him that Elisha said that he will live.
• Ben Hadad dies and Chazael reigns: The next day, Ben Hadad took a blanket which was dipped in water, and spread it over his face, after which he died. Chazael reigned in his stead.

[1] Rashi 8:7; Sota 47a

[2] Radak 8:7