Who was Hazael in the Bible?

Hazael was a king of Aram (Syria) who reigned during the 9th century BC. He was anointed by the prophet Elijah's successor, Elisha, to become king, and he led Aram in brutal wars against the kingdoms of Israel and Judah (1 Kings 19:15; 2 Kings 8:13).

Why was Hazael anointed by a prophet?

God commanded the prophet Elijah to anoint Hazael as king of Aram to be an instrument of judgment against the idolatrous northern kingdom of Israel (1 Kings 19:15-17). This anointing was later carried out by Elisha, who prophesied the great suffering Hazael would inflict (2 Kings 8:12-13).

What did King Hazael do to Israel?

Hazael oppressed Israel throughout his reign, defeating their armies and seizing their territory, as foretold by Elisha (2 Kings 10:32; 13:22). His campaigns fulfilled God's judgment on Israel for their sins, as mentioned by the prophet Amos (Amos 1:3-4).

Hazael

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleKing

Hazael, king of Aram, was anointed by Elijah and fought against Israel and Judah. (1Ki.19.15,17; 2Ki.8.8-15, 28-29; 9.14-15; 10.32; 12.17-18; 13.3,22,24-25; 2Ch.22.5-6; Amo.1.4)

Hazael

Biography

Hazael was an official in the court of Ben-hadad II, king of Aram-Damascus, who rose to power through assassination and became one of the most formidable enemies Israel ever faced. His destiny was foretold prophetically: when the prophet Elijah was fleeing Jezebel, God instructed him to anoint Hazael as king over Aram (1 Kings 19:15). The prophet Elisha later wept in Hazael's presence, foreseeing the destruction he would bring upon Israel (2 Kings 8:11-12). After smothering Ben-hadad and seizing the throne (2 Kings 8:15), Hazael waged relentless campaigns against both Israel and Judah, capturing territories east of the Jordan (2 Kings 10:32-33) and besieging Jerusalem itself, withdrawing only when bribed with temple treasures (2 Kings 12:17-18).

Significance

Hazael functions in the biblical narrative as an instrument of divine judgment against an unfaithful Israel. His devastating campaigns fulfilled prophetic warnings about the consequences of Israel's covenant violation. Yet his rise also illustrates a recurring scriptural theme: God sovereignly employs foreign powers to discipline his people, without those powers being morally innocent themselves. Amos 1:4 pronounces judgment on Hazael's house, holding Aram accountable for its cruelty. Hazael's story challenges readers to hold together two truths, that suffering can be God's corrective hand, and that human agents of that suffering bear their own moral responsibility before the same God.

Verse Appearances (21)

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

View all sources & licensing →

See our editorial standards →

Content compiled from public domain scholarship, academic sources, and verified references. Editorial standards · View all sources

Hazael

Biography

Significance

Verse Appearances (21)

1Kgs

2Kgs

2Chr

Amos

References