|
|
|
|
|
HazaelHazael (Hebrew Hazael, meaning "God has seen") was a court official and later an Aramean king who appeared in the Bible. He was first referred to by name in 1 Kings 19 when God told the prophet Elijah to anoint him king over Syria. Years after this, the Syrian king Ben-hadad was ill and sent his court official Hazael with gifts to Elijah's successor Elisha. Elisha asked Hazael to tell Ben-hadad that he would recover, but he revealed to Hazael that the king would die. The day after he returned to Ben-hadad in Damascus, Hazael suffocated him and seized power himself. During his approximately 42-year reign (c. 842 BC-800 BC), King Hazael led the Arameans in battle against the forces of King Jehoram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah. After defeating them at Ramoth-Gilead, Hazael repelled two attacks by the Assyrians, seized Israelite territory east of the Jordan, the Philistine city of Gath, and sought to take Jerusalem as well (2 Kings 12:17). King Joash of Judah forestalled Hazael's invasion by bribing him with treasure from the royal palace and temple, after which he disappears from the Biblical account.
|
 |
|
| Copyright 2005-2009 OnPedia.com. All Rights Reserved |
|
|