7. Elisha went to Damascus at a time when King Benhadad of Syria was ill. When the king was told that Elisha was there,
8. he said to Hazael, one of his officials, “Take a gift to the prophet, and ask him to consult the Lord to find out whether or not I am going to get well.”
9. So Hazael loaded forty camels with all kinds of the finest products of Damascus and went to Elisha. When Hazael met him, he said, “Your servant King Benhadad has sent me to ask you whether or not he will recover from his illness.”
10. Elisha answered, “The Lord has revealed to me that he will die; but go to him and tell him that he will recover.”
11. Then Elisha stared at him with a horrified look on his face until Hazael became ill at ease. Suddenly Elisha burst into tears.