10. Then Elisha said to Hazael, “Go and tell Ben-Hadad, ‘You will surely get well.’ But the Lord has told me he will really die.”
11. Elisha stared at Hazael until Hazael felt ashamed. Then Elisha cried.
12. Hazael asked, “Why are you crying, master?”Elisha answered, “Because I know what evil you will do to the Israelites. You will burn their strong, walled cities with fire. You will kill their young men with swords. You will throw their babies to the ground. You will split open their pregnant women.”
13. Hazael said, “I, your servant, am only a dog. How could I do such things?”Elisha answered, “The Lord has shown me that you will be king over Aram.”
14. Then Hazael left Elisha and came to his master. Ben-Hadad said to Hazael, “What did Elisha say to you?”Hazael answered, “He told me that you will surely get well.”
15. But the next day Hazael took a blanket and dipped it in water. Then he put it over Ben-Hadad’s face, and he died. So Hazael became king in Ben-Hadad’s place.
16. Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat became king of Judah. This was during Joram’s fifth year as king of Israel. Joram was the son of Ahab.
17. Jehoram was 32 years old when he began to rule. He ruled eight years in Jerusalem.
18. But Jehoram followed the ways of the kings of Israel. This was just as the family of Ahab had done. It was because Ahab’s daughter was Jehoram’s wife. Jehoram did what the Lord said was wrong.