Single lesson
Elisha Meets Hazael
2 Kings 8:7–15
This lesson helps older students follow a hard part of Elisha’s story. Students will trace what happened when Hazael met Elisha, notice what Hazael chose to say and do, and think carefully about what this passage shows about God’s knowledge and human actions.
Before you teach
In this passage Elisha comes to Damascus while Benhadad king of Syria is sick. The king sends Hazael with a large present to ask Elisha whether he will recover. Elisha answers, then weeps over harm that Hazael will do to Israel and says Yahweh has shown that Hazael will be king over Syria.
Students will be able to sequence 2 Kings 8:7–15, identify Hazael’s two key choices, and explain one thing this passage shows about God’s knowledge and one thing it shows about human responsibility.
Welcome: A serious passage to read carefully
5 minTell students this is a serious Bible passage, so today’s goal is careful reading. Write three names on the board: Elisha, Benhadad and Hazael. Ask students to listen for what each person says and does. Explain that some details are disturbing, so the class will focus on observation, truthfulness and responsibility in the text.
2 Kings 8:7, 2 Kings 8:8, 2 Kings 8:12, 2 Kings 8:15
Read and sequence the meeting in Damascus
10 minRead the passage aloud. Then work through the order: Elisha comes to Damascus, Benhadad is sick, Hazael brings a large present, and he asks Elisha the king’s question. Elisha says Hazael should tell the king he will recover, yet also says Yahweh has shown that the king will surely die. Students list these events in order.
2 Kings 8:7, 2 Kings 8:8, 2 Kings 8:9, 2 Kings 8:10
Discuss Elisha’s tears and Hazael’s response
8 minFocus on the middle of the passage. Elisha stares at Hazael and weeps. When Hazael asks why, Elisha explains that he knows Hazael will do evil to the children of Israel and that Yahweh has shown Hazael will be king over Syria. Note what the passage says plainly, without adding reasons it does not give.
2 Kings 8:11, 2 Kings 8:12, 2 Kings 8:13
Make and respond: Truthful report or altered report
10 minStudents create two-column notes headed ‘What Elisha said’ and ‘What Hazael reported’. In the first column, they write Elisha’s full answer. In the second, they write what Hazael told Benhadad. Then they add the final event: on the next day Hazael killed the king and reigned in his place. Discuss the difference between hearing truth and acting truthfully.
2 Kings 8:10, 2 Kings 8:14, 2 Kings 8:15
Closing: What this passage teaches
7 minReview the sequence and key choices. Students finish two sentence starters: ‘This passage shows that Yahweh...’ and ‘This passage shows that people...’. Keep answers tied to the text, such as Yahweh showing Elisha what would happen, and Hazael speaking and acting in ways that lead to the king’s death and his own rule.
2 Kings 8:10, 2 Kings 8:12, 2 Kings 8:13, 2 Kings 8:15
Questions to explore
What events happen before Elisha gives his answer about the king’s sickness?
Look first at who arrives in Damascus, who is sick, who is sent, and what question Hazael asks Elisha.
2 Kings 8:7, 2 Kings 8:8, 2 Kings 8:9
What is the difference between Elisha’s full message and the message Hazael later reports to Benhadad?
Compare the exact words in Elisha’s answer with Hazael’s shorter report and notice what was left out.
2 Kings 8:10, 2 Kings 8:14
Which actions in this passage belong to God’s showing, and which actions belong to Hazael’s choices?
Separate what Elisha says Yahweh has shown from what Hazael says and does in the final verses.
2 Kings 8:10, 2 Kings 8:13, 2 Kings 8:14, 2 Kings 8:15
Make, think or respond
Two-Column Truth Chart
What you’ll need
- paper
- pens or pencils
- Bible text
- ruler or folded paper for columns
Try it together
- Draw a line down the middle of a page.
- Label one side ‘What Elisha said’ and the other side ‘What Hazael said and did’.
- Fill the first side with key words from Elisha’s message and what Yahweh showed him.
- Fill the second side with Hazael’s report to the king and the final action on the next day.
- Circle one contrast between truthful words and altered words, then share it with the group.
This activity keeps students close to the wording of 2 Kings 8:7–15 and helps them see the sequence, the altered report and Hazael’s responsibility in the passage.
Adapt for your group
- For younger or less confident readers, pre-write the verse references on separate slips and have students place them in order before discussing the harder details.
- For older students ready for deeper reflection, ask them to write a short paragraph explaining how 2 Kings 8:10, 2 Kings 8:13 and 2 Kings 8:15 together show both God’s knowledge and human action.
An optional closing prayer
‘God, help us read your word carefully and honestly. Teach us to take truth seriously and to respond to you with integrity. Amen.’
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
2 Kings 8
7 Elisha came to Damascus; and Benhadad the king of Syria was sick. He was told, “The man of God has come here.”
8 The king said to Hazael, “Take a present in your hand, and go meet the man of God, and inquire of Yahweh by him, saying, ‘Will I recover from this sickness?’ ”
9 So Hazael went to meet him and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels’ burden, and came and stood before him and said, “Your son Benhadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, ‘Will I recover from this sickness?’ ”
10 Elisha said to him, “Go, tell him, ‘You will surely recover;’ however Yahweh has shown me that he will surely die.”
11 He settled his gaze steadfastly on him, until he was ashamed. Then the man of God wept.
12 Hazael said, “Why do you weep, my lord?” He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel. You will set their strongholds on fire, and you will kill their young men with the sword, and will dash their little ones in pieces, and rip up their pregnant women.”
13 Hazael said, “But what is your servant, who is but a dog, that he could do this great thing?” Elisha answered, “Yahweh has shown me that you will be king over Syria.”
14 Then he departed from Elisha, and came to his master, who said to him, “What did Elisha say to you?” He answered, “He told me that you would surely recover.”
15 On the next day, he took a thick cloth, dipped it in water, and spread it on the king’s face, so that he died. Then Hazael reigned in his place.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.