Hazael God told the prophet Elijah that Hazael of Syria would be God’s instrument to punish Israel for its Baal worship during the reign of Ahab (1 Kings 1:19-17). Elijah’s successor, Elisha, wept when he saw the suffering that the cruel Hazael would bring upon Israel (2 Kings 1:8-15).
Hazael began his brutal attacks on Israel during the reign of Ahab’s son Joram (2 Kings 1:8-29). The attacks became more widespread during the reign of the next king, Jehu (2 Kings 1:10-33). They even spread into Judah, with attacks on coastal towns and on the capital, Jerusalem (2 Kings 1:12-18). Israel lost further territory to Hazael during the reign of Jehoahaz, and gained some relief only after Hazael’s death (2 Kings 1:13-3,22). Israel looked longingly for the day when it would See a just punishment poured out on Syria because of Hazael’s cruelty (Amos 1:1-5).