Reading for December 24th

 Read 2 Kings 8.7-15. In 8.7-15: The designation of Hazael. Elisha here apparently carries out the commission given to Elijah in 1 Kings 19.15. In verse 8: Inquire is a technical term for divination. Stories of inquiry through a prophet in the case of illness are found also in 1 Kings 14.1-14; 2 Kings 1.2-17. In verse 9: Forty camel loads would be an enormous sum. That this is exaggeration is also clear from the fact that forty is a round number for a large quantity. Your son is an expression of humility and self-effacement. Ben-hadad is placing Elisha above him. In verse 11: The subject of these verbs is apparently Elisha. Perhaps Elisha stared at Hazael until Hazael was ashamed. Another possibility is that Elisha stared in a kind of trance until he himself became ashamed. In verse 12: Elisha foresees that Hazael refers himself as a mere dog, not because he sees violent acts described by Elisha as despicable but because he is of low social status and does not have the power to carry out such deeds. Elisha explains, however, that he is to be king over Aram. In verse15: Until he did suggests that Hazael is responsible for Ben-hadad's death. The Hebrew is more ambiguous, however. Placing the wet bed-cover over the kings face may have been simply a way of cooling him off, and this verse may only explain the time of his death. Comments or Question..