2 Kings 8:13-14

8:13 Hazael said, “How could your servant, who is as insignificant as a dog, accomplish this great military victory?” ¹  Elisha answered, “The Lord has revealed to me that you will be the king of Syria.” ²  8:14 He left Elisha and went to his master. Ben Hadad ³  asked him, “What did Elisha tell you?” Hazael ⁴  replied, “He told me you would surely recover.”

[8:13]  ¹ tn Heb “Indeed, what is your servant, a dog, that he could do this great thing?” With his reference to a dog, Hazael is not denying that he is a “dog” and protesting that he would never commit such a dastardly “dog-like” deed. Rather, as Elisha’s response indicates, Hazael is suggesting that he, like a dog, is too insignificant to ever be in a position to lead such conquests.

[8:13]  ² tn Heb “The Lord has shown me you [as] king over Syria.”

[8:14]  ³ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ben Hadad) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[8:14]  ⁴ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Hazael) has been specified in the translation for clarity.