Daily Devotions
Amos
"I will send a fire into the house of Hazael"
Text: Amos 1:4
THE NAMES “HAZAEL” AND “BEN-HADAD”
These names were mentioned in the time of Elijah. They were probably the titles of the kings who ruled Syria. Hazael may mean “God sees”. Ben-Hadad simply means “Son of Hadad” (the name of the storm god in the Syrian pantheon).
“But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael,
Which shall devour the palaces of Ben-Hadad.”
Amos 1:4
1. “The house of Hazael”
a) Elijah was sent to anoint Hazael as the king of Syria (1 Kings 19:15).
b) His task as king was to slay the wicked.
c) However, when he became king he went beyond what God had commanded him.
d) In this manner, he had transgressed God’s commandments.
2. “The palaces of Ben-Hadad”
a) Ben-Hadad was mentioned in 1 Kings 20.
b) In such proximity the names “Hazael” and “Ben-Hadad” were used interchangeably.
3. Ben-Hadad or Hazael began to be very aggressive towards the nation of Israel (1 Kings 20).
a) He had mustered 32 kings as a coalition army to battle Israel.
b) This may be compared to using an iron thresher to battle Israel.
4. Divine intervention
a) By miraculous intervention the Syrians lost heavily.
b) Ben-Hadad was defeated soundly again and again.
c) Many of his soldiers died in the battle field (1 Kings 20).
d) The leaders of Israel’s army were “young leaders of the provinces” (1 Kings 20:14).
e) They only numbered seven thousand troops (1 Kings 20:15).
5. “Fire”
a) The severe defeat of Ben-Hadad and a coalition army of 32 kings was humiliating.
b) The effect of a fire from God would be even more humbling.
6. “Devour the palaces of Ben-Hadad”
a) Ben-Hadad had to sue for peace.
b) The belligerent king Ben-Hadad had to ask for mercy from King Ahab (1 Kings 20:31-34).
(Foolishly, King Ahab gave a treaty to Ben-Hadad (1 Kings 20:34-43).