מלכים ב, פרק ח׳, פסוק ט״ו

The transition of power in the kingdom of Aram unfolds through a chilling act of calculated deception and assassination. After learning from the prophet Elisha that King Ben-hadad will not survive his illness and that he himself is destined to take the throne, Hazael takes matters into his own hands. Interpreting the prophecy as a call to action, he actively moves to ensure its fulfillment [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The assassination is carried out using a common household item. The primary approach among commentators is that Hazael takes a thick garment or a heavy blanket, similar to the one Yael used to cover Sisera [רש״י, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Another perspective suggests that the object is a pillow [רד״ק]. Hazael dips this item in water and places it over the king's face, an action carefully designed to look like medical care while actually serving as a murder weapon. Because the ailing king is suffering from a severe fever, Hazael presents the cold, wet cloth as a soothing treatment meant to lower his body temperature and provide relief [רלב״ג, רד״ק, מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד]. In reality, his hidden intent is to end the king's life.

Commentators offer two explanations for how this seemingly harmless treatment causes the king's death. One view suggests that the sudden application of extreme cold creates a physical shock, driving the intense heat of the fever inward from the surface of the skin to the king's vital organs, thereby accelerating his death [מצודת דוד, רלב״ג, מלבי״ם]. A contrasting view explains that soaking the heavy blanket in water makes the fabric completely airtight. When placed over the weakened king's face, the heavy, wet material simply suffocates him. This method allows Hazael to cause the king's death without appearing to murder him directly with his bare hands [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. With the king dead, Hazael immediately seizes control of the government, bringing the prophet's words to complete realization [רלב״ג, ביאור שטיינזלץ].