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Selected Verse: Amos 1:4 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Am 1:4	Strong Concordance	But I will send [07971] a fire [0784] into the house [01004] of Hazael [02371], which shall devour [0398] the palaces [0759] of Benhadad [01130].
	King James	But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, which shall devour the palaces of Benhadad.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Hazael . . . Ben-hadad--A black marble obelisk found in the central palace of Nimroud, and now in the British Museum, is inscribed with the names of Hazael and Ben-hadad of Syria, as well as Jehu of Israel, mentioned as tributaries of "Shalmanubar," king of Assyria. The kind of tribute from Jehu is mentioned: gold, pearls, precious oil, &c. [G. V. SMITH]. The Ben-hadad here is the son of Hazael (Kg2 13:3), not the Ben-hadad supplanted and slain by Hazael (Kg2 8:7, Kg2 8:15). The phrase, "I will send a fire," that is, the flame of war (Psa 78:63), occurs also in Amo 1:7, Amo 1:10, Amo 1:12, Amo 1:14, and Amo 2:2, Amo 2:5; Jer 49:27; Hos 8:14.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Hazael . . . Ben-hadad--A black marble obelisk found in the central palace of Nimroud, and now in the British Museum, is inscribed with the names of Hazael and Ben-hadad of Syria, as well as Jehu of Israel, mentioned as tributaries of "Shalmanubar," king of Assyria. The kind of tribute from Jehu is mentioned: gold, pearls, precious oil, &c. [G. V. SMITH]. The Ben-hadad here is the son of Hazael (Kg2 13:3), not the Ben-hadad supplanted and slain by Hazael (Kg2 8:7, Kg2 8:15). The phrase, "I will send a fire," that is, the flame of war (Psa 78:63), occurs also in Amo 1:7, Amo 1:10, Amo 1:12, Amo 1:14, and Amo 2:2, Amo 2:5; Jer 49:27; Hos 8:14.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
And I will send a fire on the house of Hazael - The fire is probably at once material fire, whereby cities are burned in war, since he adds, "it shall devour the palaces of Benhadad," and also stands as a symbol of all other severity in war as in the ancient proverb, "a fire is gone out from Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon; it hath consumed Ar of Moab, the lords of the high places of Arnon" Num 21:28; and again of the displeasure of Almighty God, as when He says, "a fire is kindled in Mine anger, and it shall burn unto the lowest hell" Deu 32:22. For the fire destroys not the natural buildings only, but "the house of Hazael," that is, his whole family. In these prophecies, a sevenfold vengeance by fire is denounced against the seven people, an image of the eternal fire into which all iniquity shall be cast. The palaces of Benhadad - Hazael, having murdered Benhadad his master and ascended his throne, called Iris son after his murdered master, probably in order to connect his own house with the ancient dynasty. Benhadad, that is, son or worshiper of the idol "Hadad," or "the sun," had been the name of two of the kings of the old dynasty. Benhadad III was at this time reigning. The prophet foretells the entire destruction of the dynasty founded in blood. The prophecy may have had a fulfillment in the destruction of the house of Hazael, with whose family Rezin, the king of Syria in the time of Ahaz, stands in no known relation. Defeats, such as those of Benhadad III by Jeroboam II who took Damascus itself, are often the close of an usurping dynasty. Having no claim to regard except success, failure vitiates its only title. The name Hazael, "whom God looked upon," implies a sort of owning of the One God, like Tab-el, "God is good," El-iada', "whom God knoweth," even amid the idolatry in the names, Tab-Rimmon, "good is Rimmon;" Hadad-ezer, "Hadad is help;" and Hadad, or Benhadad. Bad men abuse every creature, or ordinance, or appointment of God. It may be then that, as Sennacherib boasted, "am I now come up without the Lord against this land" to destroy it? the Lord said unto me, Go up against this land and destroy it" Isa 36:10; so Hazael made use of the prophecy of Elisha, to give himself out as the scourge of God, and thought of himself as one "on whom God looked." Knowledge of futurity is an awful gift. As "Omniscience alone can wield Omnipotence," so superhuman knowledge needs superhuman gifts of wisdom and holiness. Hazael seemingly hardened himself in sin by aid of the knowledge which should have been his warning. Probably he came to Elisha, with the intent to murder his master already formed, in case he should not die a natural death; and Elisha read him to himself. But he very probably justified himself to himself in what he had already purposed to do, on the ground that Elisha had foretold to him that he should be king over Kg2 8:13, and, in his massacres of God's people, gave himself out as being, what he was, the instrument of God. "Scourges of God" have known themselves to be what they were, although they themselves were not the less sinful, in sinfully accomplishing the Will of God (see the note at Hos 1:4). We have heard of a Christian Emperor, who has often spoken of his "mission," although his "mission" has already cost the shedding of much Christian blood.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

And I will send a fire on the house of Hazael - The fire is probably at once material fire, whereby cities are burned in war, since he adds, "it shall devour the palaces of Benhadad," and also stands as a symbol of all other severity in war as in the ancient proverb, "a fire is gone out from Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon; it hath consumed Ar of Moab, the lords of the high places of Arnon" Num 21:28; and again of the displeasure of Almighty God, as when He says, "a fire is kindled in Mine anger, and it shall burn unto the lowest hell" Deu 32:22. For the fire destroys not the natural buildings only, but "the house of Hazael," that is, his whole family. In these prophecies, a sevenfold vengeance by fire is denounced against the seven people, an image of the eternal fire into which all iniquity shall be cast.

The palaces of Benhadad - Hazael, having murdered Benhadad his master and ascended his throne, called Iris son after his murdered master, probably in order to connect his own house with the ancient dynasty. Benhadad, that is, son or worshiper of the idol "Hadad," or "the sun," had been the name of two of the kings of the old dynasty. Benhadad III was at this time reigning. The prophet foretells the entire destruction of the dynasty founded in blood. The prophecy may have had a fulfillment in the destruction of the house of Hazael, with whose family Rezin, the king of Syria in the time of Ahaz, stands in no known relation. Defeats, such as those of Benhadad III by Jeroboam II who took Damascus itself, are often the close of an usurping dynasty. Having no claim to regard except success, failure vitiates its only title. The name Hazael, "whom God looked upon," implies a sort of owning of the One God, like Tab-el, "God is good," El-iada', "whom God knoweth," even amid the idolatry in the names, Tab-Rimmon, "good is Rimmon;" Hadad-ezer, "Hadad is help;" and Hadad, or Benhadad. Bad men abuse every creature, or ordinance, or appointment of God. It may be then that, as Sennacherib boasted, "am I now come up without the Lord against this land" to destroy it? the Lord said unto me, Go up against this land and destroy it" Isa 36:10; so Hazael made use of the prophecy of Elisha, to give himself out as the scourge of God, and thought of himself as one "on whom God looked."

Knowledge of futurity is an awful gift. As "Omniscience alone can wield Omnipotence," so superhuman knowledge needs superhuman gifts of wisdom and holiness. Hazael seemingly hardened himself in sin by aid of the knowledge which should have been his warning. Probably he came to Elisha, with the intent to murder his master already formed, in case he should not die a natural death; and Elisha read him to himself. But he very probably justified himself to himself in what he had already purposed to do, on the ground that Elisha had foretold to him that he should be king over Kg2 8:13, and, in his massacres of God's people, gave himself out as being, what he was, the instrument of God. "Scourges of God" have known themselves to be what they were, although they themselves were not the less sinful, in sinfully accomplishing the Will of God (see the note at Hos 1:4). We have heard of a Christian Emperor, who has often spoken of his "mission," although his "mission" has already cost the shedding of much Christian blood.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Ben - hadad - Ben - hadad was to the Syrian kings a common name, as Pharaoh to the Egyptian kings, and Caesar to the Roman emperors.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Ben-hadad - He was son and successor of Hazael. See the cruelties which they exercised upon the Israelites, Kg2 10:32; Kg2 13:7, etc., and see especially Kg2 8:12, where these cruelties are predicted. The fire threatened here is the war so successfully carried on against the Syrians by Jeroboam II., in which he took Damascus and Hamath, and reconquered all the ancient possessions of Israel. See Kg2 14:25, Kg2 14:26, Kg2 14:28.

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¹⁴ For Israel [03478] hath forgotten [07911] his Maker [06213], and buildeth [01129] temples [01964]; and Judah [03063] hath multiplied [07235] fenced [01219] cities [05892]: but I will send [07971] a fire [0784] upon his cities [05892], and it shall devour [0398] the palaces [0759] thereof.

²⁷ And I will kindle [03341] a fire [0784] in the wall [02346] of Damascus [01834], and it shall consume [0398] the palaces [0759] of Benhadad [01130].

⁵ But I will send [07971] a fire [0784] upon Judah [03063], and it shall devour [0398] the palaces [0759] of Jerusalem [03389].

² But I will send [07971] a fire [0784] upon Moab [04124], and it shall devour [0398] the palaces [0759] of Kerioth [07152]: and Moab [04124] shall die [04191] with tumult [07588], with shouting [08643], and with the sound [06963] of the trumpet [07782]:

¹⁴ But I will kindle [03341] a fire [0784] in the wall [02346] of Rabbah [07237], and it shall devour [0398] the palaces [0759] thereof, with shouting [08643] in the day [03117] of battle [04421], with a tempest [05591] in the day [03117] of the whirlwind [05492]:

¹² But I will send [07971] a fire [0784] upon Teman [08487], which shall devour [0398] the palaces [0759] of Bozrah [01224].

¹⁰ But I will send [07971] a fire [0784] on the wall [02346] of Tyrus [06865], which shall devour [0398] the palaces [0759] thereof.

⁷ But I will send [07971] a fire [0784] on the wall [02346] of Gaza [05804], which shall devour [0398] the palaces [0759] thereof:

⁶³ The fire [0784] consumed [0398] their young men [0970]; and their maidens [01330] were not given to marriage [01984].

¹⁵ And it came to pass on the morrow [04283], that he took [03947] a thick cloth [04346], and dipped [02881] it in water [04325], and spread [06566] it on his face [06440], so that he died [04191]: and Hazael [02371] reigned [04427] in his stead.

⁷ And Elisha [0477] came [0935] to Damascus [01834]; and Benhadad [01130] the king [04428] of Syria [0758] was sick [02470]; and it was told [05046] him, saying [0559], The man [0376] of God [0430] is come [0935] hither [02008].

³ And the anger [0639] of the LORD [03068] was kindled [02734] against Israel [03478], and he delivered [05414] them into the hand [03027] of Hazael [02371] king [04428] of Syria [0758], and into the hand [03027] of Benhadad [01130] the son [01121] of Hazael [02371], all their days [03117].

⁴ And the LORD [03068] said [0559] unto him, Call [07121] his name [08034] Jezreel [03157]; for yet a little [04592] while, and I will avenge [06485] the blood [01818] of Jezreel [03157] upon the house [01004] of Jehu [03058], and will cause to cease [07673] the kingdom [04468] of the house [01004] of Israel [03478].

¹³ And Hazael [02371] said [0559], But what, is thy servant [05650] a dog [03611], that he should do [06213] this great [01419] thing [01697]? And Elisha [0477] answered [0559], The LORD [03068] hath shewed [07200] me that thou shalt be king [04428] over Syria [0758].

¹⁰ And am I now come up [05927] without [01107] the LORD [03068] against this land [0776] to destroy [07843] it? the LORD [03068] said [0559] unto me, Go up [05927] against this land [0776], and destroy [07843] it.

²² For a fire [0784] is kindled [06919] in mine anger [0639], and shall burn [03344] unto the lowest [08482] hell [07585], and shall consume [0398] the earth [0776] with her increase [02981], and set on fire [03857] the foundations [04144] of the mountains [02022].

²⁸ For there is a fire [0784] gone out [03318] of Heshbon [02809], a flame [03852] from the city [07151] of Sihon [05511]: it hath consumed [0398] Ar [06144] of Moab [04124], and the lords of the high places [01181] of Arnon [0769].

²⁸ Now the rest [03499] of the acts [01697] of Jeroboam [03379], and all that he did [06213], and his might [01369], how he warred [03898], and how he recovered [07725] Damascus [01834], and Hamath [02574], which belonged to Judah [03063], for Israel [03478], are they not written [03789] in the book [05612] of the chronicles [01697] [03117] of the kings [04428] of Israel [03478]?

²⁶ For the LORD [03068] saw [07200] the affliction [06040] of Israel [03478], that it was very [03966] bitter [04784]: for there was not [0657] any shut up [06113], nor any left [05800], nor any helper [05826] for Israel [03478].

²⁵ He restored [07725] the coast [01366] of Israel [03478] from the entering [0935] of Hamath [02574] unto the sea [03220] of the plain [06160], according to the word [01697] of the LORD [03068] God [0430] of Israel [03478], which he spake [01696] by the hand [03027] of his servant [05650] Jonah [03124], the son [01121] of Amittai [0573], the prophet [05030], which was of Gathhepher [01662].

¹² And Hazael [02371] said [0559], Why weepeth [01058] my lord [0113]? And he answered [0559], Because I know [03045] the evil [07451] that thou wilt do [06213] unto the children [01121] of Israel [03478]: their strong holds [04013] wilt thou set [07971] on fire [0784], and their young men [0970] wilt thou slay [02026] with the sword [02719], and wilt dash [07376] their children [05768], and rip up [01234] their women with child [02030].

⁷ Neither did he leave [07604] of the people [05971] to Jehoahaz [03059] but fifty [02572] horsemen [06571], and ten [06235] chariots [07393], and ten [06235] thousand [0505] footmen [07273]; for the king [04428] of Syria [0758] had destroyed [06] them, and had made [07760] them like the dust [06083] by threshing [01758].

³² In those days [03117] the LORD [03068] began [02490] to cut [07096] Israel [03478] short [07096]: and Hazael [02371] smote [05221] them in all the coasts [01366] of Israel [03478];