John Gill Commentary 2 Kings 8:12

"And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strongholds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash in pieces their little ones, and rip up their women with child." — 2 Kings 8:12 (ASV)

And Hazael said, Why weeps my lord ?
&c.] Imagining it was for the death of Benhadad he had predicted, for which he could see no reason; of the title, "my lord", see (1 Kings 18:7)

and he answered, because I know the evil that you will do unto the
children of Israel ;
which he foresaw by a spirit of prophecy; and Israel being his own people, he sympathized in their calamities before they came:

their strong holds will you set on fire ;
which should be taken by him, see (2 Kings 10:32)

and their young men will you slay with the sword ;
in battle:

and will dash their children ;
against rocks and stones, or stone walls, or upon the ground, floor, or pavement, as was usual in war ^F7 , see (Psalms 137:9) ,

and rip up their women with child :
which was the height of barbarity and cruelty. Ben Gersom and Ben Melech interpret this of breaking down the walls of fortified cities, built strong, like hills and mountains; but this is supposed in the first clause.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F7: Vid. Homer. Iliad. 22. ver. 63, 64.