HAZAEL (Heb. Ḥāzā'el and Ḥāzā'el, “God sees”; Akkadian, ḥaza'ilu; Septuagint, A'āyā). - Proud king of the Aramaeans of Damascus (ca. 844–797), appointed by Jahweh to punish the idolatry of Israel (I Reg. 19, 15–17). Sent by the sick Benadad II to consult Eliseo, H., to his unpleasant surprise, heard his plan to kill the King revealed and the great evil he would do to Israel foretold (II Reg. 8, 7–15). Having killed Benadad, he usurped the Kingdom; H. is therefore called by the Assyrians: “son of no one” (A. Pohl [V. BIBLICA.], pp. 71, 10°).
An experienced and energetic commander, he succeeded, though with heavy losses, in withstanding the campaigns (842, 839) waged against him by Salmanassar III (Obelisco, linn. 97–104); and, no longer harassed, he turned against Israel. He had already defended Ramoth of Galaad, wounding Ioram (842; II Reg. 8, 28 sg.; 9, 14 sg.); now, under the reign of Iehu, he defeats the Israelites everywhere, occupies the whole of Transjordan as far as the Arnon (II Reg. 10, 32 sg.; Am. 1, 3 sg.); he dominates Israel: he leaves Ioachaz a garrison of 10,000 infantrymen, 50 horsemen, and 10 chariots (II Reg. 13, 3–22). To the south, he captures Geth (798), attacks Jerusalem, and withdraws because of the enormous sum paid by Ioas (II Reg. 12, 18 sg.).