Qaddafi Mimics Hazael Melech Aram

Hazael Melech Aram was a terrible persecutor of the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah during the time of the Jewish kings.  The length of his reign is unclear.  His main Wikipedia page says 37 years.  Another Wikipedia page says it could be 37 years or 46 years.  BiblicalArchaeology.org says it's about 42 years.

In the rarely read (but read this year) Haftara of Parshat Pinehas, we find (Melachim Alef 19:15) that Hashem tells Eliyahu Hanavi to anoint Hazael as king of Aram, Yehu as king of Israel, and Elisha as the prophet in Eliyahu's stead.  Many commentators point out, however, that because of Ahav's Teshuva late in life, Eliyahu only anointed Elisha, while the anointing of Yehu and Hazael was delayed and done later by Elisha (see Melachim Bet 8-10). 

The Ramban on Shemot 29:29 says that it's possible that Hazael was anointed with oil (which was quite unusual for a king not from Yehuda, let alone a non-Jewish one) to show that this is the word of Hashem.  And so it was that Elisha anointed him.

Rabbi Josh Waxman reminded me of my post where I quoted Kikar Hashabbat's article on how Qaddafi was saved from President Reagan's attack on his compound in 1986.  Again, we have a man of G-d giving a segula potion - that contained oil - to a ruler of a nation so that he can fulfill G-d's will.  And he ruled for 42 years - starting on 18 Elul, 5729.  And he supported Hamas, wanting a one-state solution called "Isratine".  As with Hazael, Wikipedia says: "Gaddafi expressed violent hostility towards Israel and the Jewish people throughout his career."

Being that the aforementioned verse was not fulfilled in exactly the order that was mentioned, perhaps we can say that the fulfillment of the prophecy in its correct order is taking place in our times.  First comes Hazael, who is being played out by Qaddafi.  The latter terrorized the world just like Hazael terrorized Ramot Gilad and Reuven, Gad, and Menashe.  Yerushalayim needed to bribe Hazael not to attack them, while the UK bribed Qaddafi by releasing the Lockerbie bomber due to Libyan threats (as Wikipedia says: "It was later discovered that Libyan officials had warned the United Kingdom that consequences for the UK-Libya bilateral relationship would be 'dire' were al-Megrahi to die in Scottish prison, including the cessation of all UK commercial activity in Libya.")

After anointing Hazael comes anointing Yehu, who, as a king of Israel, can be considered an MBY-like figure.  Yehu killed out the house of Ahav and the Baal-worshippers.  We today have people who worship their false ideologies and do not consider the Torah their primary source of morality.  MBY needs to clean that up.

Finally, Elisha was to be anointed in Eliyahu's stead, so he is considered one and the same.  As is known, Eliyahu Hanavi is still alive and we are awaiting his heralding MBD. 

Melachim Alef 19:17:

וְהָיָה, הַנִּמְלָט מֵחֶרֶב חֲזָאֵל--יָמִית יֵהוּא; וְהַנִּמְלָט מֵחֶרֶב יֵהוּא, יָמִית אֱלִישָׁע

And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay; and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.

This, perhaps, is referring to Edom and Yishmael.  Whoever from Edom escapes from Hazael/Qaddafi/Yishmael, MBY will take care of, and whoever escapes Yehu/MBY (namely, Yishmael), MBD will take care of (see Yeshaya 11:4).

As Qaddafi's power is coming to an end, we hope that just as Hashem gave Israel a deliverer then from Aram, the latest news will immediately bring in MBY who will not die, followed immediately by MBD, Amen.

(See also this post for a different take on Qaddafi.)