2 Kings chapter 1

Elijah denounces king Ahaziah.

 


 

ELIJAH DENOUNCES KING AHAZIAH

 

VERSE 1. Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.

the death of Ahab. In the previous chapter, evil king Ahab died an unlamented death.

 

VERSE 2. Ahaziah fell down through the lattice in his upper room that was in Samaria, and was sick. So he sent messengers, and said to them, “Go, inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I will recover of this sickness.”

Go, inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron. As king of Israel, Ahaziah should make his inquiries to the LORD God.

 

VERSE 3. But the LORD’s angel said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and tell them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you go to inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron?

the LORD. When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of the proper name of the Most High God.

the LORD’s angel. The Hellenistic Jewish philosopher Philo identified the angel of the Lord with the Logos.

In other words, this is the preincarnate Christ. He provides an important prophecy for Elijah to deliver to king Ahaziah.

God. The Hebrew word rendered “God” is אֱלֹהִ֑ים (“Elohim”).

 

VERSE 4. Now therefore the LORD says, “You will not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but you will surely die.” ’ ” Then Elijah departed.

you will surely die. In 1 Kings and 2 Kings, the succession of evil kings seems never-ending.

 

VERSE 5. The messengers returned to him, and he said to them, “Why is it that you have returned?”

 

VERSE 6. They said to him, “A man came up to meet us, and said to us, ‘Go, return to the king who sent you, and tell him, “The LORD says, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you send to inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you will not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but you will surely die.’ ” ’ ”

 

VERSE 7. He said to them, “What kind of man was he who came up to meet you and told you these words?”

 

VERSE 8. They answered him, “He was a hairy man, and wearing a leather belt around his waist.” He said, “It’s Elijah the Tishbite.”

a hairy man, and wearing a leather belt around his waist. This is one of the very few physical descriptions of any person in the Old Testament.

Elijah’s garb is the same as what John the Baptist wore:

Matthew 3:4. Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

 

VERSE 9. Then the king sent a captain of fifty with his fifty to him. He went up to him; and behold, he was sitting on the top of the hill. He said to him, “Man of God, the king has said, ‘Come down!’ ”

sent a captain of fifty with his fifty. This is a very strong military presence. They are sent to one lone prophet.

and behold. This is from הִנֵּה. It means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.

 

VERSE 10. Elijah answered to the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from the sky and consume you and your fifty!” Then fire came down from the sky, and consumed him and his fifty.

The prophet Elijah performed seven known miracles. And his disciple Elisha performed 15. Read more »

If I am a man of God. This seems ego-driven.

let fire come down from the sky, and consume you and your fifty! This is a new era in the history of prophets. Previously, they delivered a message. Now, they also do miracles. Big miracles.

 

VERSE 11. Again he sent to him another captain of fifty with his fifty. He answered him, “Man of God, the king has said, ‘Come down quickly!’ ”

 

VERSE 12. Elijah answered them, “If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from the sky and consume you and your fifty!” Then God’s fire came down from the sky, and consumed him and his fifty.

The prophet Elijah performed seven known miracles. And his disciple Elisha performed 15. Read more »

If I am a man of God. This seems ego-driven.

let fire come down from the sky, and consume you and your fifty! This is a new era in the history of prophets. Previously, they delivered a message. Now, they also do miracles. Big miracles.

 

VERSE 13. Again he sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. The third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and begged him, and said to him, “Man of God, please let my life and the life of these fifty of your servants be precious in your sight.

 

VERSE 14. Behold, fire came down from the sky and consumed the last two captains of fifty with their fifties. But now let my life be precious in your sight.”

 

VERSE 15. The LORD’s angel said to Elijah, “Go down with him. Don’t be afraid of him.” Then he arose and went down with him to the king.

Don’t be afraid of him. Elijah might have been afraid of the previous military teams.

 

VERSE 16. He said to him, “The LORD says, ‘Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron, is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of his word? Therefore you will not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but you will surely die.’ ”

 

VERSE 17. So he died according to the LORD’s word which Elijah had spoken. Jehoram began to reign in his place in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, because he had no son.

according to the LORD’s word which Elijah had spoken. To know if a prophet speaks the truth, the question is this: is it fulfilled? Does it happen?

 

VERSE 18. Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

 


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2 KINGS

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25

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