The Second Book of the Kings, commonly called the Fourth Book of the Kings
2 Kings 1
Chapter I · Vol. II, pp. 763–764
1 Moab rebelleth. 2 Ahaziah, sending to Baalzebub, hath his judgment by Elijah. 5 Elijah twice bringeth fire from heaven upon those whom Ahaziah sent to apprehend him. 13 He pitieth the third captain, and, encouraged by an angel, telleth the king of his approaching death. 17 Jehoram succeedeth Ahaziah.
1 Then Moaba rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.
A.M. 3108. B.C. 896.
a 2 Sa.8.2. 1 Ki.12.19. ch.3.3-5; 8.20,22.
2 And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice1 in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was bsick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, inquire of cBaal-zebub,2 the god of dEkron,3 whether I shall recover of this disease.
1 Either a latticed window, or from a balustrade or railing around the battlements of the flat roof.—C.
c Master of flies, Mat.12.24-27.
2 'The fly-god,' either because worshipped under that form, or as protecting from the annoyance of flies. The Greeks worshipped Jupiter Apomyius, or the fly-expeller. The Hindoo Vrayavar is represented as assuming the form of a wasp, for annoyance of his enemies; and, like Baalzebub, is applied to in time of sickness.—C.
3 Ekron was one of the five royal cities of Philistia, and stood on the northern border of the land where it joined the plain of Sharon. It is now a poor village of some fifty mud houses, which are built on the accumulated rubbish of ages. With the exception of one or two wells and cisterns, there is not a vestige of antiquity remaining.—P.
3 But the angel of the LORD said to eElijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, fIs it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron?
4 Now therefore thus saith the LORD, 4Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, gbut shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.
4 Heb. The bed whither thou art gone up, thou shalt not come down from it.
g Is.14.20,21. Pr.11.19; 13.21; 1.31; 14.32. Job 18.11-19. ver.6,16,17.
5 And when the messengers turned back unto him, he said unto them, Why are ye now turned back?
6 And they said unto him, There came a man up to meet us, and said unto us, Go, turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, hIs it not because there is not a God in Israel, that thou sendest to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron? therefore thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.
h ver.3,4,16,17.
7 And he said unto them, iWhat manner of man was he which came up to meet you, and told you these words?
i Heb. What was the manner of the man, Ju.8.18.
8 And they answered him, He was an khairy man,5 and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins.6 And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.
k 1 Sa.28.14. Mat.3.4. Zec.13.4.
5 Most probably a reference, not to his person, but his raiment. See Is.20.2. Zec.13.4. Mat.2.4. He.11.37.—C.
6 'A man lord of hair, and girt with a leather girdle about his loins.' Elijah was a native of Gilead, where the whole people seem to have adopted to a large extent the habits and costume of the nomad tribes. All the nomad Arabs wear a full beard, and allow the hair to grow very long, arranging it in plaits or ringlets down the back and chest. Such a man when contrasted with the Jew of western Palestine, with trim beard and close-cut hair, would naturally be described as 'lord of hair.' The costume of the nomad Arab, too, has ever been a loose mantle girt about the waist by a girdle of leather. It is a remarkable fact that the personal appearance and costume of the whole inhabitants of Gilead are to this day what they were in the days of Elijah.—P.
9 Then the king lsent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty: and he went up to him: (and, behold, he sat mon the top of an hill:7) and he spake unto him, nThou man of 8God, the king hath said, Come down.
A.M. 3108. B.C. 896.
l 1 Ki.19.2. Mat.14.8. Ac.23.12,13. 2 Ki.6.13,14.
m Ju.15.11. 1 Ki.18.42. ch.4.25.
7 Probably Carmel, which was his usual place of abode. See ch. 2. 25 and 1 Ki. 18. 42.—P.
n In derision, Mat.27.29. 1 Ch.16.22. Ps.105.15.
8 Spoken, not in acknowledgment, but in contempt of his character, and derision of his alleged commission from God.—C.
10 And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then olet fire come down from heaven,9 and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.
o Nu.11.1. 1 Ki.18.38. Job 1.16. Lu.9.54. Ac.5.3-10. Re.11.5. 2 Co.10.6. Ja.5.17. Ps.106.18.
9 Amongst apostates prone to the worship of Baal, or the sun, the appeal to the judgment of fire was the most appropriate. That the prophet prayed, not out of personal resentment, but by divine inspiration, is evident from the event: the lightning descended and smote the mockers of Jehovah—an emblem of the judgment at the end of the world. See 2 Th. 1.18.—C.
11 Againp also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty: and he qanswered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly.
12 And Elijah answered and said unto them, rIf I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.
r ver.10. This fearful punishment they deserved, as they were idolaters, murderers of the saints, and insulters of a prophet whom God had marked with singular authority.
13 And he sent sagain a captain of the third fifty with his fifty: and the third captain of fifty went up, and came and tfell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, uO man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight.
14 Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight.
15 And the angel of the LORD said unto Elijah, Go down with him; xbe not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king.
16 And he said unto him, yThus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron, (is it not because there is no God in Israel to inquire of his word?) therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.
y Ex.4.22. 1 Sa.2.27. 2 Sa.12.11. 1 Ki.12.24; 14.6,7. ver.3,4,6. Eze.2.7; 3.17. Je.23.28.
17 So he died, according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken: and zJehoram reigned in his stead, in the second year of Jehoram1 the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son.2
A.M. 3108. B.C. 896.
z The second year that Jehoram was pro-rex, and the eighteenth of Jehoshaphat, ch.3.1. 1 Ki.22.51.
1 The apparently discordant accounts, 1 Ki. 22. 51, that in the text, and that in 2 Ki. 3. 1, may be easily reconciled by Johoram the son of Ahab having been made regent during the illness of Ahaziah, in the 18th of Jehoshaphat, 2 Ki. 3. 1, and the 2d year of the regency of Jehoram, the son of Jehoshaphat, 2 Ki. 1. 17.—C.
2 Ahaziah had no son, and Jehoram was his brother, ch.3.1.—C.
18 Now athe rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel?
a 1 Ki.14.19; 15.31; 16.5,14,20,27; 22.39.
Notes
Reflections.—If we apostatize from God we need not wonder that our inferiors revolt from or rebel against us. Death often apprehends men when and where they least expected it. And much more ready are men curiously to inquire when they shall die, than to prepare for a happy death. Many choose rather to risk their expense and toil, nay their damnation, in consulting the devil, than to consult God freely, to their present and eternal advantage. Persecutors and mockers of God's faithful prophets and messengers shall not escape unpunished. Such as have turned aside to idolatry, even after miraculous demonstrations of the wickedness of it, richly deserve death for their punishment: and if they will harden their heart against the terrors of God, it is just that their destruction be uncommonly terrible. The way to prevail with God is not to insult him, but humbly to bow before him; and the sufferings of others should be our warning. God can endow his servants with such honourable boldness, that captains and kings look contemptible before them. And those who consult the devil, if superabounding mercy prevent not, may expect soon to have their lodging with him in hell.