History · Chapter 1 of 25

2 Kings 1

Injured in a fall, Israel's king Ahaziah sends to consult Baal-zebub of Ekron instead of the LORD. Elijah intercepts the messengers with word that the king will die for spurning Israel's God. Ahaziah sends soldiers to seize Elijah, and fire from heaven consumes two companies of fifty. The third captain pleads for mercy and is spared. Elijah delivers the death sentence in person, and the king dies.

What happens in 2 Kings 1

Ahaziah, Ahab's son, falls through a lattice and is badly hurt. Rather than seek the LORD, he sends messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, god of Ekron, whether he will recover. The angel of the LORD sends Elijah to intercept them: because the king sought a pagan god as if there were no God in Israel, he will surely die. The messengers return, and the king recognizes Elijah by description.

Twice Ahaziah sends a captain with fifty men to command Elijah down, and twice fire falls from heaven and consumes them. The third captain climbs the hill and humbly begs that his life and his men's be spared. The angel tells Elijah to go with him. Elijah delivers the same word to the king's face, and Ahaziah dies according to the word of the LORD; Jehoram succeeds him.

2 Kings 1 in context

Baal-zebub, meaning lord of the flies, was the Philistine deity at Ekron, and consulting him was a public insult to the LORD, as if Israel had no God worth asking. Ahaziah continues his parents' Baal worship.

The fire recalls Carmel, again vindicating Elijah as God's true prophet against a hostile crown. The contrast between the arrogant captains and the humble third one shapes the message of the chapter.

Main themes of 2 Kings 1

2 Kings 1 (KJV)

1Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab. 2And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease. 3But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron? 4Now therefore thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed. 5And when the messengers turned back unto him, he said unto them, Why are ye now turned back? 6And 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, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that thou sendest to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron? therefore thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. 7And he said unto them, What manner of man was he which came up to meet you, and told you these words? 8And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite. 9Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down. 10And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. 11Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly. 12And Elijah answered and said unto them, If 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. 13And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight. 14Behold, 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. 15And the angel of the LORD said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king. 16And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to enquire of his word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. 17So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram reigned in his stead in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son. 18Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Verses to carry from 2 Kings 1

“But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?”2 Kings 1:3

“And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight.”2 Kings 1:13

“So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram reigned in his stead in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son.”2 Kings 1:17

Reflection

In pain or crisis, whom do I consult first? Ahaziah reached past the living God for a lifeless idol. And when I approach God, is it with the pride of the first captains or the humility of the third? Coming low is the way mercy meets me. Christ took the fire I deserved so I could come freely.

A prayer from 2 Kings 1