2 Reis 1

2 Reis 1

Meyer - Our Daily Homily - Thou man of God! Oh that thou and I might so live before God and men, that they should recognize us as men of God, as God’s men! See how these ungodly captains at once recognized this, in the case of Elijah. They fretted and chafed against his holiness; but they were forced to admit it. They tried to impose their orders, or those of their king; but they realized that Elijah was the servant of Him whom they set at nought, so far as their own lives were concerned. If we are really men of God, we shall be the last to assume the title. Notice that Elijah puts an if before the title with which he was saluted “If I be a man of God.” Paul counted himself the least of all saints. We must be of God.— All our goodness must originate in Him. We can no more boast of goodness than a chamber can boast of the light which irradiates each corner of its space. The faith that takes His grace, as well as the grace it takes, is His. We are absolutely His debtors; and happy are they who love to have it so, and lie always at the Beautiful Gate of God’s heart, expecting to receive alms at His hand. We must be for God.— This is the only cure for self-consciousness, for that perpetual obtrusion of the self-life which is our bane and curse. Ask that the Holy Spirit may fill you with so absorbing a passion for the glory of Jesus, that there may be no room to think of your own reputation or emolument. We must be in God, and God in us.— This is possible, when we love perfectly. He that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him. Oh, sea of light, may we lie spread out in thy translucent waves, as the sponges in southern sapphire seas, till every fiber of our being be permeated and infilled! James Smith - ELIJAH, THE MAN OF GOD 2 KINGS 1:1–16 “A king sang once Long years ago: ‘My soul is athirst for God, Yea, for the living God’—thy thirst and his Are one.… Life is not enough, Nor love, nor learning—Death is not enough, Give us now, now!—to live in the life of God; Give us now, now!—to be at one with HIM.” —Ingelow. Ahaziah, the son of a wicked father, meets with an accident, and is sick, then he desires to inquire of the god of Ekron. His fall might have been a great blessing to him as it made him feel the need of divine assistance; but, instead of calling upon the God of Heaven, he chose to inquire of the god of flies, and thus ignore the Lord God ot Israel. But God is not mocked; He thrusts His servant Elijah right in front of the king’s messengers with the sentence of death. The prophet appears before us here as a “man of God,” and as such let us consider him. I. He was Commissioned. “The angel of the Lord said unto Elijah, Arise, go … and say unto them, Is it because there is no God in Israel that ye go to inquire of Baal-zebub?” (v. 3, R.V.). As a man of God, he was called upon to speak on God’s behalf. Is there not a great need for definite testimony along this line to-day, when multitudes are forsaking God, the Fountain of Living Water, and hewing out for themselves broken cisterns that can hold no water (Jer. 2:11–13). Is it because Christ has failed that men seek after the pleasures of sin? Is it because the Gospel of God has lost its power that men go after another gospel? Oh, man of God, be true to thy calling, and preach Christ. II. He was Believed. The turning back of the messengers proved that they were convinced that this man spoke with more than human authority, then, after describing his appearance to the king, he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite” (v. 8). The manner of the “man of God” cannot be the same as ordinary mortals. If Elijah had addressed them in the fashion in which many preach the Gospel, they would have smiled and went on after their “lying vanities” to the forsaking of their own mercy. (Jonah 2:8). Although they knew not the name of the man, they felt that there was a supernatural ring about his message. “It is Elijah!” It is just like that man who is constantly doing wonders in the name of his God, in turning sinners from the error of their ways. III. He was Mocked. Ahaziah did not blame his servants from turning back, but that man for predicting his death. So a captain with his fifty men were ordered to apprehend him. They found Elijah on the top of a hill (perhaps Carmel), and, in a tone of contempt and insolence, they said: “Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down” (v. 9), as if the saying of the king was of greater weight than the message of God. He demanded him to come down. The captain of the second fifty was even more insolent in saying, “Come down quickly.” They seemed utterly helpless of themselves to bring him down. There is a hill-top from which no power on earth can bring down a “man of God”—that is the hill-top of peaceful communion in the divine presence. It is the delight of the enemy to get a man of God down. (See Neh. 6:2, 3). IV. He was Vindicated. “Elijah said, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from Heaven,” etc. (vv. 10–12). There are those who labour to justify Elijah here, as if Elijah had manufactured the avenging fire, or had prevailed on God to do something derogatory to his holy character. It was the Holy Name of God these captains were sneering at when they spoke so contemptuously of the man of God. The devouring fire was God’s vindication of His own Name as represented by His servant Elijah. Our God is a consuming fire, and He will not hold them guiltless who taketh His Name in vain. Elijah did not need to vindicate himself, but His God, who is ever jealous of His Holy Name, did it in a most convincing and overwhelming fashion. It is God that justifieth. “Take heed, that ye despise not one of these little (humble) ones which believe in ME” (Matt. 18:10). V. He was Feared. The third captain, who came with his fifty, came in a different spirit. He had learned, through the terrible doom of his predecessors, that this seemingly meek and helpless “man of God” was not to be spoken against with impunity. He was a man for whom the Almighty fought, and who had all the forces of Heaven on his side. “He came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him for his life and the life of the fifty.” He had discovered that it was not only with the man he had to do, but with the God who was for the man. VI. He was Obedient. “The angel of the Lord said unto Elijah, Go down with him, and he arose and went” (v. 15). The third captain prevailed, not by commanding the man of God to “come down,” but by casting himself down at the prophet’s feet. God had respect unto this man’s prayer. It was just like a man of God to be ready to render immediate obedience to the Lord whenever His will is made known, whether the call is to go up or go down. “Anywhere with Jesus,” says the Christian heart. VII. He was Faithful. He went down to Samaria, not as a prisoner, but as a prince surrounded with his bodyguard, and fearlessly delivered his unwelcome message to the guilty king (v. 16). He would surely die, because he had sought help from the dead god of Ekron, and had despised the living God of Israel. Every soul that so sins shall surely die. Oh, man, fallen by thy sin, and sick unto death, hear His voice of mercy saying, “Look unto ME, and be ye saved, … for I am God, and there is none else”.—who can deliver. “There is none other Name under Heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 6:12). 2 Kings 1:10 Elijah replied to the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty. KJV 2 Kings 1:10 And 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. BGT 2 Kings 1:10 καὶ ἀπεκρίθη Ηλιου καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς τὸν πεντηκόνταρχον καὶ εἰ ἄνθρωπος τοῦ θεοῦ ἐγώ καταβήσεται πῦρ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ καταφάγεταί σε καὶ τοὺς πεντήκοντά σου καὶ κατέβη πῦρ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ κατέφαγεν αὐτὸν καὶ τοὺς πεντήκοντα αὐτοῦ LXE 2 Kings 1:10 And Eliu answered and said to the captain of fifty, And if I am a man of God, fire shall come down out of heaven, and devour thee and thy fifty. And fire came down out of heaven, and devoured him and his fifty. NET 2 Kings 1:10 Elijah replied to the captain, "If I am indeed a prophet, may fire come down from the sky and consume you and your fifty soldiers!" Fire then came down from the sky and consumed him and his fifty soldiers. CSB 2 Kings 1:10 Elijah responded to the captain of the 50, "If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your 50 men." Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his 50 men. ESV 2 Kings 1:10 But Elijah answered the captain of fifty, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty." Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty. NIV 2 Kings 1:10 Elijah answered the captain, "If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!" Then fire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men. NLT 2 Kings 1:10 But Elijah replied to the captain, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your fifty men!" Then fire fell from heaven and killed them all. NRS 2 Kings 1:10 But Elijah answered the captain of fifty, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty." Then fire came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. NJB 2 Kings 1:10 Elijah answered the captain, 'If I am a man of God, may fire fall from heaven and destroy both you and your fifty men.' And fire fell from heaven and destroyed him and his fifty men. NAB 2 Kings 1:10 "If I am a man of God," Elijah answered the captain, "may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men." And fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men. YLT 2 Kings 1:10 And Elijah answereth and speaketh unto the head of the fifty, 'And if I am a man of God, fire doth come down from the heavens, and consume thee and thy fifty;' and fire cometh down from the heavens, and consumeth him and his fifty. If I am a man of God 2Ki 2:23,24 Nu 16:28-30 1Ki 18:36-38 22:28 2Ch 36:16 Ps 105:15 Mt 21:41 23:34-37 Ac 5:3-10 let fire: Nu 11:1 16:35 Job 1:16 Ps 106:18 Lu 9:54 Heb 12:29 Rev 11:5 consumed: Da 3:22,25 6:24 Ac 12:19 Related Passages: Numbers 16:35+ (MOSES WAS VALIDATED BY FIRE) Fire also came forth from the LORD and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering the incense. 1 Kings 17:18-24+ So she said to Elijah, “What do I have to do with you, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my iniquity to remembrance and to put my son to death!” 19 He said to her, “Give me your son.” Then he took him from her bosom and carried him up to the upper room where he was living, and laid him on his own bed. 20 He called to the LORD and said, “O LORD my God, have You also brought calamity to the widow with whom I am staying, by causing her son to die?” 21 Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and called to the LORD and said, “O LORD my God, I pray You, let this child’s life return to him.” 22 The LORD heard the voice of Elijah, and the life of the child returned to him and he revived. 23 Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper room into the house and gave him to his mother; and Elijah said, “See, your son is alive.” 24 Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth.” 1 Kings 18:36-38+ At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word. 37 “Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.” 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. ELIJAH PROVES HE IS A MAN OF GOD Elijah replied to the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” - IF normally signifies a conditional statement and in this case unfortunately for Ahaziah's soldiers the condition had already been met (see widow's acknowledgment of Elijah as "O man of God" convinced he was a man of God after he raised her son to life 1Ki 17:18, 24+)! Elijah was not a dragon so he did not breathe fire, but God had given him the authority to call it down from heaven (like the 2 Witnesses in Rev 11:5-6+) and it would prove he was a prophet. Fire from heaven is a picture of Yahweh's power and authority, almost like God's "signature" attesting "I am God and there is no other!" (Isa 45:5, 6, 21, 22, Isa 46:9) Elijah knows he is a man of God, so he knows this is not something that might happen, but definitely will happen. One wonders if the soldiers were aware of the story of Elijah calling down fire on Mount Carmel (1Ki 18:36, 37, 38+)? In any event it was too late once Elijah spoke these words. 🙏 THOUGHT - It is interesting to see the parallel with Mt Sinai, for like Mt Sinai, Mt Carmel and Elijah’s hill both became places of God’s revelation and power resulting in a reverential fear and holy dread (See also chart above). Indeed, God often revealed Himself on high places (cf Mount Nebo - Dt 34:1-7+, Mount Zion - site of the Temple, Sermon on the Mount Mt 5-7+, Mount of Transfiguration - Mt 17:1-2ff+, and most dramatically and definitively on the hill of the Skull, Golgotha - Mt 27:33ff+), and this reflects to some degree why He was worshiped in the high places (cf 1Ki 3:2, 3, 4+, prior to building of Temple). Sadly, as the nation backslid from one bad king to another, the high places that remained (and which once were sites of true worship) gradually became (at best) sites of syncretistic worship and (at worse) sites of all out idolatrous worship and abominable debauchery! Isn't that the basic degrading dynamic of SIN, to first entice and ensnare hearts and then take them further and further away from the true and living God until one is totally deceived and deluded (like Ahab and Ahaziah)! (cf Pr 5:22+, Heb 3:13+, cf Deceitfulness of Sin) (See also Ten Mountains Associated with Divine Encounters) Then fire came down from heaven and consumed ('akal; Lxx - katesthio) him and his fifty - Fire in the OT is associated with the divine presence. The last time Elijah called down fire from heaven it consumed the sacrifice as well as the altar and water (See chart). 🙏 THOUGHT - Note the fascinating irony in these passages with the repeated use of the same Hebrew verb yarad. (1) The verb came down (yarad) states Ahaziah would not "come down" (yarad) from the bed where he had gone up (2Ki 1:4, 6, 16)! (2) The captains cried "come down" (yarad) (2Ki 1:9, 11). (3) Fire came down (yarad) from heaven (2Ki 1:10, 12, 14). (4) The Angel of the LORD told Elijah go down (yarad)(2Ki 1:15) One takeaway is that we must all daily "come down" from our prIde and bow down to the One Who is the all consuming fire (Dt 4:24+, Dt 9:3+)! Have you come down and gone up to Calvary, to Jesus, the Messiah Who took the full force of God's all consuming fire against sin that you might not be consumed by that fire eternally (Is 30:27, Isa 33:14, Mt 25:41+, Rev 20:10+, Rev 20:14, 15+)? Know for certain that "our God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:29+). Adam Clarke makes an excellent point that "Some have blamed the prophet for destroying these men, by bringing down fire from heaven upon them. But they do not consider that it was no more possible for Elijah to bring down fire from heaven, than for them to do it. God alone could send the fire; and as he is just and good, he would not have destroyed these men had there not been a sufficient cause to justify the act. John MacArthur on fire...from heaven - it was an indication that Elijah was like Moses, who also was validated as the Lord's prophet by fire from heaven (Nu 16:35). (see The MacArthur Bible Commentary) ESV Study Bible (borrow) - Here 100 soldiers (ED: ACTUALLY 102) die as a result of Ahaziah’s choice to turn from God, again showing that the sins of leaders often lead to tragic consequences for those whom they lead (see 2Sa 24:17+). Brian Bell on calling down fire from heaven - Jesus forbade his disciples to attempt to imitate this episode. Lk.9:54-56+ And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?” 55 But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. 56 For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” 2. You & I need to breathe the spirit of our age...The age of the Holy Spirit. The age of revealed love. The age of grace abounding over sin. a) Slide15 The fire we need to call down is the fire of Pentecost, which destroys not souls but sin. The Spirit’s fire that consumes sin & transforms sinners. Consumed (ate, devoured) (00398) 'akal can refer to literal eating and has the basic meaning of to eat, consume or devour. It is used of both humans and animals. This verb is often used figuratively with overtones of destroying something or someone. So the sword, fire, and forest are said to "consume" men. The things "consumed" may include such various things as land (Gen. 3:17), fields (Isa. 1:7), offerings (Deut. 18:1), and a bride's purchase price (Gen. 31:15). ʾĀkal might also connote bearing the results of an action (Isa. 3:10). Figuratively as in 2Ki 1:10, 12, 14 it depicts devouring in judgment. 2 Kings 1:11 So he again sent to him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he said to him, “O man of God, thus says the king, ‘Come down quickly.’” KJV 2 Kings 1:11 Again 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. BGT 2 Kings 1:11 καὶ προσέθετο ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ ἀπέστειλεν πρὸς αὐτὸν ἄλλον πεντηκόνταρχον καὶ τοὺς πεντήκοντα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀνέβη καὶ ἐλάλησεν ὁ πεντηκόνταρχος πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπεν ἄνθρωπε τοῦ θεοῦ τάδε λέγει ὁ βασιλεύς ταχέως κατάβηθι LXE 2 Kings 1:11 And the king sent a second time to him another captain of fifty, and his fifty. And the captain of fifty spoke to him, and said, O man of God, thus says the king, Come down quickly. NET 2 Kings 1:11 The king sent another captain and his fifty soldiers to retrieve Elijah. He went up and told him, "Prophet, this is what the king says, 'Come down at once!'" CSB 2 Kings 1:11 So the king sent another captain of 50 with his 50 men to Elijah. He took in the situation and announced, "Man of God, this is what the king says: 'Come down immediately! '" ESV 2 Kings 1:11 Again the king sent to him another captain of fifty men with his fifty. And he answered and said to him, "O man of God, this is the king's order, 'Come down quickly!'" NIV 2 Kings 1:11 At this the king sent to Elijah another captain with his fifty men. The captain said to him, "Man of God, this is what the king says, 'Come down at once!'" NLT 2 Kings 1:11 So the king sent another captain with fifty men. The captain said to him, "Man of God, the king demands that you come down at once." NRS 2 Kings 1:11 Again the king sent to him another captain of fifty with his fifty. He went up and said to him, "O man of God, this is the king's order: Come down quickly!" NJB 2 Kings 1:11 The king sent a second captain of fifty to him, again with fifty men, and he too went up and said, 'Man of God, this is the king's order, "Come down at once." ' NAB 2 Kings 1:11 Ahaziah sent another captain with his company of fifty men after Elijah. "Man of God," he called out to Elijah, "the king commands you to come down immediately." YLT 2 Kings 1:11 And he turneth and sendeth unto him another head of fifty and his fifty, and he answereth and speaketh unto him, 'O man of God, thus said the king, Haste, come down.' Again: Nu 16:41 1Sa 6:9 Isa 26:11 Jer 5:3 Joh 18:5-12 Ac 4:16,17 O man: 1Sa 22:17-19 Pr 29:12 Isa 32:7 Mt 2:16 Lu 22:63,64 KING AHAZIAH SENDS SECOND GROUP So he again sent to him another captain of fifty with his fifty - He refers to King Ahaziah who is going to persist in his "battle" against Yahweh, even though he now knows God has called in his "Terminator" with Elijah calling down fire on the first group of 50 + 1. Add to that truth, the fact that Elijah had successfully pulled off the same "firebombing" of 450 prophets of Baal (see chart). One would have thought these facts might have given the king pause to reconsider and even to repent of rejecting the true and living God for a substitute dead "fly god," a no god! But the rudder of Ahaziah's heart was set and it was taking himself step by step toward inevitable temporal death and then his eternal death in the depths of Sheol and then the Lake of Fire! And he said to him, “O man of God, thus says the king, ‘Come down quickly - NLT - "Man of God, the king demands that you come down at once." Now the captain adds "quickly" to his command (cf 2Ki 1:9), which show his foolishness, for he is surely aware of the fate of the first 50+1! Unlike the third captain, this man refused to bend his knee to Elijah, and so he would burn! That's still true today - Bend or burn. Bend (knee to Jesus) or burn (eternally separated from Jesus). And by the way, the latter group will still have to bend the knee but too little, too late (Php 2:10-11+) 2 Kings 1:12 Elijah replied to them, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty. KJV 2 Kings 1:12 And 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. BGT 2 Kings 1:12 καὶ ἀπεκρίθη Ηλιου καὶ ἐλάλησεν πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπεν εἰ ἄνθρωπος τοῦ θεοῦ ἐγώ εἰμι καταβήσεται πῦρ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ καταφάγεταί σε καὶ τοὺς πεντήκοντά σου καὶ κατέβη πῦρ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ κατέφαγεν αὐτὸν καὶ τοὺς πεντήκοντα αὐτοῦ LXE 2 Kings 1:12 And Eliu answered and spoke to him, and said, If I am a man of God, fire shall come down out of heaven, and devour thee and thy fifty. And fire came down out of heaven, and devoured him and his fifty. NET 2 Kings 1:12 Elijah replied to them, "If I am indeed a prophet, may fire come down from the sky and consume you and your fifty soldiers!" Fire from God came down from the sky and consumed him and his fifty soldiers. CSB 2 Kings 1:12 Elijah responded, "If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your 50 men." So a divine fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his 50 men. ESV 2 Kings 1:12 But Elijah answered them, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty." Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty. NIV 2 Kings 1:12 "If I am a man of God," Elijah replied, "may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!" Then the fire of God fell from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men. NLT 2 Kings 1:12 Elijah replied, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your fifty men!" And again the fire of God fell from heaven and killed them all. NRS 2 Kings 1:12 But Elijah answered them, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty." Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty. NJB 2 Kings 1:12 Elijah answered them, 'If I am a man of God, may fire fall from heaven and destroy both you and your fifty men.' And lightning fell from heaven and destroyed him and his fifty men. NAB 2 Kings 1:12 "If I am a man of God," Elijah answered him, "may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men." And divine fire came down from heaven, consuming him and his fifty men. YLT 2 Kings 1:12 And Elijah answereth and speaketh unto them, 'If I am a man of God, fire doth come down from the heavens, and consume thee and thy fifty;' and fire of God cometh down from the heavens, and consumeth him and his fifty. 2Ki 1:9,10 ELIJAH REPEATS THE "JUDICIAL MIRACLE" Elijah replied to them, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” - One could title this "Same song, second verse!" Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty - This "second verse" achieved the same result, the consuming of 50 +1 men by fire from Yahweh! I agree with Warren Wiersbe that "These two episodes of fiery judgment were dramatic messages from the Lord that the king and the nation had better repent or they too would all taste the judgment of God. The people (ED: BETTER KING AHAZIAH SEEMINGLY) had forgotten the lessons of Mount Carmel, and these two judgments (ED: SHOULD HAVE) reminded them that the God of Israel was “a consuming fire” (Dt 4:24+ and Dt 9:3+; Heb. 12:29+). (Bible Exposition Commentary) Keil and Delitzsch point out that "The repetition of this judicial miracle was meant to show in the most striking manner not only the authority which rightfully belonged to the prophet, but also the help and protection which the Lord gave to His servants. At the same time, the question as to the “morality of the miracle,” about which some have had grave doubts, is not set at rest by the remark of Thenius, that “the soldiers who were sent come into consideration here purely as instruments of a will acting in opposition to Jehovah.” 2 Kings 1:13 So he again sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. When the third captain of fifty went up, he came and bowed down on his knees before Elijah, and begged him and said to him, “O man of God, please let my life and the lives of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight. KJV 2 Kings 1:13 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. BGT 2 Kings 1:13 καὶ προσέθετο ὁ βασιλεὺς ἔτι ἀποστεῖλαι ἡγούμενον πεντηκόνταρχον τρίτον καὶ τοὺς πεντήκοντα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἦλθεν πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ πεντηκόνταρχος ὁ τρίτος καὶ ἔκαμψεν ἐπὶ τὰ γόνατα αὐτοῦ κατέναντι Ηλιου καὶ ἐδεήθη αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐλάλησεν πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπεν ἄνθρωπε τοῦ θεοῦ ἐντιμωθήτω δὴ ἡ ψυχή μου καὶ ἡ ψυχὴ τῶν δούλων σου τούτων τῶν πεντήκοντα ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου LXE 2 Kings 1:13 And the king sent yet again a captain and his fifty. And the third captain of fifty came, and knelt on his knees before Eliu, and entreated him, and spoke to him and said, O man of God, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thine eyes. NET 2 Kings 1:13 The king sent a third captain and his fifty soldiers. This third captain went up and fell on his knees before Elijah. He begged for mercy, "Prophet, please have respect for my life and for the lives of these fifty servants of yours. CSB 2 Kings 1:13 Then the king sent a third captain of 50 with his 50 men. The third captain of 50 went up and fell on his knees in front of Elijah and begged him, "Man of God, please let my life and the lives of these 50 servants of yours be precious in your sight. ESV 2 Kings 1:13 Again the king sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up and came and fell on his knees before Elijah and entreated him, "O man of God, please let my life, and the life of these fifty servants of yours, be precious in your sight. NIV 2 Kings 1:13 So the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. This third captain went up and fell on his knees before Elijah. "Man of God," he begged, "please have respect for my life and the lives of these fifty men, your servants! NLT 2 Kings 1:13 Once more the king sent a third captain with fifty men. But this time the captain went up the hill and fell to his knees before Elijah. He pleaded with him, "O man of God, please spare my life and the lives of these, your fifty servants. NRS 2 Kings 1:13 Again the king sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. So the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and entreated him, "O man of God, please let my life, and the life of these fifty servants of yours, be precious in your sight. NJB 2 Kings 1:13 The king then sent a third captain of fifty to him, with another fifty men. The third captain of fifty came up to Elijah, fell on his knees before him and pleaded with him. 'Man of God,' he said, 'may my life and the lives of these fifty servants of yours count for something in your eyes. NAB 2 Kings 1:13 Again, for the third time, Ahaziah sent a captain with his company of fifty men. When the third captain arrived, he fell to his knees before Elijah, pleading with him. "Man of God," he implored him, "let my life and the lives of these fifty men, your servants, count for something in your sight! YLT 2 Kings 1:13 And he turneth and sendeth a third head of fifty and his fifty, and the third head of fifty goeth up, and cometh in, and boweth on his knees over-against Elijah, and maketh supplication unto him, and speaketh unto him, 'O man of God, let be precious, I pray thee, my soul and the soul of thy servants -- these fifty -- in thine eyes. he sent again: Job 15:25,26 Pr 27:22 Ec 9:3 Isa 1:5 bowed, Isa 66:2 besought: Ex 11:8 Nu 12:11-13 1Ki 13:6 Isa 60:14 Rev 3:9 O man of God: Ps 102:17 Jas 4:7 AZARIAH PERSISTS IN SENDING HIS MEN So he again sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty - The king persists in burning his men! Perhaps the king had heard the old adage that "the third time is the charm!" (Although unlikely as this is primarily an American saying). Ahaziah still refuses to acknowledge he is fighting a losing battle against the Almighty God! I am reminded of Romans 2:4+ "Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?" Ahaziah thought lightly, contemptuously of Yahweh's consumption of his soldiers. God's kindness and tolerance and patience are like food which is perishable and has a warning of "BEST USED BEFORE _____". The expiration date had come for Ahaziah! When the third captain of fifty went up, he came and bowed down on his knees before Elijah, and begged him and said to him, “O man of God, please let my life and the lives of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight - Clearly the third captain has come to the realization that it was dangerous to approach Elijah and command him to come down. Instead, he falls down. And instead of commanding, he pleads for his life and that of his men. He had determined that a humble, submissive approach would be more viable (pun intended)! Dale Ralph Davis: This third captain does not spout the previous arrogance (vv. 9, 11). He is different in his posture (‘and knelt on his knees before Elijah,’ v. 13b), in his purpose (‘and he made a plea for grace to him,’ v. 13c), and in his petition (‘O man of God, let my life and the life of these fifty servants of yours be valued in your eyes,’ v. 13d). The man was clearly terrified, for he fully knew what had happened to the former two contingents. In verse 14 he so much as says, ‘I know I am within a centimeter of destruction—please spare me.’ He knelt, he pled, he trembled—he lived. (1-2 Kings) 2 Kings 1:14 “Behold fire came down from heaven and consumed the first two captains of fifty with their fifties; but now let my life be precious in your sight.” KJV 2 Kings 1:14 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. BGT 2 Kings 1:14 ἰδοὺ κατέβη πῦρ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ κατέφαγεν τοὺς δύο πεντηκοντάρχους τοὺς πρώτους καὶ τοὺς πεντήκοντα αὐτῶν καὶ νῦν ἐντιμωθήτω δὴ ἡ ψυχὴ τῶν δούλων σου ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου LXE 2 Kings 1:14 Behold, fire came down from heaven, and devoured the two first captains of fifty: and now, I pray, let my life be precious in thine eyes. NET 2 Kings 1:14 Indeed, fire came down from the sky and consumed the two captains who came before me, along with their men. So now, please have respect for my life." CSB 2 Kings 1:14 Already fire has come down from heaven and consumed the first two captains of 50 with their fifties, but this time let my life be precious in your sight." ESV 2 Kings 1:14 Behold, fire came down from heaven and consumed the two former captains of fifty men with their fifties, but now let my life be precious in your sight." NIV 2 Kings 1:14 See, fire has fallen from heaven and consumed the first two captains and all their men. But now have respect for my life!" NLT 2 Kings 1:14 See how the fire from heaven came down and destroyed the first two groups. But now please spare my life!" NRS 2 Kings 1:14 Look, fire came down from heaven and consumed the two former captains of fifty men with their fifties; but now let my life be precious in your sight." NJB 2 Kings 1:14 Fire has fallen from heaven and destroyed two captains of fifties and their companies, but this time may my life count for something in your eyes!' NAB 2 Kings 1:14 Already fire has come down from heaven, consuming two captains with their companies of fifty men. But now, let my life mean something to you!" YLT 2 Kings 1:14 Lo, come down hath fire from the heavens, and consumeth the two heads of the former fifties and their fifties; and, now, let my soul be precious in thine eyes.' Behold: 2Ki 1:10,11 let my life: 1Sa 26:21,24 Ps 49:8 72:14 116:15 Pr 6:26 Mt 16:25,26 Ac 20:24 CAPTAIN APPEALS FOR HIS LIFE Behold fire came down from heaven and consumed the first two captains of fifty with their fifties - Now it is made clear that the first two entourages were consumed. This truth put fear in his heart. It is interesting that he even knows the detail that the fire came down from heaven. It follows that the king also knew the fate of the first two groups sent to Elijah. And yet he remained unmoved. but now let my life be precious in your sight - The captain makes his second appeal for Elijah to spare his life. 2 Kings 1:15 The Angel of the LORD said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So he arose and went down with him to the king. KJV 2 Kings 1:15 And 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. BGT 2 Kings 1:15 καὶ ἐλάλησεν ἄγγελος κυρίου πρὸς Ηλιου καὶ εἶπεν κατάβηθι μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ μὴ φοβηθῇς ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν καὶ ἀνέστη Ηλιου καὶ κατέβη μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα LXE 2 Kings 1:15 And the angel of the Lord spoke to Eliu, and said, Go down with him, be not afraid of them. And Eliu rose up, and went down with him to the king. NET 2 Kings 1:15 The LORD's angelic messenger said to Elijah, "Go down with him. Don't be afraid of him." So he got up and went down with him to the king. CSB 2 Kings 1:15 The angel of the LORD said to Elijah, "Go down with him. Don't be afraid of him." So he got up and went down with him to the king. ESV 2 Kings 1:15 Then the angel of the LORD said to Elijah, "Go down with him; do not be afraid of him." So he arose and went down with him to the king NIV 2 Kings 1:15 The angel of the LORD said to Elijah, "Go down with him; do not be afraid of him." So Elijah got up and went down with him to the king. NLT 2 Kings 1:15 Then the angel of the LORD said to Elijah, "Go down with him, and don't be afraid of him." So Elijah got up and went with him to the king. NRS 2 Kings 1:15 Then the angel of the LORD said to Elijah, "Go down with him; do not be afraid of him." So he set out and went down with him to the king, NJB 2 Kings 1:15 The angel of Yahweh said to Elijah, 'Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.' He rose and accompanied him down to the king, NAB 2 Kings 1:15 Then the angel of the LORD said to Elijah, "Go down with him; you need not be afraid of him." YLT 2 Kings 1:15 And a messenger of Jehovah speaketh unto Elijah, 'Go down with him, be not afraid of him;' and he riseth and goeth down with him unto the king, do not be afraid of him: Ge 15:1 1Ki 18:15 Ps 27:1 Isa 51:12 Jer 1:17 15:20 Eze 2:6 Mt 10:28 Heb 11:27 ANGEL OF THE LORD TELLS ELIJAH "FEAR NOT!" The Angel of the LORD (Jehovah) said to Elijah, “Go down (yarad) with him; do not be afraid of him - The LORD knew that this was a dangerous setting and made sure His man was fortified with with truth that he had nothing to fear from the captain and 50 men with him or from the King himself. So he arose and went down (yarad) with him to the king - Elijah obeys and they are off to see the king. Elijah was living fearlessly in light of the words of Psalm 27 - A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? 2 When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, In spite of this I shall be confident. NET Note - In this third panel the verb “come down” (יָרַד, yarad) occurs again, this time describing Elijah’s descent from the hill at the Lord’s command. The moral of the story seems clear: Those who act as if they have authority over God and his servants just may pay for their arrogance with their lives; those who, like the third commander, humble themselves and show the proper respect for God’s authority and for his servants will be spared and find God quite cooperative. 2 Kings 1:16 Then he said to him, “Thus says the LORD, ‘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 shall not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but shall surely die.’” KJV 2 Kings 1:16 And 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. BGT 2 Kings 1:16 καὶ ἐλάλησεν πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπεν Ηλιου τάδε λέγει κύριος τί ὅτι ἀπέστειλας ἀγγέλους ζητῆσαι ἐν τῇ Βααλ μυῖαν θεὸν Ακκαρων οὐχ οὕτως ἡ κλίνη ἐφ᾽ ἧς ἀνέβης ἐκεῖ οὐ καταβήσῃ ἀπ᾽ αὐτῆς ὅτι θανάτῳ ἀποθανῇ LXE 2 Kings 1:16 And Eliu spoke to him, and said, Thus saith the Lord, Why hast thou sent messengers to enquire of Baal fly, the god of Accaron? it shall not be so: the bed on which thou art gone up, thou shalt not come down from it, for thou shalt surely die. NET 2 Kings 1:16 Elijah said to the king, "This is what the LORD says, 'You sent messengers to seek an oracle from Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron. You must think there is no God in Israel from whom you can seek an oracle! Therefore you will not leave the bed you lie on, for you will certainly die.'" CSB 2 Kings 1:16 Then Elijah said to King Ahaziah, "This is what 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 for you to inquire of His will? You will not get up from your sickbed-- you will certainly die.'" ESV 2 Kings 1:16 and said to him, "Thus says the LORD, '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 shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.'" NIV 2 Kings 1:16 He told the king, "This is what the LORD says: Is it because there is no God in Israel for you to consult that you have sent messengers to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!" NLT 2 Kings 1:16 And Elijah said to the king, "This is what the LORD says: Why did you send messengers to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether you will recover? Is there no God in Israel to answer your question? Therefore, because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will surely die." NRS 2 Kings 1:16 and said to him, "Thus says the LORD: 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 shall not leave the bed to which you have gone, but you shall surely die." NJB 2 Kings 1:16 and said to him, 'Yahweh says this, "Since you sent messengers to consult Baal-Zebub god of Ekron, you will never leave the bed you have got into; you are certainly going to die." ' NAB 2 Kings 1:16 So Elijah left and went down with him and stated to the king: "Thus says the LORD: 'Because you sent messengers to inquire of Baalzebub, the god of Ekron, you shall not leave the bed upon which you lie; instead you shall die.'" YLT 2 Kings 1:16 and speaketh unto him, 'Thus said Jehovah, Because that thou hast sent messengers to inquire of Baal-Zebub god of Ekron -- is it because there is not a God in Israel to inquire of His word? therefore, the bed whither thou hast gone up -- thou dost not come down from it, for thou dost certainly die.' Forasmuch: 2Ki 1:3,4,6 Ex 4:22,23 1Ki 14:6-13 21:18-24 22:28 Baal-zebub: Ex 8:24. where you have gone up, but shall surely die: see Ge 49:4. 2Ki 5:21 Ps 132:3 ELIJAH REITERATES DEATH SENTENCE FACE TO FACE WITH KING Then he said to him, “Thus says the LORD (Jehovah), ‘Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron–is it because there is no God (Elohim) in Israel to inquire of His word?–therefore you shall not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but shall surely die - Elijah boldly repeats the judgment on King Azariah and explains why Yahweh has given him the death sentence. In retrospect, when Azariah fell through the lattice, yes it was an accident, but clearly God was in control and allowed it to occur. Ultimately, this was a merciful thing by God, for it gave Azariah an opportunity to cry out to Yahweh. But he proved himself to be a full-blown idolator who eschewed any relationship with the true and living God. NET Note - For the third time in this chapter we read the Lord’s sarcastic question to king and the accompanying announcement of judgment. The repetition emphasizes one of the chapter’s main themes. Israel’s leaders should seek guidance from their own God, not a pagan deity, for Israel’s sovereign God is the one who controls life and death. Regarding the bed - In the East there is usually at the end of each chamber a little gallery, raised three or four feet above the floor, with a balustrade in front, to which they go up by a few steps: here they place their beds; an allusion to which situation is involved in this declaration of Elijah's, and frequently referred to in the Sacred Scriptures. Brian Bell Maybe Ahaziah was the original Humpty Dumpty..in whom all the kings horses & all the kings men couldn’t put Humpty together again! 1. Ask: What was Ahaziah’s problem? a) He never asked the King of Kings to put him back together. He never asked The One who is still in the business of fixing broken lives. 2. Ask: What should have been Ahaziah’s 1st step to fix his broken life? a) The individual must present himself before God in openness & acknowledge responsibility & accountability. b) A broken life may look/feel like: Personal defeat, messy failures, broken relationships, pain & personal humiliation, destruction, consequences, shattered ideals, wrecked lives, collateral damage/innocent people around us deeply hurt. c) Broken lives are not uncommon, it can happen to any of us. And if it does, we may not be able to control the damage. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.2 3. Ask: Did Ahaziah try to control his own damage? a) Yes, with his army/power move. 4. Ask: What was Ahaziah’s Cure? a) The King of Kings & the deep reality of His grace given freely. b) The God of the bible is a God of the rebuilding process. 5. If your world is in pieces...even if its your fault, don’t give up...better yet give your-self up...to The Rebuilder. And instead of hearing the words Ahaziah heard and you shall surely die, you will hear, you shall surely live! 2 Kings 1:17 So Ahaziah died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. And because he had no son, Jehoram became king in his place in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. KJV 2 Kings 1:17 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. BGT 2 Kings 1:17 καὶ ἀπέθανεν κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμα κυρίου ὃ ἐλάλησεν Ηλιου LXE 2 Kings 1:17 So he died according to the word of the Lord which Eliu has spoken. NET 2 Kings 1:17 He died just as the LORD had prophesied through Elijah. In the second year of the reign of King Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat over Judah, Ahaziah's brother Jehoram replaced him as king of Israel, because he had no son. CSB 2 Kings 1:17 Ahaziah died according to the word of the LORD that Elijah had spoken. Since he had no son, Joram became king in his place. This happened in the second year of Judah's King Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat. ESV 2 Kings 1:17 So he died according to the word of the LORD that Elijah had spoken. Jehoram became king in his place in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, because Ahaziah had no son. NIV 2 Kings 1:17 So he died, according to the word of the LORD that Elijah had spoken. Because Ahaziah had no son, Joram succeeded him as king in the second year of Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah. NLT 2 Kings 1:17 So Ahaziah died, just as the LORD had promised through Elijah. Since Ahaziah did not have a son to succeed him, his brother Joram became the next king. This took place in the second year of the reign of Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. NRS 2 Kings 1:17 So he died according to the word of the LORD that Elijah had spoken. His brother, Jehoram succeeded him as king in the second year of King Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat of Judah, because Ahaziah had no son. NJB 2 Kings 1:17 And, in accordance with the word of Yahweh which Elijah had uttered, he died. Since he had no son, his brother Jehoram succeeded him, in the second year of Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. NAB 2 Kings 1:17 Ahaziah died in fulfillment of the prophecy of the LORD spoken by Elijah. Since he had no son, his brother Joram succeeded him as king, in the second year of Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. YLT 2 Kings 1:17 And he dieth, according to the word of Jehovah that Elijah spake, and Jehoram reigneth in his stead, in the second year of Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, for he had no son. in the second: 2Ki 3:1 8:16,17 1Ki 22:51 Related Passages: 1 Kings 22:51-53+ Ahaziah the son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned two years over Israel. 52He did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin. 53So he served Baal and worshiped him and provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger, according to all that his father had done. GOD'S PROPHECY OF AHAZIAH'S DEATH FULFILLED So - Term of conclusion. This one is fairly straightforward and flows from Elijah's face to face prophecy to Ahaziah of his imminent death. Ahaziah died according to the word of the LORD (Jehovah) which Elijah had spoken. The evaluation of Ahaziah’s reign has already been given (1 Kgs 22:52–53 - SEE ABOVE) And because he had no son, Jehoram became king in his place in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah - Note that the two kings named Jehoram and both reigned at the same time, one in the Northern Kingdom, the brother of Ahaziah and son of Ahab and the other the son of Jehoshaphat, ruling in Judah. Gleason Archer - When did Jehoram son of Ahab begin his reign? 2 Kings 1:17 states that Jehoram, Ahab’s younger son, began his reign as King of Israel in the second year of Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat, King of Judah. (Quite confusing is this appearance of identical names among the children of both Ahab of Israel and Jehoshaphat of Judah, but apparently their treaty of alliance and friendship extended even to the naming of their children!) This appears to be in conflict with the notation in 2 Kings 3:1, that Jehoram ben Ahab became king in the “eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat.” But the discrepancy arises from the fact that just prior to joining Ahab in the unsuccessful attempt to recapture Ramoth-gilead from the Syrians, Jehoshaphat took the precaution to have his son Jehoram installed as coregent on the throne of Judah. In the battle of Ramoth-gilead, in which Ahab was fatally wounded by an arrow (1 Kings 22:34–35), Jehoshaphat himself nearly lost his life; so his foresight was well grounded. But Jehoram began his reign as coregent in that year, 853 B.C. Yet Jehoshaphat lived on until 848, five years later. Thus it came about that the second year of Jehoram ben Jehoshaphat was 851–850. It was also the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat (who began to reign in 869–868 as sole king, that being the year when his father Asa died). Since Jehoram ben Ahab ascended the throne of Israel in 850, both synchronisms were correct: the second year of Jehoram ben Jehoshaphat was the same as the eighteenth of Jehoshaphat. It should be pointed out in this connection that this precedent for installing the crown prince as coregent in his father’s lifetime was followed at least six times in the course of the Judean monarchy: (1) Asa died in 869, but his son Jehoshaphat became coregent in 872 (making three or four years of coregency); (2) Jehoshaphat died in 848, but his son Jehoram became coregent in 853; (3) Amaziah died in 767, but his son Azariah (or Uzziah, as he is variously known) became coregent in 790 (possibly when Amaziah was taken captive to Israel by Jehoash ben Jehoahaz, king of Israel); (4) Uzziah died in 739, but his son Jotham became coregent in 751 (when his father was stricken with leprosy); (5) Jotham died in 736 or 735, but his son Ahaz became coregent in 743. (6) Ahaz died in 725, but his son Hezekiah became coregent in 728. From the technical legal standpoint, Jehoiachin was the senior king of Judah from 597 (Ezekiel always dates his prophecies by Jehoiachin’s regnal years); and so during the entire reign of his brother Zedekiah (597–587), the latter ruled only as coregent. If we bear these guidelines in mind, many apparent confusions in the dates of the period of the divided monarchy can be readily cleared up. QUESTION - Who was King Jehoram / Joram in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org ANSWER - There are two kings in the Bible referred to as King Jehoram/Joram. The first was the son of King Jehoshaphat, and he ruled in the southern kingdom of Judah from 853 to 841 BC. The other King Jehoram was the son of the wicked King Ahab, and he ruled in the northern kingdom of Israel from 852 to 841 BC . The name Joram is a shortened form of Jehoram. Complicating matters is the fact that both Jehorams were brothers-in-law to each other. Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat was 32 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for four years with his father and another eight years on his own in Judah (2 Kings 8:16–17)—a total of twelve years. Although Jehoshaphat had been a good and godly king, Jehoram did not follow in his father’s footsteps. He married Athaliah, daughter of King Ahab (and sister of Ahab’s son Joram), and he became an evil ruler. But, in spite of King Jehoram’s wickedness, God kept his covenant with David and refrained from destroying Judah (2 Kings 8:19). Sadly, God’s mercy had no effect on Jehoram’s behavior. He led his kingdom into idolatry and lewdness, and he caused both Edom and Libnah to revolt against Judah (2 Chronicles 21:8, 11). So God sent word through the prophet Elijah that, because Jehoram had led the people into sin, there would be a devastating attack on Jehoram’s house and Jehoram himself would be struck with an incurable bowel disease (verses 14–15). As part of God’s judgment, the Philistines and Arabs “attacked Judah, invaded it and carried off all the goods found in the king’s palace, together with his sons and wives. Not a son was left to him except Ahaziah, the youngest” (verse 17). The disease killed Jehoram in a gruesome and agonizing manner at the age of 40. The people did not mourn this wicked king (verses 18–20). Jehoram (or Joram), son of Ahab The other Jehoram (or Joram), son of Ahab, took the throne of Israel in the second year of his brother-in-law’s reign in Judah, and he was just as corrupt. He certainly had a poor example in his father. Ahab had turned the people to idolatry, leading them away from the true God of their fathers to the worship of his wife Jezebel’s god, Baal. Ahab had famously clashed with the Elijah on many occasions, and his wicked rule had led to God’s punishment over the whole land in the form of a years-long drought. The consequences of Ahab’s choices carried into his son’s reign. Ahab had previously taken control of Moab and forced the people to pay tribute, but, when Joram took the throne, Moab rebelled, forcing Joram into war (2 Kings 3:4–5). King Joram called for help in the battle from King Jehoshaphat of Judah and the king of Edom, and the combined armies set out on a march through the wilderness toward Moab (2 Kings 3:8). Along the way, they ran out of water. Jehoshaphat made inquiries and discovered that Elisha, a prophet of God and Elijah’s successor, was nearby. Elisha was brought before the kings, and Joram asked for help from God. Elisha wanted to refuse Joram, but he agreed to help for Jehoshaphat’s sake (2 Kings 3:14). Through God’s power, Elisha filled a dry stream bed with water for the troops, and he also promised that God would deliver Moab into their hands (2 Kings 3:15–18). The prophecy came true, and Moab fled before Israel (2 Kings 3:20–27). In spite of this miracle and the victories in subsequent battles God granted, King Joram continued in his evil ways. Although he had brought Baal worship to an end in Israel, “he clung to the sins of Jeroboam” (2 Kings 3:3), and his demise was sure. Joram was injured in a battle with the Aramians (2 Kings 9:15). God charged Jehoshaphat’s son Jehu to destroy the entire house of Ahab (2 Kings 9:6–10). Jehu obeyed, and, after confronting Joram, he shot Joram between the shoulders with an arrow (verse 24). Unfortunately, Jehu stopped obeying God after he had wiped out Ahab’s family. King Jehu became yet another deficient ruler who continued leading the people of Israel into sin (2 Kings 9:31). Norman Geisler - When Critics Ask - 2 KINGS 1:17—When did Jehoram son of Ahab begin his reign as king of Israel? PROBLEM: According to 2 Kings 1:17, Jehoram son of Ahab became king of Israel in the second year of the reign of Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. However, according to 2 Kings 3:1, Jehoram son of Ahab became king of Israel in the eighteenth year of the reign of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. When did Jehoram son of Ahab become king in Israel? SOLUTION: Both statements are correct. Before Jehoshaphat joined Ahab in the military campaign against Ramoth-Gilead, Jehoshaphat appointed his son Jehoram as co-regent in Judah. When Jehoram son of Ahab became king in Israel, it was both the second year of the reign of Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat, and the eighteenth year of the reign of his father Jehoshaphat. 2 Kings 1:18 Now 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? KJV 2 Kings 1:18 Now 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? NET 2 Kings 1:18 The rest of the events of Ahaziah's reign, including his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel. CSB 2 Kings 1:18 The rest of the events of Ahaziah's reign, along with his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Israel's Kings. ESV 2 Kings 1:18 Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? NIV 2 Kings 1:18 As for all the other events of Ahaziah's reign, and what he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? NLT 2 Kings 1:18 The rest of the events in Ahaziah's reign are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel. NRS 2 Kings 1:18 Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel? NJB 2 Kings 1:18 The rest of the history of Ahaziah, and his career, is this not recorded in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel? NAB 2 Kings 1:18 The rest of the acts of Ahaziah are recorded in the book of chronicles of the kings of Israel. YLT 2 Kings 1:18 And the rest of the matters of Ahaziah that he did, are they not written on the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel? in the book: 1Ki 14:19 22:39 Now 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 Dale Ralph Davis - One cannot understand 2 Kings 1 unless one remembers 1 Kings 18. The latter passage relates the ‘god contest’ on Mount Carmel, Yahweh versus Baal. Fire was the burning issue of the day: the God who answered by fire would show himself to be the real God (1 Kings 18:21, 23–24, 36–39). It was a matter of proof. That is the function of the fire in 2 Kings 1 as well. Oh, it should have been unnecessary. King Ahaziah surely knew what had taken place just a few years before at Mt. Carmel. It was a public, prime-time affair covered (if one may be anachronistic) by all the major news networks. It was not done in a corner. It scared the liver out of the folks who saw it and they never stopped talking about it. Carmel Day made the point: Yahweh is the real God, Baal a sorry non-entity. But Ahaziah didn’t get the point. When he has an urgent need for health care, he appeals to Baal (v. 2)—Baal the loser (1 Kings 18). What do you do when someone is so dense, so ‘thick,’ that he doesn’t grasp what fire (1 Kings 18:38) means? You send more fire (2 Kings 1:10b, 12b)! The point is the same, i.e., Yahweh is the only God, but the fire is not only demonstrative (as at Carmel in 1 Kings 18) but destructive (102 seared remains, thanks to Ahaziah). The first commandment really matters to Yahweh, and Ahaziah just doesn’t get it. The fire, however, also functions as protection. Here it is Yahweh’s means of defending the bearer of his word, his undefended prophet. . . Does not Ahaziah represent the power of any kingdom, any throne, any ruler, any government that tries to stifle Yahweh’s word and silence his witnesses? And does not this little scenario testify that no king, no despot, no tyrant will ever be able totally to extinguish the witness of the word of God in this world? (1-2 Kings)