2 Reis 1

2 Reis 1

MacArthur: Ahaziah’s rooftop room was enclosed with crossbars of interwoven reed or wood strips, which shut out direct sunlight while letting in cool breezes. It was not sturdy enough to keep Ahaziah from falling to the ground below So he sent messengers and said to them, “Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I will recover from this sickness - Note contrasting approach taken by Jehoshaphat in time of great need and crying out to Yahweh for help (2Ch 18:31)! What is even more foolish is that Azariah knew about the total defeat of the priests of Baal by Elijah at Carmel, as well as his father's death as predicted by the prophet Micaiah a prophet of Yahweh. Nevertheless Ahaziah is so deceived he cries out to something (Baal-zebub) that is actually nothing instead of the God of Israel! Ahaziah does not ask for healing but just for a prognostication. His seeking of the pagan deity indicates idolatry was still in "alive and well" (a bad pun because idols were dead, no gods) in the Northern Kingdom. The journey from Samaria to Ekron is about 60 miles (taking about 3 days one way). Lord of the Flies Why he sends his messengers to Ekron is not clear, but Walton (page 385) does have a note that "A deity named El-Dhubub is known at Ugarit and may mean something similar (TO Baal-zebub). Incantations known from Ugaritic invoke Baal Zebul to exorcise demons of disease." Beelzebub is the Greek form of the name Baal-zebub, a pagan Philistine god worshiped in the ancient Philistine city of Ekron during the Old Testament times. It is a term signifying “the lord of flies” (2 Kings 1:2). Archaeological excavations at ancient Philistine sites have uncovered golden images of flies. After the time of the Philistines, the Jews changed the name to “Beelzeboul,” as used in the Greek New Testament, meaning “lord of dung.” This name referenced the god of the fly that was worshiped to obtain deliverance from the injuries of that insect. Some biblical scholars believe Beelzebub was also known as the “god of filth,” which later became a name of bitter scorn in the mouth of the Pharisees. As a result, Beelzebub was a particularly contemptible deity, and his name was used by the Jews as an epithet for Satan. (Addendum - The Jews changed the names of pagan rulers and pagan gods by changing the vowels, to make fun of them. The term can be translated as "Lord of the house," "Lord of the flies," or "Lord of the dung." NT preserved the name in the form Beelzebul, a name for Satan, the prince of the demons - Mt 10:25; 12:24; Mk 3:22; Lk 11:15. Baalzebub was not the same god as Baal, the Canaanite god worshiped by Ahab and Jezebel (1 Kings 16:31-33) One writer quips Baal-zebub was nothing but a god of death who simply attracted flies.). Ekron (Amos 1:8; Zeph. 2:4; Zech. 9:5) was located in the western foothills of Judah, near the Philistine plain, not far from the Mediterranean Sea and was part of the Philistine Pentapolis, the five chief cities of the Philistines, Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Gath and Ekron. These cities were military and religious hubs for the Philistines. Most scholars identify ancient Ekron with the modern archaeological site called Tel Miqne (Tel Mikne). It's about 22 miles southwest of Jerusalem, near modern-day Kibbutz Revadim in Israel. (For more see What is the significance of Ekron in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org) Brian Bell points out that "Ahaziah’s messengers had to pass right through Jerusalem on their way to Ekron in their idolatrous quest. It was therefore, a direct insult to Jehovah to ask help from this fly attracting oracle." Walton page 385 - lattice of the upper room. The excavations in Samaria have demonstrated that the royal palace at this time did have a second story. The style of architecture featured open areas, and the lattice described here would have been a wooden grid offering both shade and air circulation. TSK on lattice - The flat roofs of the eastern houses are generally surrounded by a parapet wall breast high; but instead of this, some terraces are guarded with balustrades only, or latticed work. Of the same kind, probably, was the lattice, or net, as the term {shevacha} seems to import, through which Ahaziah fell into the court. This incident proves the necessity of the law for the formation of battlements for roof, (De 22:8,) which God graciously dictated from Sinai, which furnishes a beautiful example of His paternal care and goodness; for the terrace was a place where many offices of the family were performed, and business frequently transacted. Tony Merida - We can all be tempted to look elsewhere. It could be overt, like horoscopes and palm readers. Or it can be less clear, like trusting Freud for counseling, prosperity teachers for theology, or alcohol or drugs or food as a coping mechanism. It could be turning to work for satisfaction and meaning or to weightlifting because we are obsessed with our looks. It could be turning to immoral sex for fulfillment. We live in a world that will turn almost anywhere for relief but doesn’t want to turn to a God that deserves and demands our all. God takes violation of the first commandment seriously. Ahaziah has belittled Yahweh, essentially suggesting that there is no God in Israel, or that He is impotent and less powerful than Baal-zebub. This is our idolatry as well: when we seek idols, we are saying either that Yahweh cannot help or that He’s not good enough to handle our problems and desires. (See Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings) William