2 Kings 1

2 Kings 1:1

MOab] Whom David had subdued, 2 Samuel 8:2.

rebelled] Refused any longer to be subject. Chap. 3. v. 4, 5.

after the death of Ahab] Chap. 3. 5.

Ahab] Who, as his predecessors before him, had held them in subjection.

2 Kings 1:2

thorow a lattesse] It seemeth that there were crosse-bars, or lattesses, to let light into his chamber, either weak, or rotten, or not well fastned, whereon he leaned or trod: but they failing, he fell thorow, and mortally hurt himself. Some take the word translated upper chamber, for the flat-roof of his house: and lattesses, for battlements, as Deuteronomy 22:8.

was sick] The Hebrew stiles every hurt; a sicknesse, Chap. 22. 34. 2 Chronicles 35:23.

Bal-zeub] A fly-lord. So called, because the Ekronites being infested with slies, thought their Baal freed them: or because their priests told them, that in the shape of a fly, he buzzed oracles into their ears. See chap. 16. v. 31.

Ekron] A great city within the lot distributed to Judah (Joshua 15:45. Judges 1:18.) but the Philistines recovered it, and kept it, 1 Samuel 5:10.

whether I shall recover] Heb. If I shall live.

2 Kings 1:3

Is it not, &c.] This is a sharp rebuke, whereby Ahaziahs folly is upbraided unto him: in that by sending to the idoll of Ekron, he shewed, that he thought there was no God in Israel: or that the God of Israel could not, or would not tell, what would be the issue of his hurt.

2 Kings 1:4

Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up] Heb. The bed whither thou art gone up, thou shalt not come down from it. The judgement is denounced against Ahaziah, as spoken to his face, for the surer evidence thereof.

come down] Thou shalt not recover. For when men recover they use to rise, and come down from their beds.

shalt surely die] Heb. dying thou shalt die.

Elijah departed] To his accustomed habitation, or mount Carmel. See v. 9. and chap. 4. v. 25. and 1 Kings 18:19.

2 Kings 1:5

he] Ahaziah.

now turned] So soon: For he knew that they could not have been so soon at Ekron.

2 Kings 1:6

a man] One whom they knew not: but supposed by his message to be a prophet.

Is it not, &c.] They faithfully delivered their message in the very words that they received it. See v. 3.

2 Kings 1:7

What manner of man was he] Heb. What was the manner of the man? Of what stature and kinde of countenance was he? What kinde of apparell did he wear? How did he go?

2 Kings 1:8

an hairy man] Heb. a lord of hairs. He was clad with a rough hairy coat: which was girt about him with a plain girdle, as Zac 13:4. Matthew 3:4.

It is Elijah] For the king had seen Elijah before: or else had heard before of him, and of his manner of going.

the Tishbite] See 1 Kings 17:1.

2 Kings 1:9

a captain of fifty] Captains were distinguished by the number of souldiers under them: Some were over the whole oast, 1 Chron. 11. 6. Some over a thousand 1 Samuel 18:13. Some over an hundred, Acts 23:23. Some over fifty, as here.

with his fifty] To force him to come, if he made any resistance.

on an hill] As Judges 15:11. This hill is supposed to be mount Carmel. See v. 4.

Thou man of God] This he speaks imperiously, though he knew him to be a man of God, a prophet.

2 Kings 1:10

let fire] This he did by an extraordinary spirit, Luke 9:55.

from heaven] As 1 Kings 18:38. Consumed, as Numbers 11:1.

2 Kings 1:11

he] Ahaziah.

another captain] Being nothing moved with the former judgement.

O man of God] See v. 9.

quickly] This is added more then before, which importeth greater obstinacy.

2 Kings 1:12

And Elijah, &c.] See v. 10.

2 Kings 1:13

again] As it were in despight of God.

fell on his knees] Heb. bowed. In an humble, but civill reverence.

e precious] Be preserved, and not taken away.

2 Kings 1:14

fire, &c.] See v. 10.

2 Kings 1:15

Go down, &c.] God encourageth him by his wonders and word against all fear. So Jere. 1. 17. Ezekiel 2:6.

2 Kings 1:16

is it not, &c.] The very same message that he delivered to the kings messengers, he faithfully and boldly delivers to the kings face, though it were a terrible message.

shalt surely die] Heb. dying thou shalt die.

2 Kings 1:17

Jehoram] Son of Ahab (chap. 3. 1.) and brother to Ahaziah who had no son.

in the second yeer of Jehoram] Being vice-roy in his fathers stead, when he went out to warre with Ahab, 1 King. 22. 2, &c. This was the eighteenth yeer of Jehoshaphats reign. See chap. 3. v. 1. and 1 King. 22. 42, 51.

2 Kings 1:18

chronicles] See 1 Kings 22:39.