1:1 After Ahab died, Moab rebelled against Israel.

 

Moab was one of the daughters of Lot who intoxicated her father and produced a child through incest. The Moabites had now grown into a pagan nation who was paying tribute to Israel. They rebelled against Israel after the death of King Ahab.

 

1:2 Ahaziah fell through a window lattice in his upper chamber in Samaria and was injured. He sent messengers with these orders, “Go, ask Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron, if I will survive this injury.” 

 

There were two kings named Ahaziah. This king of the northern kingdom of Israel is not to be confused with Ahaziah of Judah (8:25–9:29). Ahaziah was the son of King Ahab and Jezebel. He was the eighth king of apostate Israel. Ahaziah’s drunkenness may have caused his fall. 

 

Baal Zebub means “lord of the flies.” This fly was a dung beetle who lived in cow manure. King Ahaziah was worshiping the dung beetle. This name was later attributed to Satan. Israel would later reject Jesus as their Messiah and accuse him of being demon possessed from this same demonic god. 

 

Ekron was a Philistine city about 40 miles away from Samaria.

 

1:3 But the Lord’s angelic messenger told Elijah the Tishbite, “Get up, go to meet the messengers from the king of Samaria. Say this to them: ‘You must think there is no God in Israel! That explains why you are on your way to seek an oracle from Baal Zebub the god of Ekron.

 

The Hebrew for “the Lord’s angelic messenger” is מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֗ה (melek Jehovah), meaning angel of Jehovah. Since there was no definite article in the Hebrew text, then this was most likely not the preincarnate Christ, but a common angel. 

 

Instead of sending messengers to Jehovah, King Ahziah of Israel sent messengers to the god of the dung beetle. This was a great insult to Jehovah. The King of Israel had chosen the worship of the dung beetle over Jehovah.

 

The sin of modern Christendom is much greater even than that of King Ahaziah. Christianity has possessed the compiled Word of God for over 2,000 years, but they have chosen evolution, cults, and isms over Jesus. 

 

1:4 Therefore this is what the Lord says, “You will not leave the bed you lie on, for you will certainly die!” ’ ” So Elijah went on his way. 

 

The worship of false gods was a capital offense under the Mosaic Law.

 

1:5 When the messengers returned to the king, he asked them, “Why have you returned?” 

 

The messengers most likely did not even get out of the city.

 

1:6 They replied, “A man came up to meet us. He told us, “Go back to the king who sent you and tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: “You must think there is no God in Israel! That explains why you are sending for an oracle from Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron. Therefore you will not leave the bed you lie on, for you will certainly die.” ’ ” 

 

The worship of the dung beetle over Jehovah was a poor substitute for the true God of creation.

 

1:7 The king asked them, “Describe the appearance of this man who came up to meet you and told you these things.” 

 

King Ahaziah asked for a description of the outward appearance of the prophet.

 

1:8 They replied, “He was a hairy man and had a leather belt tied around his waist.” The king said, “He is Elijah the Tishbite.” 

 

Zechariah 13:4 gives more detail on the garments of prophets. John the Baptist came in the spirit and likeness of Elijah. He was clothed in camel’s hair. 

 

1:9 The king sent a captain and his fifty soldiers to retrieve Elijah. The captain went up to him, while he was sitting on the top of a hill. He told him, “Prophet, the king says, ‘Come down!’ ” 

 

Everyone in Israel knew about the conflict between Jehovah and Baal at Mount Carmel. There was still a price on Elijah’s head. Everyone had to choose to follow either Jehovah or Baal. To follow Jehovah, one must side with Elijah. To side with Baal, one must side with King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. Arresting a prophet from God is an attempt of man to censor God’s word. King Ahaziah, Queen Jezebel, the captain, and the soldiers made their choice. They were standing with Baal, who was actually an idol which represented Satan. These men were standing with Satan in an attempt to censor God’s Word.

 

The electorate must make this same choice today. Those who choose abortion, same-sex marriage, evolution, transgenderism, pornography, and biblical censorship in education are siding with Satan. Those who choose biblical education in all areas of politics and education are standing with Christ. 

 

One of Satan’s biggest deceptions is that everyone should learn to get along with each other. This is not sound bible doctrine. Compromise with the world is never taught in Scripture. The world will not listen to the church if it refuses t compromise with the culture. There will be a few who listen to a church who teaches the Word of God. Unbelievers and carnal Christians will choose churches of entertainment. Mature believers will choose churches who teach the entire counsel of the Word of God from the original languages. Evangelists are sent to seek the elect. Pastor-teachers are chosen to disciple the elect.

 

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. 

 

During the apostasy of Israel, the people had separated themselves from the temple, the priesthood, and the Scriptures. Their only knowledge of God was coming from the prophets. God confirmed that their message was from God by allowing them to produce miracles to authenticate their message. By sending fire upon these soldiers. Jehovah was reminding Israel that they were serving an apostate monarchy. God was the King of Israel. Even the king must submit to His sovereignty.

 

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!’ ”

 

King Ahab sent another group of apostate soldiers who supported Baal worship over that of Jehovah.

 

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. 

 

Since Israel was ignoring the Mosaic Law by not executing these pagan worshipers, Jehovah executed them.

 

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. 

 

The third captain submitted to the authority of Jehovah instead of the authority of King Ahaziah. He sided with the one true God and not political expediency. It is sad to say that many unbelievers and carnal Christians abandon God and sell themselves out to a political party, a business promotion, or an ungodly ideology. 

 

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.” 

 

Instead of demanding surrender, this captain asked for mercy and received it.

 

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. 

 

The Hebrew for “the Lord’s angelic messenger” is מַלְאַ֤ךְ יְהוָה֙ (melek Jehovah) without the definite article, so this is most likely a common angel. Elijah was informed that it was safe to go with this captain and visit the king.

 

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.’ ” 

 

This was the same prophecy that Elijah had given to King Ahaziah’s servants.

 

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.

 

Notice that there were two Jehorams mentioned in this verse. The first Jehoram was a king of Israel. The second Jehoram was a king of Judah. King Ahaziah died during the second year of the reign of King Jehoram of Judah. The new king of Israel was another King Jehoram, who was also the brother of Ahaziah. Ahaziah died at a young age, so he had no son.

 

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.  

 

The other historical events of King Ahaziah were recorded in the “Annals of the Kings of Israel.” This was a non-inspired secular history book that has been lost to this age.