1 Now 1Moabrebelled against Israelafter the death of Ahab.
2
And Ahaziahfellthrough the lattice in his upperchamberwhich was in Samaria, and becameill. So he sentmessengers and said to them, "Go, 2inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, 3whether I will recover from thissickness."
3
But the angel of the LORDsaid to 4Elijah the Tishbite, "Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and say to them, 'Is it because*there is noGod in Israel that you are going to inquire of 5Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?'
4
"Now thereforethussays the LORD, '[a]6You shall not comedown from the bedwhere* you have gone up, but you shall surelydie.' " Then Elijahdeparted.
5
When the messengersreturned to him he said to them, "[b]Why have you returned?"
6
They said to him, "A mancame up to meet us and said to us, 'Go, return to the kingwhosent you and say to him, "Thussays the LORD, 'Is it because*there is noGod in Israel that you are sending7to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore[c]you shall not comedown from the bedwhere* you have gone up, but shall surelydie.' ""'
7
He said to them, "Whatkind of man was he whocame up to meet you and spokethesewords to you?"
8
They [d]answered him, "8He was a hairyman with a leathergirdle[e]bound about his loins." And he said, "It is Elijah the Tishbite."
9
Then the king 9sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him, and behold, he was sitting on the top of the hill. And he said to him, "O man of God, the kingsays, 'Comedown.' "
10
Elijahreplied to the captain of fifty, "If I am a man of God, 10let firecomedown from heaven and consume you and your fifty." 11Then firecamedown from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.
11
So he againsent to him anothercaptain of fifty with his fifty. And he said to him, "O man of God, thussays the king, 'Comedownquickly.' "
12
Elijahreplied to them, "If I am a man of God, let firecomedown from heaven and consume you and your fifty." Then the fire of Godcamedown from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.
13
So he 12againsent the captain of a thirdfifty with his fifty. When the thirdcaptain of fiftywent up, he came and boweddown on his kneesbeforeElijah, and begged him and said to him, "O man of God, please let my life and the lives of thesefiftyservants of yours be precious in your sight.
14
"Beholdfirecamedown from heaven and consumed the firsttwocaptains of fifty with their fifties; but now let my [f]life be precious in your sight."
15
13The angel of the LORDsaid to Elijah, "Godown with him; 14do not be afraid of him." So he arose and wentdown with him to the king.
16
Then he said to him, "Thussays the LORD, 'Because* you have sentmessengers15to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron -is it because*there is noGod in Israel to inquire of His word?-therefore[g]you shall not comedown from the bedwhere* you have gone up, but shall surelydie.' "
Jehoram Reigns over Israel
17 So Ahaziah died according to the word of the LORDwhichElijah had spoken. And because he hadnoson, Jehorambecameking in his place16in the secondyear of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah.
18
Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziahwhich he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles* of the Kings of Israel?