2 Kings 1:5

5 The messengers returned to him, and he said to them, Why is it that you have returned?

2 Kings 1:5 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 1:5

And when the messengers turned back unto him
To Ahaziah king of Israel, as they did as soon as Elijah was gone from them; concluding from his habit, his gravity, and the authority with which he spoke, that he was a prophet of the Lord, and especially from his knowledge of them, and of what they were sent about: he said unto them, why are ye now turned back?
for, by the time they had been gone, he knew they could never have been at Ekron and returned.

2 Kings 1:5 In-Context

3 But the angel of the LORD said to Eliyah the Tishbi, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Shomron, and tell them, Is it because there is no God in Yisra'el, that you go to inquire of Ba`al-Zevuv, the god of `Ekron?

4 Now therefore thus says the LORD, You shall not come down from the bed where you are gone up, but shall surely die. Eliyah departed.

5 The messengers returned to him, and he said to them, Why is it that you have returned?

6 They said to him, There came up a man to meet us, and said to us, Go, turn again to the king who sent you, and tell him, Thus says the LORD, Is it because there is no God in Yisra'el, that you send to inquire of Ba`al-Zevuv, the god of `Ekron? therefore you shall not come down from the bed where you are gone up, but shall surely die.

7 He said to them, What manner of man was he who came up to meet you, and told you these words?