Melachim Bais 1:4

4 Now therefore thus saith Hashem, Thou shalt not get down from that mittah (bed, couch) on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Eliyahu departed.

Melachim Bais 1:4 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 1:4

Now therefore thus saith the Lord
Jehovah, the only true God:

thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but
shall surely die;
this sickness should be unto death, and the bed he had betaken himself to should be his deathbed. The phrases of going up to bed, and coming down, are used with great propriety; for in the eastern countries, in their bedchambers, they had a gallery raised four or five feet above the floor, with a balustrade on the front ^F4, and steps leading up to it; or ladders, which had more or fewer rounds, according as the beds were higher or lower ^F5:

and Elijah departed;
having met the messengers, and delivered his message from the Lord unto them.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F4 See Dr. Shaw's Travels, p. 209. Ed. 2.
F5 Vid. Isidor. Origin. l. 20. c. 11. & Alstorph. de Lect. Vet. c. 2.

Melachim Bais 1:4 In-Context

2 And Achazyah fell down through a lattice in his aliyyah (upper room) that was in Shomron, and it was a dire injury: and he sent malachim, and he said unto them, Go, inquire of Ba’al Zevuv elohei Ekron whether I shall recover of this choli (infirmity).

3 But the Malach Hashem said to Eliyahu HaTishbi, Arise, go up to meet the malachim of Melech Shomron, and say unto them, Is it because there is no Elohim in Yisroel, that ye go to inquire of Ba’al Zevuv elohei Ekron?

4 Now therefore thus saith Hashem, Thou shalt not get down from that mittah (bed, couch) on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Eliyahu departed.

5 And when the malachim turned back unto him, he said unto them, Why are ye now turned back?

6 And they said unto him, There came an ish up to meet us, and he said unto us, Go, turn again unto HaMelech that sent you, and say unto him, Thus saith Hashem, Is it because there is no Elohim in Yisroel, that thou sendest to inquire of Ba’al Zevuv elohei Ekron? Therefore thou shalt not get down from that mittah on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.