1. After the death of Ahab, Moab rebelled against Israel.

2. In Samaria, King Ahaziah fell through the window from the second floor of his house and was badly injured. So he sent messengers to consult Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, "Ask him whether I shall survive this accident."

3. Then an angel of Yahweh said to Elijah of the town of Tishbe, "Arise, and go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria. You will say to them: Why have you come to consult Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Is it because there is no God in Israel?

4. Now Yahweh himself gives you this answer: You shall not rise again from the bed where you lay down, but shall die there." So Elijah went.

5. Then the messengers returned to Ahaziah who asked, "How is it that you have returned?"

6. They answered, "A man met us on the way, and he said to us: 'Return to the king who sent you and say to him in the name of Yahweh: Why do you send men to consult Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Is there no God in Israel? Because of this, you shall not rise again from the bed where you lay down, but shall die there."

7. The king asked them, "What was the appearance of the man who met you on the way and told you this?"

8. They answered him, "The man wore a mantle of fur with a leather belt around his waist." The king then said, "He is Elijah from the town of Tishbe."

9. Ahaziah sent a captain of fifty men who went up with his fifty men to get him. Elijah was seated at the top of the mountain. The captain said to him, "Man of God, the king commands you to come down."

10. Elijah answered the captain, "If I am a man of God, then may fire come down from heaven and devour you and your men." Fire came down from heaven and devoured him with his fifty men.

11. The king again sent to him another captain of fifty who went up and said to him, "Man of God, the king says that you are to come down at once."

12. Elijah answered, "If I am a man of God, then may fire come down from heaven and devour you and your men." Fire came down from heaven and devoured them all.

13. The king sent a third captain with his fifty men. This third one went up and as he came, he fell on his knees before Elijah and said to him, "Man of God, I beg you to pardon me as well as my fifty men; we are all your servants.

14. I have heard that fire came down from heaven twice and devoured the two captains with their fifty men. So now, do spare my life."

15. Then the angel of Yahweh said to Elijah, "Go down with him and do not be afraid."

16. So he stood up and went down with them to the king. And Elijah said to the king, "Listen to this word of Yahweh: Because you sent your messengers to consult Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, you shall not rise again from the bed on which you lie but shall die there."

17. Ahaziah died according to what Yahweh had said through the mouth of Elijah, and since he had no sons, his brother Jehoram reigned in his place in the second year of Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah.

18. Everything referring to Ahaziah and his deeds is written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.





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