2 Kings 1:3

Translations

Modern

But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are on your way to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?’

Traditional

But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baal–zebub the god of Ekron?

Literal

And the angel of YHWH said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?’

Latin

Angelus autem Domini locutus est ad Eliam Thesbiten, dicens: Surge, et ascende in occursum nuntiorum regis Samariæ, et dices ad eos: Numquid non est Deus in Israël, ut eatis ad consulendum Beelzebub deum Accaron?

Original

Hebrew

English

But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are on your way to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?’

Notes

2 Kings 1:3–4

The angel of the Lord in the book of Kings does not appear to be a christophany (a special appearance of Christ before his birth), unlike in other Old Testament texts such as Judges 6:11–18.
Elijah, who had previously confronted Ahaziah’s father, Ahab, delivered a two-part message to the king:
- he condemned the king for failing to recognize that the Lord, not Baal, is God (see 1 Kings 18:16–18), and
- he announced God’s judgment of doom (see 1 Kings 21:17–24).

Theme notes and profiles

Elijah Angels

Events

Prophecies of Elijah

Related verses

1 Kings 17:1
Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was among the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there will be neither dew nor rain in these years except at my word!”
Jonah 2:8
Those who cling to worthless idols forsake His loving devotion.
Acts 12:7–11
Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists.
Jeremiah 2:11–13
Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But My people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols.
Psalm 76:1
For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph. A song. God is known in Judah; His name is great in Israel.
Mark 3:22
And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons.”
Acts 8:26
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go south to the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”
2 Kings 5:15
Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, “Now I know for sure that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.”
1 Kings 19:7
A second time the angel of the LORD returned and touched him, saying, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.”
1 Kings 18:1
After a long time, in the third year of the drought, the word of the LORD came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the face of the earth.”
1 Kings 21:17
Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
2 Kings 1:2
Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers and instructed them: “Go inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I will recover from this injury.”

Parallels

1 Kings 22:51–53

People

Baal-zebub: A Philistine god worshiped at Ekron Elijah: A prophet during the reigns of Ahab and Ahaziah Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Places

Ekron: One of the five major Philistine city-states Samaria: Capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel; Samaritan inhabitants Tishbe: Hometown of the prophet Elijah

Glossary

Ahaziah Beelzebul, Beelzebub Ekron, Ekronites Gods and Goddesses Jehoram Kings, Books of First and Second Prophecy Tishbe

Topics

Afflictions and Adversities: Ahaziah Ancient Samaria: Samaria the Capital of Kings of Israel Sometime Took Their Titles From Angel (Holy Trinity): One of the Holy Trinity: Called Angel of the Lord Baal-Zebub: A God of the Philistines Elijah: Prophecies of The Death of Ahaziah Prophecy: Miscellaneous, Fulfilled: The Death of Ahaziah The Afflictions of the Wicked: Ahaziah

2 Kings 1:3

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Events?

Related verses?

Parallels?