2 Kings 1:1-9 ASV

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 1:1-8

Ahaziah's sickness. Son of a doomed house ( 1 Kings 21:29 ), Ahab's successor on the throne reigned for two inglorious years. His evil character is described in the words, "He walked m the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin" ( 1 Kings 22:52 ). A weak ruler, he was probably the mere tool of his mother Jezebel, whose worst qualities he inherited. In determined idolatry, open defiance of Jehovah, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 1:1-18

THE REVOLT OF MOAB . THE ILLNESS , IMPIETY , AND DEATH OF AHAZIAH The narrative of the Second Book of Kings follows on that of the First Book in the closest possible sequence. The history of Ahaziah's reign begins in 1 Kings 22:51 , and is carried on, without any real break or pause in the sense, to 2 Kings 1:18 . How the two books came to be divided at this point is quite inexplicable. The division is most unhappy. Not only does it, without apparent reason, draw... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 1:1-18

The short reign of Ahaziah: his sins, and their punishment. For homiletic purposes we must attach to this chapter the last three verses of the First Book of the Kings. We find in that passage a short but very complete account of the general character of Ahaziah's sins; we find in this chapter a tolerably full account of one great act of sin, and a clear declaration of the manner in which that act and his other sins were punished. It will be well to consider separately I. THE SINS .... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 1:2

Ahaziah fell down through a lattice ; rather, through the lattice . It is implied that the upper chamber had a single window, which was closed by a single lattice , or shutter of interlaced woodwork. The shutter may have been insufficiently secured; or the woodwork may have been too weak to bear his weight, Compare the fall of Eutychus ( Acts 20:9 ), where, however, there is no mention of a "lattice." Was sick ; i.e. "was so injured that he had to take to his bed." Inquire... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 1:3

The angel of the Lord . It would be better to translate, with the LXX ; an angel ( ἄγγελος , not ὁ ἄγγελος ). An angel had appeared to Elijah on a previous occasion ( 1 Kings 19:5 , 1 Kings 19:7 ). Elijah the Tishbite . Arise, go up. Elijah was, apparently, in the low tract of the Shefelah, or in Sharon, when the messengers started, and was thus commanded to go up and meet them, or intercept them on their journey before they descended into the plain. God would not have... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 1:4

Now therefore. The word translated, "therefore" ( לָכֵן ) is emphatic, and means "for this reason," "on this account." Because Ahaziah had apostatized from Cod, God sentenced him to die from the effects of his fall, and not to recover. It is implied that he might have recovered if he had acted otherwise. And Elijah departed ; i.e. quitted the messengers, showing that his errand was accomplished—he had said all that he was commissioned to say. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 1:5

And when the messengers turned back ; rather, when the messengers returned ; i.e. when they reached the presence of Ahaziah, he perceived at once that they could not have been to Ekron and come back in the time. He therefore inquired of them, Why are ye now turned back? "Why have ye not completed your journey?" read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 1:5-16

Fire from heaven. Ahaziah's messengers were intercepted by Elijah. They brought back to Ahaziah the fearless prophet's announcement of his doom. Elijah's message was God's message. He began it by "Thus saith the Lord." The statement that Ahaziah would surely die was in reality the sentence of him who knows the future of every life, and in whose band is the breath of every human being, be he peasant or be he king. But such a terrible sentence had not brought Ahaziah to his senses. He does not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 1:6

There came a man. It is not likely that the messengers did not know Elijah by sight. He was too prominent a person in the history of the time, and too remarkable in his appearance, not to have been recognized, at any rate by some of them. But they thought it best to keep back the prophet's name, and to call him simply "a man" ( ish )—perhaps actuated by good will towards Elijah, perhaps by a fear for their own safety, such as had been felt by Obadiah ( 1 Kings 18:8-14 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 1:7

What manner of man was he? literally, what was the manner of the man ? What was his appearance? Were there any marks about him by which he might be recognized and known? Ahaziah may have already suspected that the man who had denounced woe on him would be the same who had denounced woe on his father (see 1 Kings 21:20-22 ). read more

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 1:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 1:1-18

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 1:1-18

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 1:2

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 1:3

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 1:4

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 1:5

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 1:5-16

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 1:6

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 1:7

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