2 Kings 1:13

THE THIRD CAPTAIN OF FIFTY ENTREATED ELIJAH HONORABLY

"And again he sent the third captain of a third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight. Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and consumed the two former captains of fifty with their fifties; but now let my life be precious in thy sight."

Some scholars have supposed that Ahaziah did not hear of the fate of the first two companies that he sent to Elijah, and that if he had heard of it, he would not have sent a third. Such a supposition could hardly be true. The king certainly would have made it his business to find out why the first two detachments failed in their mission. Also, the captain of the third fifty knew all about what had happened and mentioned it in his prayerful request of the prophet. Also his kneeling before the man of God, and his earnest plea for him to spare his life and that of his men cannot be reconciled with any general ignorance concerning what God had done in answer to Elijah's prayer.

This contrast with the attitude of the other two captains accomplished what was intended, and Elijah responded to it favorably.