The revolt of Moab – Sickness of Ahaziah. – appearance of Elijah. (1-8)
V. 1…Moab rebelled against Israel… Ahaziah was the 8th ruler of the northern kingdom of Israel. When Ahaziah rebelled against the Lord, Moab revolted from him. This is just a mention of the revolt and the details continue in Chapter 3.
V.2 …Ahaziah fell…lay sick…inquire of Baal-Zbub, the God of Ekron… Ekron was an important Philistine city about 25 miles (40 km) west of Jerusalem. Ahaziah, as eveil and idolatrous as his father Ahab and his mother Jezebel, attempted to consult Baal-Zebub, the local god of Ekron.
V. 3…Angel of the LORD… When man sent messenger, God sends Angels. 1 Ki 19:1-7. Elijah met king’s delegation to Ekron.
V. 4…you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up…shall surely die,… This judgment of God is due to Ahaziah’s rebellion against God of Israel.
Fire called from heaven by Elijah-Death of Ahaziah. (9-18)
Vs. 9 & 10…king sent to him a captain of fifty men… The intension of Ahaziah is to have Elijah seized. But Elijah miraculously called down fire to destroy his would-be captors. He did the same to the 2nd batch of men in 11 & 12.
V. 13 & 14…the third captain of fifty… The captain of the third batch escaped with his life by showing due respect to Prophet Elijah.
Vs. 15-17a…Angel of the LORD…God down with him… Elijah proceeded with the captain this time, but the message was the same and the king eventually died.
Jehoram, the 9th King of Israel:
V. 17b…Jehoram became king… Jehoram ascended to the throne as the 9th King of Israel. Jehoram is the brother of Ahaziah became the king as Ahaziah did not have a son.
2 Kings 2: Elijah’s rapture.
Elijah travel to Trans-Jordan accompanied by Elisha. (1-8):
V. 1…Gilgal… Gilgal is located 8 miles north west of Bethel. It appears that Gilgal was the central place for Elijah’s ministry where he had his School of Prophets. Among the other Prophets, Elisha was known as very close to Elijah. 2 Kings 3:11 calls Elisha as the one who poured water on the hands of Elijah. This may be reference to Elisha’s rloe as Elijah’s servant.
Vs. 2-5…LORD has sent me as far as Bethel…Jericho… We don’t exactly know the reason for God sending him to different places. Through the references about sons of Prophets in each place, his travel through these cities may have been a farewell trip or for farewell preaching by Elijah to the sons of Prophets. These sons of prophets are supposed to be trained by Elijah himself. These are not false prophets who worshipped Baal. Let us remember what God told about the 7000 prophets of Jehovah kept remnant in Israel. However, the sons of Prophets are not physical descendants, but groups of prophets generally affiliated with a more prominent prophet (1 Sam 10:5,19:20 & more). These are members of a guild of prophets.
Vs. 2, 4, & 6, …“As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you”… Elisha’s commitment and faithfulness was tested three times. On the other hand probably Elijah might have told Elisha to stay back to continue his ministry and why should Elisha be bothered to accompany him as this is his death trip.
Vs. 3 & 5, …Do you know that today the LORD will take away your master… “yes, I know it…” Obviously Elijah, Elisha, and all the sons of Prophets knew about Elijah’s departure. Everyone stayed back, but ONLY ELISHA followed him as a sincere servant-follower. The same information was responded differently. Elisha was not shaken by the intimidation from the prophets. He followed Elijah with firm determination. Let us follow our Master Jesus Christ with firm commitment and determination.
V. 8…water parted to the one side and to the other… This reminds us Moses at the Red Sea. Later Elisha proved himself to Elijah as Joshua to Moses.