2Ki 1:1-10 | HCSB | STEP | After the death of Ahab , Moab rebelled against Israel .

2 Kings 1:1-10

1 After the death of Ahab, Moab ^a rebelled against Israel. ^b 2 Ahaziah ^c had fallen through the latticed window of his upper room in Samaria ^d and was injured. So he sent messengers instructing them: “Go inquire of Baal-zebub, ^{▼▼= Lord of the Flies
,} ^f the god of Ekron, ^g if I will recover from this injury.” ^h

3 But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, ⁱ “Go and meet the messengers of the king of Samaria ^j and ask them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?’ 4 Therefore, this is what the Lord says: ‘You will not get up from your sickbed – you will certainly die.’” Then Elijah left.

5 The messengers returned to the king, who asked them, “Why have you come back?”

6 They replied, “A man came to meet us and said, ‘Go back to the king who sent you and declare to him: This is what the Lord says: Is it because there is no God in Israel that you’re sending these men to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore, you will not get up from your sickbed – you will certainly die.’”

7 The king asked them, “What sort of man came up to meet you and spoke those words to you?”

8 They replied, “A hairy man with a leather belt around his waist.” ^kHe said, “It’s Elijah the Tishbite.” ^l

9 So King Ahaziah sent a captain of 50 with his 50 men ^m to Elijah. When the captain went up to him, he was sitting on top of the hill. He announced, “Man of God, ⁿ the king declares, ‘Come down!’”

10 Elijah responded to the captain of the 50, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your 50 men.” Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his 50 men. ^o