2 Kings, Chapter 1
Synopsis: King Ahaziah was the ruler of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, residing in the capital Samaria. His reign was from 853 BC to 852 BC. In the chapter, King Ahaziah has had a fall and is severely injured. King Ahaziah wants to know if he is going to die. To find out, he sends messengers to “consult” with a false god. Elijah intercepts the messengers and basically says that because you are consulting a false god and not the true God you will die in bed.
King Ahaziah is obviously bothered by this. The king sends men to Elijah, who maybe in Ekron but is definitely on a hill, presumably to bring Elijah to Samaria. A map is below. God kills all of those men. This repeats. Then the third party pleads with Elijah. God shows pity and Elijah goes to the king with them. In front of the king Elijah delivers exactly the same message he gave at the beginning. And then it all comes true and king Ahaziah dies. Ahaziah, who has no son, is succeeded by Joram.
Thoughts: Ahaziah and Elijah are very different people! However, neither of them are changing men, meaning they are both steadfast, stubborn even. The difference in their stubbornness is defined as the difference in submission.
• Ahaziah was stubborn because he refused to submit to God. It’s a personal stubbornness.
• Elijah was stubborn because he had submitted to God and refused to submit to anyone else.
So 2 Kings begins with a story that shows a number of things. The sin and poor judgement of the northern kingdom. The agency of God through Elijah. Judgement on King Ahaziah’s sins. The benefit of humility (third captain) over pride (first and second captains).
