Ver. 1. Then Moab.] Who, being subdued by David, had hitherto served Israel, and paid the yearly tribute of a hundred thousand rams, and a hundred thousand lambs, with their wool. (2 Kings 3:4,5) Rebelled against Israel.] Which was no small judgment upon wicked Ahaziah, whose reign was both short and troublous. So was our Queen Mary’s; -her conceptions failing, extreme dearths raging, harm done by thunder from heaven, and by fire in the royal navy, King Philip keeping from court, as not affecting her, the loss of Calais, as here of Moab, &c.
Ver. 2. And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice.] So the Suffragan of Dover broke his neck, falling down a pair of stairs in Cardinal Peele’s lodgings at Greenwich, presently after he had received the cardinal’s blessing. The fall of Blackfriars slew about a hundred massmongers, bruised and lamed many more. By such mischances, besides diseases, men may be taken as a bird with a bolt, while he gazeth at the bow; which made Augustine say, that he would not for the gain of a million of worlds be an atheist for one half-hour, lest in that time death should seize him. And was sick.] And so disabled to attempt anything against Moab. Inquire of Baalzebub.] Which signifieth a fly lord. The Greeks called him Myiodes and Jupiter απομυιος, as driving away the flies that annoyed them The Gentiles worshipped many strange gods, as Febris, Cloacina, Pavor and Pallor, &c. These were devils, saith St Paul; and Beelzebub is called “the prince of devils.” At Ekron he was chiefly worshipped; hence Acheron is taken for hell. “ Flectere si nequeo superos, Acheronta movebo. ’’— Virg. Whether I shall recover.] Answers to such questions these idolaters had sometimes from Aesculapius and other like devils, that they might be further deceived, as Martyr observeth. Act. and Mon., 1902. Pausan., lib. v. Plin., lib. xxix. cap. 6. Aug., De Civ. Dei.
Ver. 3. Is it not because there is not a God in Israel,] God scorneth that it should be thought that he had “said unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain”: that is enough for dumb idols. (Isaiah 45:16-19) That ye go to inquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?] To their own Baal they sent not, belike, either because he had lately deceived his father Ahab to the loss of his life, or because men are apt to admire foreign things.
Ver. 4. Thou shalt surely die.] Tempore non tuo (Ecclesiastes 7:17) then, when it were better for thee to do anything else than to die. And Elijah departed.] Vanished, say some; and that so amazed the messengers that they presently returned. But whether he vanished or departed, they had their errand.
Ver. 5. Why are ye now turned back?] Re infecta, as he thought; but they returned unto him with heavy tidings, as 1 Kings 14:6. “An evil man seeketh only rebellion, therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.” (Proverbs 17:11)
Ver. 6. There came a man up to meet us.] Samaria stood on a hill. They were not gone far out of town, it seemeth, ere the prophet met them.
Ver. 7. What manner of man was he?] What was his stature, habit, and shape?
Ver. 8. He was a hairy man.] Hispidus et hirsutus. Either because Elijah had much hair on his head and face, or because, as a prophet, he wore a rough garment, (Zechariah 13:4) as a pattern of repentance. And girt with a girdle of leather.] So was John Baptist, that second Elijah. That this girdle here mentioned was made of the pelt of that ram which Abraham offered up instead of his son Isaac, is a Jewish fable, scarce worth relating.
Ver. 9. Then the king sent.] Stirred up thereto, likely, by his wicked mother Jezebel, who was his counsellor. A captain of fifty with his fifty.] To fetch him by force. Behold, he sat on the top of a hill.] Quia sibi timebat, saith Vatablus. “Elias was a man subject to like passion as we are.” (James 5:17) Thou man of God.] This he seemeth to say as in a jeer; or, if otherwise, it is no better than a kind confession with a false heart, with bloody hands. The world is full of these windy courtesies, real cruelties.
Ver. 10. Then let fire come down from heaven.] This he spake by a motion of God’s Spirit, in zeal of a just punishment to be inflicted on so proud and profane a person. Sed O quam hoc non est omnium! See Luke 9:54. And there came down fire from heaven.] Mr Fox in his “Martyrology” telleth us that as Robert Balding and James Clark were going to carry William Seaman, martyr, -in Queen Mary’s days, -to their master, Sir John Tyrrell, in the night, there fell, it is credibly reported, a light between them out of the element, and parted them. This Balding, albeit he was then in his best age, after that time never enjoyed a good day, but pined away even to death. Act. and Mon., 1846.
Ver. 11. And he answered, and said.] This fellow was more impudent and obstinate than the former; he is therefore worthily made an example, seeing he would not take example. Come down quickly.] Or I will bring thee down. Satis hoc fuit pro imperio.
Ver. 12. And Elijah answered.] See on 2 Kings 1:10.
Ver. 13. And he sent again a captain.] Another pentacontarch; but of a better make than the former. Some think it was good Obadiah, whom be knew to be gracious with the prophet, and could prevail with him to come to the king.
Ver. 14. Therefore let my life be precious in thy sight.] Say we the same to Almighty God, when we see so many fall on every hand of us, devoured by death.
Ver. 15. Be not afraid of him.] See 2 Kings 1:9. Cur timeat hominem homo in sinu Dei positus?
Ver. 16. Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers.] This if he had not done, but sought to God, though he were mortally bruised, yet he might have, through mercy, recovered, as Hezekiah did.
Ver. 17. So he died.] Some wicked men live long, that they may aggravate their judgment: others die sooner, that they may hasten it. In the second year of Jehoram.] See on 1 Kings 22:50.