Achazyah Sends to Inquire of Baal-Zevuv
2 Melakhim 1: 1-18 reads, "1:1Mo'av rebelled against Yisra'el after the death of Ach'av. 1:2Achazyah fell down through the lattice in his upper chamber that was in Shomron, and was sick. And he sent messengers, and said to them, 'Go, inquire of Ba`al-Zevuv, the mighty one of `Ekron, whether I shall recover of this sickness.' 1:3But the angel of Yahweh said to Eliyah the Tishbi, 'Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Shomron, and tell them, "Is it because there is no Mighty One in Yisra'el, that you go to inquire of Ba`al-Zevuv, the mighty one of `Ekron?" 1:4Now therefore thus says Yahweh, "You shall not come down from the bed where you are gone up, but shall surely die."' Eliyah departed. 1:5The messengers returned to him, and he said to them, 'Why is it that you have returned?' 1:6They said to him, 'There came up a man to meet us, and said to us, "Go, turn again to the king who sent you, and tell him, 'Thus says Yahweh, Is it because there is no Mighty One in Yisra'el, that you send to inquire of Ba`al-Zevuv, the mighty one of `Ekron? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed where you are gone up, but shall surely die.'"' 1:7He said to them, 'What manner of man was he who came up to meet you, and told you these words?' 1:8They answered him, 'He was a hairy man, and girt with a belt of leather about his loins.' He said, 'It is Eliyah the Tishbi.' 1:9Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty. He went up to him. And, behold, he was sitting on the top of the hill. He spoke to him, 'Man of the Mighty One, the king has said, "Come down."' 1:10Eliyah answered to the captain of fifty, 'If I be a man of the Mighty One, let fire come down from the sky, and consume you and your fifty.' Fire came down from the sky, and consumed him and his fifty. 1:11Again he sent to him another captain of fifty and his fifty. He answered him, 'Man of the Mighty One, thus has the king said, "Come down quickly."' 1:12Eliyah answered them, 'If I be a man of the Mighty One, let fire come down from the sky, and consume you and your fifty.' The fire of the Mighty One came down from the sky, and consumed him and his fifty. 1:13Again he sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. The third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Eliyah, and begged him, and said to him, 'Man of the Mighty One, please let my life, and the life of these fifty your servants, be precious in your sight. 1:14Behold, fire came down from the sky, and consumed the two former captains of fifty with their fifties; but now let my life be precious in your sight.' 1:15The angel of Yahweh said to Eliyah, 'Go down with him. Don't be afraid of him.' He arose, and went down with him to the king. 1:16He said to him, 'Thus says Yahweh, "Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Ba`al-Zevuv, the mighty one of `Ekron. Is it because there is no Mighty One in Yisra'el to inquire of his word? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed where you are gone up, but shall surely die."' 1:17So he died according to the word of Yahweh which Eliyah had spoken. Yehoram began to reign in his place in the second year of Yehoram the son of Yehoshafat king of Yahudah; because he had no son. 1:18Now the rest of the acts of Achazyah which he did, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Yisra'el?"
Do Not Inquire of False Mighty Ones
It should be noted that Yahweh's people, the children of Yisrael, are NOT to inquire of any mighty one other than Yahweh, the Mighty One of Yisrael.
Eliyah Was an Ordinary Human Being
It should also be noted that Eliyah was just an ordinary human being as anyone else. When his life was in danger, he had fear just as much as other human beings have fear when faced with similar circumstances.
Eliyah Undertook His Works at Yahweh's Command
It should also be reiterated that Eliyah undertook the various acts that he did at Yahweh's word. When Yahweh told him to respond in a particular manner, he did. When Yahweh told him to respond in a different manner, he did. In other words, he undertook Yahweh's works in the manner Yahweh instructed him to undertake them. He did not do them according to his own thoughts. Thus when he called down fire from heaven it was at Yahweh's command. And when he went together with the third captain of the fifties, together with his fifty, it was at the command of Yahweh. Eliyah undertook the works of Yahweh in the manner Yahweh commanded him to undertake them, not according to his own thoughts.
Yahweh's Servants Ought to be Respected
It should also be noted that Yahweh's prophets ought to be respected by others. When the first two captains of fifties came to Eliyah, lacking the respect the third captain of the fifties had, they perished, together with their fifties. But the third captain of the fifties, who showed Yahweh's prophet respect, was spared. Thus Yahweh's prophets ought to be accorded due respect.
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