2 Kings 1:3 kjv
But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?
2 Kings 1:3 nkjv
But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, "Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, 'Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?'
2 Kings 1:3 niv
But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, "Go up and meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, 'Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?'
2 Kings 1:3 esv
But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, "Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, 'Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?
2 Kings 1:3 nlt
But the angel of the LORD told Elijah, who was from Tishbe, "Go and confront the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, 'Is there no God in Israel? Why are you going to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether the king will recover?
2 Kings 1 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 20:3-5 | “You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image... for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God...” | First Commandment, against idolatry. |
| Deut 13:1-5 | warns Israel against following prophets who lead them to other gods. | Consequences of false worship and prophecy. |
| 1 Kgs 11:4 | ...when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart after other gods... | Kings abandoning YHWH for foreign gods. |
| 1 Kgs 16:31 | Ahab... took as wife Jezebel... and went and served Baal and worshiped him. | Baal worship established by Ahaziah's parents. |
| 1 Kgs 17:1 | Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD... lives, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years...” | Introduction of Elijah, God's faithful prophet. |
| 1 Kgs 18:21 | “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” | Elijah's call for exclusive devotion to YHWH. |
| 2 Kgs 1:16 | “You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.” | Fulfillment of Elijah's prophetic word to Ahaziah. |
| Ps 46:1 | God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. | Contrast with Ahaziah seeking help elsewhere. |
| Ps 115:4-7 | Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands... they cannot speak; they have eyes, but do not see... | Futility and impotence of false gods. |
| Isa 44:9-10 | All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in will not profit... | Idol makers and their gods are powerless. |
| Jer 2:13 | “My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and dug out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.” | Forsaking God for useless alternatives. |
| Hos 4:12 | My people inquire of a piece of wood, and their walking staff gives them oracles... | Seeking guidance from idols. |
| Zeph 1:4-6 | “I will stretch out my hand against Judah... those who bow down on the roofs to the host of the heavens, those who bow down and swear to the LORD and yet swear by Milcom...” | God's judgment against syncretistic worship. |
| Matt 12:24 | ...the Pharisees said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” | New Testament reference to Baal-Zebub/Beelzebul, linking to demonic power. |
| Rom 1:21-23 | For although they knew God, they did not honor him... exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man... | General human tendency to exchange God for idolatry. |
| 1 Cor 8:4 | Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and “there is no God but one.” | Confirmation of idols' non-existence, only one God. |
| Rev 9:7-9 | ...shapes like horses for battle; on their heads were something like gold crowns, and their faces were like human faces... Their tails were like scorpions'... | Imagery possibly linked to demonic entities, drawing from Baal-Zebub's 'lord of flies' connotation, associated with plague/demonic infestation in Revelation. (Less direct but thematic) |
| Exod 3:2 | There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush... | Appearance of the Angel of the Lord. |
| Judg 6:11-12 | Now the angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah... The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, “The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.” | Angel of the Lord delivering divine messages. |
| Gen 16:7 | The angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness... | Earliest appearances of the Angel of the Lord. |
| John 14:6 | Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” | The true source of life and truth, contrasting Ahaziah's false hope. |
2 Kings 1 verses
2 Kings 1 3 Meaning
2 Kings 1:3 conveys a direct divine rebuke against King Ahaziah of Israel for his apostasy. Through the Angel of the Lord, God commands the prophet Elijah to confront Ahaziah's messengers. The core message is a rhetorical question that sharply exposes the king's unfaithfulness: "Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?" This question highlights Ahaziah's failure to seek the true God of Israel, YHWH, in his time of need, choosing instead a foreign, pagan deity, thus despising God's covenant presence and power within his own land.
2 Kings 1 3 Context
This verse is situated immediately after the introduction of King Ahaziah of Israel, son of the notorious King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. Ahaziah has suffered a debilitating fall through the lattice of his upper chamber, resulting in severe injuries. Instead of seeking counsel or healing from the God of Israel, YHWH, whose presence and power had been dramatically demonstrated through Elijah during Ahab's reign (e.g., Mount Carmel, drought, resurrection of the widow's son), Ahaziah sends messengers to Ekron, a Philistine city, to inquire of Baal-Zebub. This action signifies a direct continuation of his parents' deep-seated idolatry and apostasy, rejecting Israel's covenant God. The chapter establishes Elijah's final major acts of judgment and power before his ascension, highlighting YHWH's authority over foreign gods and rebellious kings.
2 Kings 1 3 Word analysis
- But: Introduces a sharp contrast and divine intervention against Ahaziah's pagan consultation, signifying YHWH's active response to the king's disloyalty.
- the angel of the Lord: (Hebrew: mal'akh Yahweh, מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה). This often signifies a special manifestation of YHWH Himself, a theophany or Christophany, rather than a created angel. The direct article "the" indicates a specific, highly significant divine messenger. This entity speaks with YHWH's authority and acts on His behalf.
- said to Elijah: Confirms Elijah as YHWH's authoritative prophet, the vessel through whom God communicates and acts against the apostate kingdom.
- the Tishbite: Identifies Elijah's known origin from Tishbe in Gilead, reinforcing his established identity from 1 Kings and the ongoing prophetic ministry to the Northern Kingdom.
- Go up: A direct command, requiring immediate obedience and a proactive confrontation. "Up" might indicate ascending towards Samaria or meeting them on their journey.
- to meet the messengers: God's word intercepts Ahaziah's human-initiated journey towards idolatry, preventing the completion of his wicked intent before it reaches the false deity.
- of the king of Samaria: Specifically identifies Ahaziah, ruler of Israel's capital city, Samaria, indicating his high status and the national impact of his apostasy.
- and say to them: Emphasizes that Elijah is merely God's mouthpiece, delivering a direct, divine word.
- ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel...?’: This is a powerful rhetorical question, full of theological indignation and polemic. It implies a blatant rejection of YHWH, mocking the king's faithlessness by suggesting an absurd reason for his actions: that Israel's God simply ceased to exist or be potent. It challenges Ahaziah's spiritual logic and priorities.
- that you are going to inquire: Highlights the purpose of the messengers' journey—seeking divination, counsel, and healing. It points to Ahaziah's misplaced faith and dependence.
- of Baal-Zebub: (Hebrew: Ba'al Zevuv, בַּעַל זְבוּב). A derogatory name, literally meaning "lord of flies." Scholars believe it's a mocking distortion of an original title like Ba'al Zebul ("Baal the Prince" or "Baal the Exalted One"), typical of Israelite prophets' contempt for foreign deities. This specific name associates the pagan deity with uncleanness, plague, and impotence, highlighting his repulsive nature. In later Jewish tradition and the New Testament, "Beelzebul" became synonymous with a chief demon (Matt 12:24).
- the god of Ekron: Pinpoints the exact false deity and its geographical cultic center, one of the five principal cities of the Philistines. Ekron was a significant Philistine city (1 Sam 5:10) whose deity was consulted in times of sickness or uncertainty. Ahaziah's action implies seeking aid from an ancestral enemy's god, adding to his theological and national offense.
2 Kings 1 3 Bonus section
The direct divine intervention via "the Angel of the Lord" in this verse underscores a deep theological truth: YHWH actively oversees and judges the moral and spiritual condition of His covenant people and their leaders. He does not allow their apostasy to go unnoticed or unchallenged. The very choice of "Baal-Zebub" points to a strong polemic. "Baal" (lord) was YHWH's primary rival for Israel's devotion, and attaching "Zebub" (fly) denigrates the idol as unclean, powerless over a simple insect infestation, let alone a human malady. This episode thus powerfully asserts YHWH's exclusive claim on Israel and His readiness to execute judgment when rejected. It's not just a rejection of YHWH but an endorsement of utter futility.
2 Kings 1 3 Commentary
2 Kings 1:3 serves as a pivotal point, underscoring YHWH's absolute sovereignty and Israel's covenant responsibilities. Ahaziah, steeped in his parents' idolatrous ways, immediately turns to a foreign deity, Baal-Zebub of Ekron, when faced with personal crisis. This action is a profound insult to YHWH, implying His insufficiency or absence. God, through the Angel of the Lord and Elijah, does not silently observe this transgression; instead, He directly challenges it. The rhetorical question, "Is it because there is no God in Israel?" reveals the king's sin to be not mere ignorance, but a deliberate affront to the very core of Israel's identity and covenant relationship. It exposes the futility of seeking life from impotent idols, especially when the living God, YHWH, had demonstrated His power time and again within Israel. This confrontation highlights Elijah's unwavering commitment to God's covenant and serves as a reminder that divine judgment awaits those who reject the Lord's supreme authority.
- Practical Usage Example: In times of trouble, where do we first turn? To personal strength, human systems, or the God who is always present and sufficient? Ahaziah's error reminds us that the primary impulse of a believer should be to seek YHWH.
- Practical Usage Example: Do we allow seemingly minor forms of syncretism or ungodly influences to seep into our lives, hoping to find solutions outside of God's revealed will? This verse calls for an exclusive commitment to Christ.