Ahaziah's Fatal Inquiry
2 Kings 1
Moab rebels against Israel, and King Ahaziah, injured in a fall, sends to inquire of a foreign god about his recovery. Elijah intercepts the messengers with a word of judgment, and after fire from heaven consumes two companies of soldiers sent against him, Ahaziah dies as the Lord had spoken, and Joram his brother becomes king of Israel.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonAFTER the death of Achab, Moab broke covenant with Israel.
BrentonAnd Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Achaab.
GreekΚΑΙ ἠθέτησε Μωὰβ ἐν Ἰσραὴλ μετὰ τὸ ἀποθανεῖν Ἀχαάβ.
KJVThen Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.
JPSAND Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.
2
ThomsonAnd Ochozias fell through the lattice in his upper chamber at Samaria, and was sick, whereupon he sent messengers, saying to them, Go and inquire of Baal the fly-god of Akkaron, whether I shall recover from this sickness of mine. And when they set out to inquire of him,
BrentonAnd Ochozias fell through the lattice that was in his upper chamber in Samaria, and was sick; and he sent messengers, and said to them, Go and enquire of Baal fly, the god of Accaron, whether I shall recover of this my sickness. And they went to enquire of him.
GreekΚαὶ ἔπεσεν Ὀχοζίας διὰ τοῦ δικτυωτοῦ τοῦ ἐν τῷ ὑπερῴῳ αὐτοῦ τῷ ἐν Σαμαρείᾳ, καὶ ἠῤῥώστησε· καὶ ἀπέστειλεν ἀγγέλους, καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτοὺς, δεῦτε καὶ ἐπιζητήσατε ἐν τῷ Βάαλ μυΐαν θεὸν Ἀκκαρὼν, εἰ ζήσομαι ἐκ τῆς ἀῤῥωστίας μου ταύτης· καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν ἐπερωτῆσαι διʼ αὐτοῦ.
KJVAnd Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease.
JPSAnd Ahaziah fell down through the lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick; and he sent messengers, and said unto them: ‘Go, inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this sickness.’
3
Thomsonthe angel of the Lord called Elias the Thesbite, and said, Arise and go, meet the messengers of Ochozias king of Samaria, and say to them, Is it because there is not a God in Israel, that you are going to inquire of Baal the fly-god of Akkaron? Now is not this the case,
BrentonAnd an angel of the Lord called Eliu the Thesbite, saying, Arise, and go to meet the messengers of Ochozias king of Samaria, and thou shalt say to them, Is it because there is no God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baal fly, the god of Accaron? but it shall not be so.
GreekΚαὶ ἄγγελος Κυρίου ἐκάλεσεν Ἠλιοὺ τὸν Θεσβίτην, λέγων, ἀναστὰς δεῦρο εἰς συνάντησιν τῶν ἀγγέλων Ὀχοζίου βασιλέως Σαμαρείας, καὶ λαλήσεις πρὸς αὐτοὺς, εἰ παρὰ τὸ μὴ εἶναι Θεὸν ἐν Ἰσραὴλ, ὑμεῖς πορεύεσθε ἐπιζητῆσαι ἐν τῷ Βάαλ μυΐαν θεὸν Ἀκκαρών; καὶ οὐχ οὕτως·
KJVBut 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?
JPSBut an 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 because there is no God in Israel, that ye go to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron?
4
Thomsonsaith the Lord, From the bed to which thou art gone up thou shalt not come down, for thou shalt assuredly die? So Elias went and spoke to them,
BrentonFor thus saith the Lord, The bed on which thou art gone up, thou shalt not come down from it, for thou shalt surely die. And Eliu went, and said so to them.
GreekὍτι τάδε λέγει Κύριος, ἡ κλίνη ἐφʼ ἧς ἀνέβης ἐκεῖ, οὐ καταβήσῃ ἀπʼ αὐτῆς, ὅτι θανάτῳ ἀποθανῇ· καὶ ἐπορεύθη Ἠλιοὺ, καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτούς.
KJVNow therefore thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.
JPSNow therefore thus saith the LORD: Thou shalt not come down from the bed whither thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.’ And Elijah departed.
5
Thomsonand the messengers returned to the king.
BrentonAnd the messengers returned to him, and he said to them, Why have ye returned?
GreekΚαὶ ἐπεστράφησαν οἱ ἄγγελοι πρὸς αὐτόν· καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτοὺς, τί ὅτι ἐπεστρέψατε;
KJVAnd when the messengers turned back unto him, he said unto them, Why are ye now turned back?
JPSAnd the messengers returned unto him, and he said unto them: ‘Why is it that ye are returned?’
6
ThomsonThereupon he said to them, Why are you returned? To which they replied, There came up a man to meet us, and he said to us, Go, return to the king who sent you and say to him, Thus saith the Lord: Is it because there is not a God in Israel, that thou goest to inquire of Baal, the fly-god of Akkaron? Now is not this the case; From the bed to which thou hast gone up thou shalt not come down, for thou shalt assuredly die?
BrentonAnd they said to him, A man came up to meet us, and said to us, Go, return to the king that sent you, and say to him, Thus saith the Lord, Is it because there is no God in Israel, that thou goest to enquire of Baal fly, the god of Accaron? it shall not be so: the bed on which thou art gone up, thou shalt not come down from it, for thou shalt surely die.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπαν πρὸς αὐτὸν, ἀνὴρ ἀνέβη εἰς συνάντησιν ἡμῶν, καὶ εἶπε πρὸς ἡμᾶς, δεῦτε, ἐπιστράφητε πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα τὸν ἀποστείλαντα ὑμᾶς, καὶ λαλήσατε πρὸς αὐτὸν, τάδε λέγει Κύριος, εἰ παρὰ τὸ μὴ εἶναιι Θεὸν ἐν Ἰσραὴλ, σὺ πορεύῃ ἐπιζητῆσαι ἐν τῷ Βάαλ μυΐαν θεὸν Ἀκκαρών; οὐχ οὕτως· ἡ κλίνη ἐφʼ ἧς ἀνέβης ἐκεῖ, οὐ καταβήσῃ ἀπʼ αὐτῆς, ὅτι θανάτῳ ἀποθανῇ. Καὶ ἐπιστρέψαντες ἀπήγγειλαν τῷ βασιλεῖ καθὰ ἐλάλησεν Ἠλιού·
KJVAnd they said unto him, There came a man up to meet us, and said unto us, Go, turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that thou sendest to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron? therefore thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.
JPSAnd they said unto him: ‘There came up a man to meet us, and said unto us: Go, return unto the king that sent you, and say unto him: Thus saith the LORD: Is it because there is no God in Israel, that thou sendest to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron? therefore thou shalt not come down from the bed whither thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.’
7
ThomsonNow when they who returned told the king what Elias had said, he said to them, What sort of a man was he who came up to meet you, and spoke these words to you?
BrentonSo they returned and reported to the king as Eliu said: and he said to them, What was the manner of the man who went up to meet you, and spoke to you these words?
Greekκαὶ ἐλάλησε πρὸς αὐτοὺς, τίς ἡ κρίσις τοῦ ἀνδρὸς τοῦ ἀναβάντος εἰς συνάντησιν ὑμῖν καὶ λαλήσαντος πρὸς ὑμᾶς τοὺς λόγους τούτους;
KJVAnd he said unto them, What manner of man was he which came up to meet you, and told you these words?
JPSAnd he said unto them: ‘What manner of man was he that came up to meet you, and told you these words?’
8
ThomsonAnd they said to him, He was a hairy man, girt about the loins with a leathern girdle. Upon which he said, This is Elias the Thesbite.
BrentonAnd they said to him, He was a hairy man, and girt with a leathern girdle about his loins. And he said, This is Eliu the Thesbite.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπον πρὸς αὐτὸν, ἀνὴρ δασὺς, καὶ ζώνην δερματίνην περιεζωσμένος τὴν ὀσφῦν αὐτοῦ· καὶ εἶπεν, Ἠλιοὺ ὁ Θεσβίτης οὗτός ἐστι.
KJVAnd they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.
JPSAnd they answered him: ‘He was a hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins.’ And he said: ‘It is Elijah the Tishbite.’
9
ThomsonThen he sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty, who went up to him. Now behold Elias was sitting on the top of the mount. And when the captain spoke to him and said, Man of God, the king hath sent for thee, come down.
BrentonAnd he sent to him a captain of fifty and his fifty; and he went up to him: and, behold, Eliu sat on the top of a mountain. And the captain of fifty spoke to him, and said, O man of God, the king has called thee, come down.
GreekΚαὶ ἀπέστειλε πρὸς αὐτὸν πεντηκόνταρχον καὶ τοὺς πεντήκοντα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀνέβη πρὸς αὐτόν· καὶ ἰδοὺ Ἠλιοὺ ἐκάθητο ἐπὶ τῆς κορυφῆς τοῦ ὄρους· καὶ ἐλάλησεν ὁ πεντηκόνταρχος πρὸς αὐτὸν, καὶ εἶπεν, ἄνθρωπε τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐκάλεσέ σε, κατάβηθι.
KJVThen the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down.
JPSThen the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him; and, behold, he sat on the top of the hill. And he spoke unto him: ‘O man of God, the king hath said: Come down.’
10
ThomsonElias, in reply, said to the captain, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume thee and thy fifty. So there came down fire from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.
BrentonAnd Eliu answered and said to the captain of fifty, And if I am a man of God, fire shall come down out of heaven, and devour thee and thy fifty. And fire came down out of heaven, and devoured him and his fifty.
GreekΚαὶ ἀπεκρίθη Ἠλιοὺ, καὶ εἶπε πρὸς τὸν πεντηκόνταρχον, καὶ εἰ ἄνθρωπος Θεοῦ ἐγὼ, καταβήσεται πῦρ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ καταφάγεταί σε καὶ τοὺς πεντήκοντά σου· καὶ κατέβη πῦρ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ κατέφαγεν αὐτὸν καὶ τοὺς πεντήκοντα αὐτοῦ.
KJVAnd Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.
JPSAnd Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty: ‘If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty.’ And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.
11
ThomsonBut the king persisted, and sent to him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And the captain spoke to him and said, Man of God, thus saith the king, Come down quickly.
BrentonAnd the king sent a second time to him another captain of fifty, and his fifty. And the captain of fifty spoke to him, and said, O man of God, thus says the king, Come down quickly.
GreekΚαὶ προσέθετο ὁ βασιλεὺς, καὶ ἀπέστειλε πρὸς αὐτὸν ἄλλον πεντηκόνταρχον καὶ τοὺς πεντήκοντα αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐλάλησεν ὁ πεντηκόνταρχος πρὸς αὐτὸν, καὶ εἶπεν, ἄνθρωπε τοῦ Θεοῦ, τάδε λέγει ὁ βασιλεὺς, ταχέως κατάβηθι.
KJVAgain also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly.
JPSAnd again he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said unto him: ‘O man of God, thus hath the king said: Come down quickly.’
12
ThomsonWhereupon Elias in reply, said to him, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume thee and thy fifty. Accordingly there came down fire from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.
BrentonAnd Eliu answered and spoke to him, and said, If I am a man of God, fire shall come down out of heaven, and devour thee and thy fifty. And fire came down out of heaven, and devoured him and his fifty.
GreekΚαὶ ἀπεκρίθη Ἠλιοὺ καὶ ἐλάλησε πρὸς αὐτὸν, καὶ εἶπεν, εἰ ἄνθρωπος Θεοῦ ἐγὼ, καταβήσεται πῦρ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ καταφάγεταί σε καὶ τοὺς πεντήκοντά σου· καὶ κατέβη πῦρ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ κατέφαγεν αὐτὸν καὶ τοὺς πεντήκοντα αὐτοῦ.
KJVAnd Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.
JPSAnd Elijah answered and said unto them: ‘If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty.’ And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.
13
ThomsonStill the king persisted, and sent another captain and his fifty. But when the third captain came he fell upon his knees before Elias, and with entreaties addressed him, saying, O man of God, let my life and the lives of thy servants, these fifty, be precious in thy sight.
BrentonAnd the king sent yet again a captain and his fifty. And the third captain of fifty came, and knelt on his knees before Eliu, and entreated him, and spoke to him and said, O man of God, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thine eyes.
GreekΚαὶ προσέθετο ὁ βασιλεὺς ἔτι ἀποστεῖλαι ἡγούμενον καὶ τοὺς πεντήκοντα αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἦλθεν ὁ πεντηκόνταρχος ὁ τρίτος, καὶ ἔκαμψεν ἐπὶ τὰ γόνατα αὐτοῦ κατέναντι Ἠλιοὺ, καὶ ἐδεήθη αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐλάλησε πρὸς αὐτὸν, καὶ εἶπεν, ἄνθρωπε τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἐντιμωθήτω ἡ ψυχή μου, καὶ ἡ ψυχὴ τῶν δούλων σου τούτων τῶν πεντήκοντα ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου.
KJVAnd he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight.
JPSAnd again he sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him: ‘O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight.
14
ThomsonBehold, fire hath come down from heaven and consumed the two former captains of fifty; but now let my life, I beseech thee, be precious in thy sight.
BrentonBehold, fire came down from heaven, and devoured the two first captains of fifty: and now, I pray, let my life be precious in thine eyes.
GreekἸδοὺ κατέβη πῦρ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ κατέφαγε τοὺς δύο πεντηκοντάρχους τοὺς πρώτους· καὶ νῦν ἐντιμωθήτω δὴ ἡ ψυχή μου ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου.
KJVBehold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight.
JPSBehold, there came fire down from heaven, and consumed the two former captains of fifty with their fifties; but now let my life be precious in thy sight’
15
ThomsonThen the angel of the Lord spoke to Elias, and said, Go down with him; be not afraid of them. So Elias arose and went down with him to the king.
BrentonAnd the angel of the Lord spoke to Eliu, and said, Go down with him, be not afraid of them. And Eliu rose up, and went down with him to the king.
GreekΚαὶ ἐλάλησεν ἄγγελος Κυρίου πρὸς Ἠλιοὺ, καὶ εἶπε, κατάβηθι μετʼ αὐτοῦ, μὴ φοβηθῇς ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν· καὶ ἀνέστη Ἠλιοὺ καὶ κατέβη μετʼ αὐτοῦ πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα.
KJVAnd the angel of the LORD said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king.
JPSAnd the angel of the LORD said unto Elijah: ‘Go down with him; be not afraid of him.’ And he arose, and went down with him unto the king.
16
ThomsonAnd Elias spoke to him and said, Thus saith the Lord, Why didst thou send messengers to inquire of Baal the fly-god of Akkaron? Is not this the case? From the bed to which thou hast gone up thou shalt not come down: for thou shalt assuredly die?
BrentonAnd Eliu spoke to him, and said, Thus saith the Lord, Why hast thou sent messengers to enquire of Baal fly, the god of Accaron? it shall not be so: the bed on which thou art gone up, thou shalt not come down from it, for thou shalt surely die.
GreekΚαὶ ἐλάλησε πρὸς αὐτὸν, καὶ εἶπεν Ἠλιού, τάδε λέγει Κύριος, τί ὅτι ἀπέστειλας ἀγγέλους ἐκζητῆσαι ἐν τῷ Βάαλ μυΐαν θεὸν Ἀκκαρών; οὐχ οὕτως· ἡ κλίνη ἐφʼ ἧς ἀνέβης ἐκεῖ, οὐ καταβήσῃ ἀπʼ αὐτῆς, ὅτι θανάτῳ ἀποθανῇ.
KJVAnd he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to enquire of his word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.
JPSAnd he said unto him: ‘Thus saith the LORD: Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron, is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of His word? therefore thou shalt not come down from the bed whether thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.’
17
ThomsonSo he died according to the word of the Lord, which Elias spake.
BrentonSo he died according to the word of the Lord which Eliu had spoken.
GreekΚαὶ ἀπέθανε κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμα Κυρίου ὃ ἐλάλησεν Ἠλιού.
KJVSo he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram reigned in his stead in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son.
JPSSo he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram began to reign in his stead in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son.
18
ThomsonNow the rest of the acts of Ochozias which he did, behold are they not written in the book of the journal of the kings of Israel? And Joram son of Achab reigned over Israel in Samaria, twelve years, commencing in the eighteenth year of Josaphat king of Juda. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, but not in the manner his brothers, nor as his mother had done. He indeed removed the pillars of Baal which his father had erected, and broke them to pieces. Nevertheless he adhered to the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who had caused Israel to sin, and did not depart from them. Therefore the Lord was provoked to wrath against the house of Achab.
BrentonAnd the rest of the acts of Ochozias which he did, behold, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
GreekΚαὶ τὰ λοιπὰ τῶν λόγων Ὀχοζίου ἃ ἐποίησεν, οὐκ ἰδοὺ ταῦτα γεγραμμένα ἐν βιβλίῳ λόγων τῶν ἡμερῶν τοῖς βασιλεῦσιν Ἰσραήλ;
KJVNow the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
JPSNow the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
18a
Thomson—
BrentonAnd Joram son of Achaab reigns over Israel in Samaria twelve years beginning in the eighteenth year of Josaphat king of Juda:
Greekκαὶ Ἰωρὰμ υἱὸς Ἀχαὰβ βασιλεύει ἐπὶ Ἰσραὴλ ἐν Σαμαρείᾳ ἔτη δεκαδύο, ἐν ἔτει ὀκτωκαιδεκάτῳ Ἰωσαφὰτ βασιλέως Ἰούδα·
KJV—
JPS—
18b
Thomson—
Brentonand he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, only not as his brethren, nor as his mother:
Greekκαὶ ἐποίησε τὸ πονηρὸν ἐνώπιον Κυρίου· πλὴν οὐχ ὡς οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ, οὐδὲ ὡς ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ·
KJV—
JPS—
18c
Thomson—
Brentonand he removed the pillars of Baal which his father made, and broke them in pieces: only he was joined to the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who led Israel to sin; he departed not from them.
Greekκαὶ ἀπέστησε τὰς στήλας τοῦ Βάαλ ἃς ἐποίησεν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ, καὶ συνέτριψεν αὐτάς· πλὴν ἐν ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις οἴκου Ἰεροβοὰμ, ὃς ἐξήμαρτε τὸν Ἰσραὴλ, ἐκολλήθη, οὐκ ἀπέστη ἀπʼ αὐτῶν·
KJV—
JPS—
18d
Thomson—
BrentonAnd the Lord was very angry with the house of Achaab.
Greekκαὶ ἐθυμώθη ὀργῇ Κύριος εἰς τὸν οἶκον Ἀχαάβ.
KJV—
JPS—