ELIJAH DESTROYING THE MESSENGERS OF AHAZIAH.

And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamberthat was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, andsaid unto them, Go, enquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekronwhether I shall recover of this disease.

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 untothem, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that 'ye goto enquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron? Now therefore thussaith the Lord, Thou; shalt not come down from that bed on whichthou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.

And when the messengers turned back unto him, he said untothem, Why are ye now turned back? And they said unto him, Therecame a man up to meet us, and said unto us, Go, turn again untothe king that sent you, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Isit not because there is not a God in Israel, that thou sendest toenquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron? therefore thou shalt notcome down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shaltsurely die. And he said unto them, What manner of man was hewhich came up to meet you, and told you these words? And theyanswered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle ofleather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah theTishbite.

Then 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, Comedown. And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If Ibe a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consumethee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven andconsumed him and his fifty.

Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with hisfifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus haththe king said, Come down quickly. And Elijah answered and saidunto 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 downfrom heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

And 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 hisknees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O manof God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thyservants, be precious in thy sight. Behold, there came fire downfrom heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fiftieswith their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thysight.

And 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 untothe king. And he said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Forasmuch asthou hast sent messengers to enquire of Baal-zebub the god ofEkron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to enquire ofhis word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed onwhich thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.

So he died according to the word of the Lord which Elijah hadspoken.—2 Kings i, 2-17.