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2 Kings 1:9-15
New International Version
2 Kings 1:9-15
New International Version
9 Then he sent(A) to Elijah a captain(B) with his company of fifty men. The captain went up to Elijah, who was sitting on the top of a hill, and said to him, “Man of God, the king says, ‘Come down!’”
10 Elijah answered the captain, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!” Then fire(C) fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men.
11 At this the king sent to Elijah another captain with his fifty men. The captain said to him, “Man of God, this is what the king says, ‘Come down at once!’”
12 “If I am a man of God,” Elijah replied, “may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!” Then the fire of God fell from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men.
13 So the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. This third captain went up and fell on his knees before Elijah. “Man of God,” he begged, “please have respect for my life(D) and the lives of these fifty men, your servants! 14 See, fire has fallen from heaven and consumed the first two captains and all their men. But now have respect for my life!”
15 The angel(E) of the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid(F) of him.” So Elijah got up and went down with him to the king.
2 Kings 1:9-15
International Standard Version
2 Kings 1:9-15
International Standard Version
Fire from Heaven Destroys the King’s Henchmen
9 So the king sent out 50 men, along with their leader.[a] The leader[b] approached Elijah, who was sitting at the top of a hill. He ordered Elijah,[c] “Hey, man of God! The king orders you to come down!”
10 Elijah responded to the leader who was in charge of the 50 soldiers, “So I’m a man of God, am I? If so, may fire[d] fall from heaven and devour you and your 50 soldiers…”[e] Just then, fire fell from heaven and devoured that leader and his 50 soldiers.[f]
11 Later the king tried again—he sent another company of 50 soldiers, along with their leader, who ordered Elijah, “Hey, man of God! This is what the king orders: ‘Come down!’”
12 Elijah responded to the leader and to his entire company,[g] “So I’m a man of God, am I? If so, may fire[h] fall from heaven and devour you and your 50 soldiers…”[i] Just then, fire fell from heaven and devoured him and his 50 soldiers.[j]
13 Then the king tried yet again! The king sent a third company of 50 soldiers along with their leader. The third leader went up the hill,[k] approached Elijah,[l] fell on his knees in front of him, and begged him,[m] “Hey, man of God, please treat[n] my life and the lives of these servants of yours as precious! 14 Look how fire fell from heaven and devoured the two other companies of 50 soldiers, along with their captains, but now please treat me as if my life were precious!”
15 The angel of the Lord told Elijah, “Go down the hill with that man. Don’t be afraid of him!” So Elijah[o] got up and went down with him to meet the king.
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- 2 Kings 1:9 Lit. a captain of fifty; and so through v. 14; modern equivalent to a Second Lieutenant commanding a platoon of four twelve-member squads
- 2 Kings 1:9 Lit. He
- 2 Kings 1:9 Lit. him
- 2 Kings 1:10 MT word fire sounds like MT word man
- 2 Kings 1:10 The Heb. lacks soldiers
- 2 Kings 1:10 The Heb. lacks soldiers
- 2 Kings 1:12 Lit. to them
- 2 Kings 1:12 MT word fire sounds like MT word man
- 2 Kings 1:12 The Heb. lacks soldiers
- 2 Kings 1:12 The Heb. lacks soldiers
- 2 Kings 1:13 The Heb. lacks the hill
- 2 Kings 1:13 The Heb. lacks Elijah
- 2 Kings 1:13 Lit. Elijah
- 2 Kings 1:13 Lit. see
- 2 Kings 1:15 Lit. he
2 Kings 1:9-15
King James Version
2 Kings 1:9-15
King James Version
9 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, Come down.
10 And 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.
11 Again 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.
12 And 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 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 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 Behold, 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.
15 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 unto the king.
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New International Version (NIV) 
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International Standard Version (ISV) 
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