2 Kings 1:9-15
Holman Christian Standard Bible
9 So King Ahaziah sent a captain of 50 with his 50 men(A) to Elijah. When the captain went up to him, he was sitting on top of the hill. He announced, “Man of God,(B) the king declares, ‘Come down!’”
10 Elijah responded to the captain of the 50, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your 50 men.” Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his 50 men.(C)
11 So the king sent another captain of 50 with his 50 men to Elijah. He took in the situation[a] and announced, “Man of God, this is what the king says: ‘Come down immediately!’”
12 Elijah responded, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your 50 men.” So a divine fire[b] came down from heaven and consumed him and his 50 men.
13 Then the king sent a third captain of 50 with his 50 men. The third captain of 50 went up and fell on his knees in front of Elijah and begged him, “Man of God,(D) please let my life and the lives of these 50 servants of yours be precious in your sight.(E) 14 Already fire has come down from heaven and consumed the first two captains of 50 with their fifties, but this time let my life be precious in your sight.”
15 The angel of the Lord(F) said to Elijah, “Go down with him. Don’t be afraid of him.”(G) So he got up and went down with him to the king.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Kings 1:11 Lit He answered
- 2 Kings 1:12 Lit a fire of God
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
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