1 After Ahab died, Moab broke away from Israel’s rule.
2 Ahaziah fell down through the wooden bars in his upstairs room in Samaria. He was badly hurt. He sent messengers and told them, “Go. Ask Baal-Zebub god of Ekron if I will get well from my injuries.”
3 But the Lord’s angel said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Get up. Go meet the messengers sent by the king of Samaria. Say to them, ‘Why are you going to ask questions of Baal-Zebub god of Ekron? Is it because you think there is no God in Israel?’
4 So this is what the Lord says: ‘You will not get up from the bed you are lying on. You will die.’” Then Elijah left.
5 The messengers came back to Ahaziah. He asked them, “Why have you come back?”
6 They said, “A man came to meet us. He said, ‘Go back to the king who sent you. Tell him what the Lord says: “Why do you send men to ask questions of Baal-Zebub god of Ekron? Is it because you think there is no God in Israel? This is why you will not get up from your bed. You will die.”’”
7 Ahaziah asked them, “What did the man look like who met you and told you this?”
8 They answered, “He wore a hairy coat and a leather belt around his waist.”Ahaziah said, “It was Elijah the Tishbite.”
9 Then he sent a captain with his 50 men to Elijah. The captain went to Elijah, who was sitting on top of the hill. He said to Elijah, “Man of God, the king says, ‘Come down!’”
10 Elijah answered the captain, “I am a man of God. So let fire come down from heaven and burn up you and your 50 men.” Then fire came down from heaven. It burned up the captain and his 50 men.
11 Ahaziah sent another captain and 50 men to Elijah. The captain said to him, “Man of God, this is what the king says: ‘Come down quickly!’”
12 Elijah answered, “I am a man of God. So let fire come down from heaven and burn up you and your 50 men!” Then fire came down from heaven. It burned up the captain and his 50 men.
13 Ahaziah sent a third captain with his 50 men. The third captain came and fell down on his knees before Elijah. He begged Elijah, “Man of God, I ask you. Please let my life and the lives of your 50 servants be valuable to you!
14 See, fire came down from heaven. It burned up the first two captains of 50 with all their men. But now, let my life be valuable to you.”
15 The Lord’s angel said to Elijah, “Go with him. Don’t be afraid of him.” So Elijah got up and went with him to see the king.
16 Elijah told Ahaziah, “This is what the Lord says: ‘You have sent messengers to ask questions of Baal-Zebub god of Ekron. Is it because you think there is no God in Israel to ask? Because of this, you will not get up from your bed. You will die.’”
17 So he died, just as the Lord, through Elijah, had said he would.Joram became king in Ahaziah’s place. This was during the second year Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat was king of Judah. Joram ruled because Ahaziah had no son to take his place.
18 The other things Ahaziah did are written down. They are in the book of the history of the kings of Israel.