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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 1:1-8

We have here Ahaziah, the wicked king of Israel, under God's rebukes both by his providence and by his prophet, by his rod and by his word. I. He is crossed in his affairs. How can those expect to prosper that do evil in the sight of the Lord, and provoke him to anger? When he rebelled against God, and revolted from his allegiance to him, Moab rebelled against Israel, and revolted from the subjection that had long paid to the kings of Israel, 2 Kgs. 1:1. The Edomites that bordered on Judah,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 1:2

And Ahaziah fell down a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria ,.... Which was either a window or lattice in the form of network, to let in light; or rather were the rails of a balcony or battlement on the roof of his palace, in this form, on which leaning, it broke down, and he fell into the garden or court yard; or walking on the roof of his house, and treading unawares on a sky light, which let in light into a room underneath, he fell through it into it: and was sick ; the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 1:3

But the angel of the Lord said unto Elijah ,.... One of the ministering spirits sent by the Lord to him: arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria : that is, the king of Israel, whose capital city was Samaria: is it not because there is not a God in Israel ; known, acknowledged, and worshipped there, of whom there had been sufficient proof of his deity and divine perfections, as omniscience, omnipotence, &c.; that ye go to inquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 1:2

Fell down through a lattice - Perhaps either through the flat root of his house, or over or through the balustrades with which the roof was surrounded. Go , inquire of Baal-zebub - Literally, the fly-god, or master of flies. The Septuagint has βααλ μυιαν , Baal the fly. He was the tutelary god of Ekron, and probably was used at first as a kind of telesm, to drive away flies. He became afterwards a very respectable devil, and was supposed to have great power and influence.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 1:1-4

Seeking after strange gods: its cause and consequence. We are here introduced to a kingly home. All the pomp of royalty is there. But it is not a happy home. To beta with, there is sickness in that home. Royalty, or rank, or riches cannot keep sickness out. Ahaziah had been looking through the window of his chamber, or, as some think, leaning over the frail baluster of wicker-work which ran round the roof on the inner or courtyard side, when the lattice-work gave way, and he was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 1:1-8

Worldly royalty and personal godliness. "Then Moab rebelled against Israel," etc. The two Books of Kings, which form but one in the most correct and ancient edition of the Hebrews, whilst they constitute a very strange and significant history, are fraught with much moral and practical suggestion. These verses bring under our notice two subjects of thought—worldly royalty in a humiliating condition, and personal godliness truly majestic. I. WORLDLY ROYALTY IN A HUMILIATING ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 1:1-8

Ahaziah's sickness. Son of a doomed house ( 1 Kings 21:29 ), Ahab's successor on the throne reigned for two inglorious years. His evil character is described in the words, "He walked m the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin" ( 1 Kings 22:52 ). A weak ruler, he was probably the mere tool of his mother Jezebel, whose worst qualities he inherited. In determined idolatry, open defiance of Jehovah, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 1:1-18

THE REVOLT OF MOAB . THE ILLNESS , IMPIETY , AND DEATH OF AHAZIAH The narrative of the Second Book of Kings follows on that of the First Book in the closest possible sequence. The history of Ahaziah's reign begins in 1 Kings 22:51 , and is carried on, without any real break or pause in the sense, to 2 Kings 1:18 . How the two books came to be divided at this point is quite inexplicable. The division is most unhappy. Not only does it, without apparent reason, draw... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 1:1-18

The short reign of Ahaziah: his sins, and their punishment. For homiletic purposes we must attach to this chapter the last three verses of the First Book of the Kings. We find in that passage a short but very complete account of the general character of Ahaziah's sins; we find in this chapter a tolerably full account of one great act of sin, and a clear declaration of the manner in which that act and his other sins were punished. It will be well to consider separately I. THE SINS .... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 1:2

Ahaziah fell down through a lattice ; rather, through the lattice . It is implied that the upper chamber had a single window, which was closed by a single lattice , or shutter of interlaced woodwork. The shutter may have been insufficiently secured; or the woodwork may have been too weak to bear his weight, Compare the fall of Eutychus ( Acts 20:9 ), where, however, there is no mention of a "lattice." Was sick ; i.e. "was so injured that he had to take to his bed." Inquire... read more

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