Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 1
The third captain realised that he and his men were in a truly desperate situation. God had shown his anger against the first two captains and their men when they came to arrest Elijah. Fire came from heaven and killed them.
So, the third captain would have preferred not to go to Elijah. However the captain had to obey the orders of his king, Ahaziah. If he had not obeyed, then Ahaziah would have ordered the deaths of him and his men.
The captain could expect no kindness from Ahaziah, who was a cruel and wicked man. However, God’s kindness is very great (Exodus 34:6-7). So, the captain decided to depend on the kindness of Elijah and of God.
The captain went to Elijah, and he (the captain) humbly knelt down in front of Elijah. He gave honour to Elijah and he asked Elijah to save his life, and the lives of his men. He gave no order to Elijah; he did not even try to tell Elijah what he must do to save their lives. He even declared himself and his men to be Elijah’s servants. In other words, they were agreeing to do whatever Elijah told them.
God showed Elijah what he (Elijah) should do. God told him to go with the captain, and not to be afraid of the king.
So Elijah went, not as a prisoner but as a free man. He declared to King Ahaziah the message that God had originally given to him (1:3-4). God had decided that Ahaziah would die because of his evil deeds. That was the message – and that is what happened.
Next part: Joram of Israel and Jehoram of Judah (2 Kings 1:17-18)
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