2 Kings 1 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

2 Kings 1 Short Summary:

Ahaziah fell through the lattice of his upper room, got injured, and then became very sick. He sent servants to ask Baal-zebub, a false god, for help. This made God mad, and God sent the prophet Elijah to tell Ahaziah he would die of his sickness. When Ahaziah tried to have Elijah arrested, the prophet called down fire from heaven and destroyed around 100 of Ahaziah’s soldiers.

2 Kings 1 Extended Summary

WHEN:

• According to the timeline we are using for this study, the kingdom of Israel and Judah divided in 975 B.C. The period that followed, sometimes called the period of the “Divided Kingdom,” lasted the next few centuries. Israel remained a cohesive nation until 721 B.C. (Assyrian captivity), while Judah lasted until 607 B.C. (Babylonian exile).

• King Ahab and King Ahaziah’s reigns over Israel probably fits between 920-890 B.C. Jehoshaphat’s reign in Judah also fits into this timeframe.

CHARACTERS:

• Ahaziah – The king of Israel. He was the son of Ahab.

• Elijah – The prophet of God who condemned Amaziah for his devotion to idols.

WHERE:

• Ahaziah was injured and became sick in Samaria.

• The idol Baal-zebub was in the city of Ekron.

OUTLINE:

• AHAZIAH IS INJURED AND SEEKS COUNSEL FROM BAAL-ZEBUB (1:1-6):

  • Ahaziah, the king of Israel, fell from his upper chamber and was injured.

  • Rather than recover, he fell sick and feared he wouldn’t recover.

  • He sent servants to ask Baal-zebub, the false god of the city of Ekron, when he would recover.

  • The angel of the Lord appeared to Elijah and told him to intercept the king’s messengers. Elijah was to tell them to return to their king and tell Ahaziah he would die from his sickness because he chose to trust in an idol rather than the true God. 

  • The king’s servants returned and delivered the message.

• ELIJAH CALLS DOWN FIRE FROM HEAVEN TO KILL AHAZIAH’S SOLDIERS (1:7-18):

  • Ahaziah inquired about the appearance of the man who prophesied his death.

  • When his servants told him the man wore “a garment of hair, with a belt of leather,” Ahaziah knew it was Elijah.

  • The king sent a captain and 50 men to arrest Elijah, who was sitting at the top of a hill.

  • Elijah called down fire from heaven, and it “consumed” the band of soldiers.

  • Ahaziah sent another captain and his 50 men, they suffered the exact same fate.

  • When the third captain was sent, he was smart enough to fall before Elijah and plead for mercy.

  • At this, the Angel of the Lord instructed Elijah to go with this third captain and speak with Ahaziah directly.  

  • Elijah once again told the king he would not recover because he trusted in false idols.

  • It was as Elijah said, Ahaziah died and was replaced by Jehoram.

APPLICATIONS:

• Its very displeasing to God when we give the devotion that belongs to Him to something else.

• Ahaziah was a fool to give his devotion to Baal-zebub instead of to the God of Israel.

• Do you think God is the same today as He was in Elijah’s day? Do you think He cares where we direct our devotion? Of course!

• Where is your devotion and trust placed? Is there anything in your life that drains your attention and devotion away from God?

• God is very serious about us putting our trust in Him and no where else.