2 Kings — Chapter 1

Ahaziah, having fallen through the lattice of his upper chamber in Samaria, sent messengers to consult Beelzebub the god of Accaron. Lapide notes that Beelzebub signifies \"lord of flies,\" a name of contempt given by the Hebrews to the chief demon worshipped at Accaron. That a king of Israel should abandon the true God in affliction and consult a foreign idol showed the depth of apostasy reached by the northern kingdom.

The angel of the Lord commands Elijah: thou shalt not come down from that bed, but shalt surely die. Lapide: God punished Ahaziah not only for consulting an idol, but for deserting God entirely in time of need. He who does not seek God in tribulation deserves to perish in it. This is the standing reproach of those who in illness run to soothsayers rather than to God and His priests.

Elijah called fire from heaven twice upon the captains sent to arrest him. Lapide, following Theodoretus and Abulensis: Elijah did this not from cruelty but to vindicate the honor of God publicly blasphemed. The first two companies came with military arrogance; the third came humbly, and was spared. Thus humility obtains mercy where pride meets justice. The fire is a figure of zeal for the divine honor.