Bible Commentaries

Moab rebelled. Moab had been subdued by David (2 Samuel 8:2; 2 Samuel 23:20); and when the kingdom was divided it passed to Israel. It was greatly oppressed by Omri and Ahab, and, on the death of the latter (Compare 2 Kings 3:5), Mesha, king of Moab, rebelled. See the record of the event on "the Moabite stone". App-54. The verse is introduced here to complete the symmetry of the introversion.

after. The inscription on the Moabite stone leaves the exact date indefinite. Line five, "Israel perished", may refer to the death of Ahab.

lattice = network or balustrade, which protected the open window of the upper chamber. Compare Judges 3:20; Judges 5:28. 1 Kings 17:19. 1 Kings 4:10.

Baal-zebub = Lord of flies. Later Jews polluted it by changing it to Beelzebul (Lord of dung or dunghills), In Matthew 12:24 it is in Greek Baal-zebul = lord of abominable idols; the prince of idols and idolatry; the worst and chief of all wickedness. Imagine the blasphemy.

Ekron. One of the five Philistine cities. Joshua 13:3.

Angel of the LORD. See note on Exodus 3:2. He who directed Moses directs Elijah.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

Elijah = my GOD is JAH. See App-4.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

shalt surely die. Same as Genesis 2:17.

man. Hebrew. "ish. App-14.

hairy = clad in a garment consisting of a skin. Prophets wore coarse clothing (Zechariah 13:4. Matthew 3:4).

girdle of leather. Worn by Palestine peasants to-day.

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.

man of God. The people's name for a prophet. See App-49.

let fire come down. Quoted in Luke 9:54.

unto them. Some codices, with Septuagint and Syriac, read "unto him".

fire of God. Occurs only here and Job 1:16. Some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, and Vulgate, omit "of God", as in 2 Kings 1:10.

life = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.

burnt up = consumed, as in verses: 2 Kings 1:10, 2 Kings 1:12.

is it not . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis (App-6), or "was it because", &c.