2 Kings 1:9-16

Contemporary English Version

⁹ So at once he sent an army officer and 50 soldiers to meet Elijah.

Elijah was sitting on top of a hill^[a] at the time. The officer went up to him and said, “Man of God,^[b] the king orders you to come down and talk with him.”

^10 (A) “If I am a man of God,” Elijah answered, “God will send down fire on you and your 50 soldiers.” Fire immediately came down from heaven and burned up the officer and his men.

¹¹ Ahaziah sent another officer and 50 more soldiers to Elijah. The officer said, “Man of God, the king orders you to come see him at once.”

¹² “If I am a man of God,” Elijah answered, “fire will destroy you and your 50 soldiers.” And God sent down fire^[c] from heaven on the officer and his men.

¹³ Ahaziah sent a third army officer and 50 more soldiers. This officer went up to Elijah, then he got down on his knees and begged, “Man of God, please be kind to me and these 50 servants of yours. Let us live! ¹⁴ Fire has already wiped out the other officers and their soldiers. Please don't let it happen to me.”

¹⁵ The angel from the Lord said to Elijah, “Go with him and don't be afraid.” So Elijah got up and went with the officer.

¹⁶ When Elijah arrived, he told Ahaziah, “The Lord wants to know why you sent messengers to Ekron to ask Baalzebub about your injury. Don't you believe there's a God in Israel? Ahaziah, because you did that, the Lord says you will die.”