The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 11

as other e.scetios. It is Elijah the Tillhbite. the prophet or the charges or cruelty and ' The description given is enough. '.rhe king bloodthirstiness which have been brought has no longer any doubt. Hie suspicion is against him. But there is no need of alter- turnod into certainty. There is no living ing the tra.nefation. Elijah undoubtedly person but Elijah who would at once have " commanded fire to come down from the boldness to prophesy the death of the heaven" (Luke ix. 54), or, in other words, king, and would wear such a costume as pr,,yed to God that it might come down, described. Elijah is, of course, .his enemy, and in answer to hie prayer the fire fell. as he had been hie father's "enemy" The narrative may be set a.side as an (1 Kings xxi. 20), and will wish him ill, and embellishment of later times, having no prophesy accordingly, the wish being" father historical foundation, by those who (like to the thought." It is not improbable that Ewald) deny that miracles are possible; Elijah had withdrawn himself into obecUJ"ity but, if it he accepted, it must be acceptecl as on the accession of Ahaziah, or at any rate it stands, and Elijah must be regarded, not on hie exhibition of strong idolatrous pro- as having merely prophesied a result, but clivities (Ewald), as he had done on more as having been instrumental in producing than on,e occasion from Ahab (I Kings xvii. it. We must judge Elijah, not by the i,leas JO; xix. 3-8). Ahaziah may have been of our own day, hnt by those of the uge long wishing to arrest and imprison him, wherein he lived. He was raised up to and now tbought he saw bis opportunity. vindicate God's honour, to check and punish Ver. 9.-The king sent unto him a captain idolatry, to keep alive a faithful remnant in of fifty. "Captains of fifties" were first in- Israel, when all the powers of the earth stituted in the wilderness by the advice of were leagued together to destroy and smother Jethro (Exod. xviii. 21-25). Though not true religion. He was an embodiment of expressly mentioned in the military organi- the Law---0f absolute, strict, severe justice. zation of David, they probably formed a part The foir face of mercy was not revealed to of it, and so passed into the institutions of him. Already, a.t Carmel, he had executed 1.he kingdom of Israel. With his fifty. the Divine vengeance on idolaters after an Some recognition of Elijah'e superhuman exemplary fashion (I Kings xviii. 40). Now, power would seem to have led Ahaziah to Ahaziah, the son of the wicked Jezebel, hurl send so large a body. Hie doing so we.a a challenged Jehovah to a trial of strength by sort of challenge to the prophet to show first ignoring him, and then sending a. tronp whether Ahaziah or the God whom he of soldiers to arrest his prophet. \\'us Elijah represented was the stronger. The circum- to succumb without an effort, or 1,ns he to stances recall those of the "band of men vindicate the majesty an,l honour of J eho- and officers from the chief priests and va.h? He had no power of himself to do Pharisees" (John xviii. 3), which was sent, either good or harm. He could but 1-'IaY to "with swords and staves," to arrest another Jehovah, and Jehovah, in his wisdom and righteous Person. Ke eat on the top of a perfeot goodness, would either grant or rel'use hill; literally, on the top of the hill ('..-1 his prayer. If he granted it, the punillh- .-ijs 1<opu</'7ir .-oiJ 6pour, LXX.). The high ment inflicted would not be Elijah's work, ground where Elijah had met the messengers but his. To tux Elijah with cruelty is to (ver. 3) seems to he intended. When they involve God in the charge. God regarded were gone, the prophet took hie seat on the it e.s a fitting time for making o. signal highest point, conspicuous on all sides, so example, and, so regarding it, he inspired 11. avoiding any attempt at concealment, and spirit of indignation in the broast of his awaiting the next step that the king would prophet, who thereupon made the prayer take, calmly and quietly. Ke apake unto which he saw fit to answer. Tho judgment him, Thon man of God. The captain is wo.s in accordance with the geneml tone thought by some to have spoken ironically; and tenor of the Law, which assigns" tribu- but there is no evidence of this. The lation and anguish to every soul of man that address is respectful, submissive. The mi- doeth evil" (Rom. ii. 9), and vi.sits with raculous powers of Elijah ( I Kings xvii. 22 ; death every act of rebellion against God. xviii. 38) were probably known to the officer, There oame down tire. Josephus says lhot who hoped by the tone of his address to the" fire" was e. flash of lightning (,rprwn/p), es~9:pe the prophet's nng-er. In the same and so the commentators generally. epmt he avoids issuing any command of his Vei. 11.-Again also; rather, and again o~n, and prefers simply to deliver the (see the Revised Version). He answered krng'e command-The kmg hath said, Come and said; rather, he ,poke ancl saicl ( ,11.d>..7111e down. r<cil ,hr,, LXX.). Come down quickly. The Ver. 10. -And Elijah answered , .. let king has growu imp11.tient. It is conceivable tire oome down. The LXX. render, ""Ta• that the death of tho first captain with his tl,f11•.-a1 1riJp-" fire will come down;" and band of fifty had been kept from him, Bo some modcrne, who are unxious to clear and that ho was ouly awaro of 1m unac-  THE SECOND BOOK OF 'l'HE KINGS. [on. 1. 1-18.