2 Kings 1:3

¹ Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.

² And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease.

But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron?

⁴ Now therefore thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.

⁵ And when the messengers turned back unto him, he said unto them, Why are ye now turned back?

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are on your way to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?’
KJV: But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron?
WEB: But the LORD’s angel said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and tell them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you go to inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron?
ASV: But the angel of Jehovah said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it because there is no God in Israel, that ye go to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?
DARBY: And the angel of Jehovah said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, Is it because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron?
BLB: And the angel of YHWH said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you⁺ are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?’

ÅB: Men Herrens engel sa til tisbitten Elias: Gjør deg rede og gå sendebudene fra Samarias konge i møte og si til dem: Er det fordi det ingen Gud er i Israel, at dere går avsted og spør Ba'al-Sebub, Ekrons gud?
OTB: Men Herrens engel sa til Elia fra Tisjbe, “Gå opp og møt budbærerne fra kongen i Samaria og si til dem, ‘Er det fordi det ikke er noen Gud i Israel at dere går for å rådspørre Ba'al-Sebub, guden i Ekron?
B1930: Men Herrens engel sa til tisbitten Elias: Gjør dig rede og gå sendebudene fra Samarias konge i møte og si til dem: Er det fordi det ingen Gud er i Israel, at I går avsted og spør Ba'al-Sebub, Ekrons gud?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

1 Kings 17:1
And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
Read in context
Jonah 2:8
They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
Read in context
Acts 12:7–11
And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
Read in context
Psalms 76:1
In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.
Read in context
Jeremiah 2:11–13
Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.
Read in context
Acts 8:26
And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
Read in context
Mark 3:22
And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.
Read in context
2 Kings 1:2
And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease.
Read in context