11 Now Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab . 2 And Ahaziah fell through the lattice in his upper chamber which was in Samaria , and became ill . So he sent messengers and said to them, "Go , inquire of Baal-zebub , the god of Ekron , whether I will recover from this sickness ." 3 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 to them, 'Is it because e there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub , the god of Ekron ?' 4 "Now therefore thus says the Lord , '[1] You shall not come down from the bed where e you have gone up, but you shall surely die .' " Then Elijah departed . 5 When the messengers returned to him he said to them, "[2]Why have you returned ?" 6 They said to him, "A man came up to meet us and said to us, 'Go , return to the king who sent you and say to him, "Thus says the Lord , 'Is it because e there is no God in Israel that you are sending to inquire of Baal-zebub , the god of Ekron ? Therefore [3]you shall not come down from the bed where e you have gone up, but shall surely die .' ""' 7 He said to them, "What kind of man was he who came up to meet you and spoke these words to you?" 8 They [4]answered him, " He was a hairy man with a leather girdle [5]bound about his loins ." And he said , "It is Elijah the Tishbite ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Kings 1:1-8
Commentary on 2 Kings 1:1-8
(Read 2 Kings 1:1-8)
When Ahaziah rebelled against the Lord, Moab revolted from him. Sin weakens and impoverishes us. Man's revolt from God is often punished by the rebellion of those who owe subjection to him. Ahaziah fell through a lattice, or railing. Wherever we go, there is but a step between us and death. A man's house is his castle, but not to secure him against God's judgments. The whole creation, which groans under the burden of man's sin, will, at length, sink and break under the weight like this lattice. He is never safe that has God for his enemy. Those that will not inquire of the word of God for their comfort, shall hear it to their terror, whether they will or no.