After the northern kingdom of Israel's King Ahab dies, Moab begins to rebel against Israel. Considering the fact that Israel had just fought Syria, I imagine the men of the army were quiet tried and not looking about a major battle. This conflict brews until the confrontation we learn about in 2 Kings 3.

The King Ahaziah, who replaces Ahab suddenly falls ill; but instead of asking God for help, he calls of the pagan deity Baalzebub. Just has Elijah's prayer were able to raise people from the dead, the king had the opportunity to live, but he chose not to. Instead, Ahaziah sent a convey of his men to Baalzebub. Baalzebub is another name for the devil. Essentially, Ahaziah's first attempt to cure himself was to go to the "prophet" who was all-the-rage instead of seeking out the one true God.

Elijah intercepts Ahaziah's messengers at God's request before they can make it to Baalzebub's shrine and asks them if it is because there is no relationship with the God of Israel that they seek out this false god. This answer is not actually answer, but a conversation starter to spark thought. Elijah gives them the answer they seek from the true God: Ahaziah will die. The messengers abandon their mission and return to Ahab with a Elijah's message.

The messengers must have been very confident in the Word of God, and very shaken because they chose to go against Ahaziah's order. As one would expect; he was not happy about this! Ahaziah sends a captain with 50 soldiers to bring Elijah in, but Elijah calls on God to strike down the men with fire. Ahaziah sends another troop of 50, and again Elijah had God smite them with fire. When Ahaziah sends a third troop, the captain approaches Elijah with humility and pleads for him to have mercy on their lives. At this, Elijah obliges the request.

Elijah confirms the message to Ahaziah, who dies just as God said he would. After Ahaziah's death, his son Jehoram takes over. Interestingly, at the same time a different Jehoram is in his second year of ruling in Judah.

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