2 Kings (4 Kings) 1
Commentary from 2 fathers
And Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Achaab.
ΚΑΙ ἠθέτησε Μωὰβ ἐν ᾿Ισραὴλ μετὰ τὸ ἀποθανεῖν ᾿Αχαάβ.
И҆ ѿстꙋпѝ мѡа́въ ѿ і҆и҃лѧ, по ᲂу҆ме́ртвїи а҆хаа́вли.
And an angel of the Lord called Eliu the Thesbite, saying, Arise, and go to meet the messengers of Ochozias king of Samaria, and thou shalt say to them, [Is it] because there is no God in Israel, [that] ye go to enquire of Baal fly, the God of Accaron? but [it shall] not [be] so.
καὶ ἄγγελος Κυρίου ἐκάλεσεν ᾿Ηλιοὺ τὸν Θεσβίτην λέγων· ἀναστὰς δεῦρο εἰς συνάντησιν τῶν ἀγγέλων ᾿Οχοζίου βασιλέως Σαμαρείας καὶ λαλήσεις πρὸς αὐτούς· εἰ παρὰ τὸ μὴ εἶναι Θεὸν ἐν ᾿Ισραὴλ ὑμεῖς πορεύεσθε ἐπιζητῆσαι ἐν τῷ Βάαλ μυῖαν θεὸν ᾿Ακκαρών; καὶ οὐχ οὕτως·
И҆ а҆́гг҃лъ гдⷭ҇ень речѐ ко и҆лїѝ ѳесві́тѧнинꙋ, глаго́лѧ: воста́въ, и҆дѝ на срѣ́тенїе послѡ́мъ ѻ҆хозі́и царѧ̀ самарі́йска и҆ рече́ши къ ни̑мъ: и҆лѝ нѣ́сть бг҃а во і҆и҃ли, ꙗ҆́кѡ грѧде́те вопроша́ти ваа́ла скве́рнаго бо́га во а҆ккарѡ́нѣ;
For thus saith the Lord, The bed on which thou art gone up, thou shalt not come down from it, for thou shalt surely die. And Eliu went, and said [so] to them.
ὅτι τάδε λέγει Κύριος· ἡ κλίνη, ἐφ᾿ ἧς ἀνέβης ἐκεῖ, οὐ καταβήσῃ ἀπ᾿ αὐτῆς, ὅτι θανάτῳ ἀποθανῇ. καὶ ἐπορεύθη ᾿Ηλιοὺ καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτούς.
и҆ сегѡ̀ ра́ди си́це гл҃етъ гдⷭ҇ь: ѻ҆́дръ, на него́же возше́лъ є҆сѝ тꙋ̀, не и҆́маши слѣ́зти съ негѡ̀, ꙗ҆́кѡ тꙋ̀ сме́ртїю ᲂу҆́мреши, И҆ и҆́де и҆лїа̀ и҆ речѐ къ ни̑мъ.
And the messenger returned to him, and he said to them, Why have ye returned?
καὶ ἐπεστράφησαν οἱ ἄγγελοι πρὸς αὐτόν, καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτούς· τί ὅτι ἐπεστρέψατε;
И҆ возврати́шасѧ послы̀ къ немꙋ̀, и҆ речѐ къ ни̑мъ: что̀ ꙗ҆́кѡ возврати́стесѧ;
And they said to him, A man came up to meet us, and said to us, Go, return to the king that sent you, and say to him, Thus saith the Lord, [Is it] because there is no God in Israel, [that] thou goest to enquire of Baal fly, the God of Accaron? [it shall] not [be] so: the bed on which thou art gone up, thou shalt not come down from it, for thou shalt surely die.
καὶ εἶπαν πρὸς αὐτόν· ἀνὴρ ἀνέβη εἰς συνάντησιν ἡμῶν καὶ εἶπε πρὸς ἡμᾶς· δεῦτε ἐπιστράφητε πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα τὸν ἀποστείλαντα ὑμᾶς καὶ λαλήσατε πρὸς αὐτόν· τάδε λέγει Κύριος· εἰ παρὰ τὸ μὴ εἶναι Θεὸν ἐν ᾿Ισραὴλ σὺ πορεύῃ ἐπιζητῆσαι ἐν τῷ Βάαλ μυῖαν θεὸν ᾿Ακκαρών; οὐχ οὕτως· ἡ κλίνη, ἐφ᾿ ἧς ἀνέβης ἐκεῖ, οὐ καταβήσῃ ἀπ᾿ αὐτῆς, ὅτι θανάτῳ ἀποθανῇ.
И҆ рѣ́ша къ немꙋ̀: мꙋ́жъ и҆зы́де въ срѣ́тенїе на́мъ и҆ речѐ къ на́мъ: и҆ди́те возврати́тесѧ къ царю̀ посла́вшемꙋ вы̀ и҆ глаго́лите къ немꙋ̀: си́це гл҃етъ гдⷭ҇ь: и҆лѝ не́сть бг҃а во і҆и҃ли, ꙗ҆́кѡ вы̀ грѧде́те вопроша́ти ваа́ла скве́рнаго бо́га во а҆ккарѡ́нѣ; сегѡ̀ ра́ди ѿ ѻ҆дра̀, на него́же возше́лъ є҆сѝ, не и҆́маши слѣ́зти съ негѡ̀, ꙗ҆́кѡ тꙋ̀ сме́ртїю ᲂу҆́мреши.
So they returned and reported to the king as Eliu said: and he said to them, What [was] the manner of the man who went up to meet you, and spoke to you these words?
καὶ ἐλάλησε πρὸς αὐτοὺς λέγων· τίς ἡ κρίσις τοῦ ἀνδρὸς τοῦ ἀναβάντος εἰς συνάντησιν ὑμῖν καὶ λαλήσαντος πρὸς ὑμᾶς τοὺς λόγους τούτους;
И҆ речѐ къ ни̑мъ ца́рь, глаго́лѧ: како́въ взо́ромъ бѧ́ше мꙋ́жъ то́й вше́дый въ срѣ́тенїе ва́мъ и҆ глаго́лавый ва́мъ словеса̀ сїѧ̑;
And they said to him, [He was] a hairy man, and girt with a leathern girdle about his loins. And he said, This is Eliu the Thesbite.
καὶ εἶπαν πρὸς αὐτόν· ἀνὴρ δασὺς καὶ ζώνην δερματίνην περιεζωσμένος τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτοῦ. καὶ εἶπεν· ᾿Ηλιοὺ ὁ Θεσβίτης οὗτός ἐστι.
И҆ рѣ́ша къ немꙋ̀: мꙋ́жъ косма́тъ и҆ по́ѧсомъ ᲂу҆сме́ннымъ препоѧ́санъ ѡ҆ чре́слѣхъ свои́хъ. И҆ речѐ ца́рь: и҆лїа̀ ѳесві́тѧнинъ се́й є҆́сть.
And he sent to him a captain of fifty and his fifty; and he went up to him: and, behold, Eliu sat on the top of a mountain. And the captain of fifty spoke to him, and said, O man of God, the king has called thee, come down.
καὶ ἀπέστειλε πρὸς αὐτὸν πεντηκόνταρχον καὶ τοὺς πεντήκοντα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀνέβη πρὸς αὐτόν, καὶ ἰδοὺ ᾿Ηλιοὺ ἐκάθητο ἐπὶ τῆς κορυφῆς τοῦ ὄρους. καὶ ἐλάλησεν ὁ πεντηκόνταρχος πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπεν· ἄνθρωπε τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐκάλεσέ σε, κατάβηθι.
И҆ посла̀ къ немꙋ̀ старѣ́йшинꙋ пѧтьдесѧ́тника и҆ пѧтьдесѧ́тъ мꙋже́й є҆гѡ̀. И҆ взы́де и҆ прїи́де къ немꙋ̀: и҆ сѐ, и҆лїа̀ бѣ̀ сѣдѧ̀ верхꙋ̀ горы̀. И҆ глаго́ла пѧтьдесѧ́тникъ къ немꙋ̀ и҆ речѐ: человѣ́че бж҃їи, ца́рь зове́тъ тѧ̀, сни́ди.
9–14But the stubborn king did not fear the word of the prophet and said in his heart, “He lies.” And so he did not pay attention to his warning, which exhorted him to get rid of the reason of his evils and to repent. He persevered in his stubbornness and, instead of repenting of his pride and being converted, grew more stubborn and sent a captain of fifty with some guards to arrest the prophet of God and lead him to the tribunal. Now, after hearing that the fire had come down and had consumed the captain with his fifty men on the occasion of their effrontery, he sent some others, and again the fire consumed them and made them perish. And [divine] justice decrees this sentence quite rightly, because those who had seen the fire, which had come down at the prayer of Elijah, and had not believed or were converted, were necessarily scorched by the second descent of the fire. And the same punishment was prepared for the third one, who was sent after them, if the terrifying spectacle of the fire had not made him wise. He avoids appearing like his comrades: he arrives after the prophet, humbly kneels down before him and, on the one hand, repeats the order of the king, but on the other, gives him the option whether to obey the word of the king or not.
On the Second Book of Kings 1:1
9–14These wretched men are apt to censure the writings of the Old Testament saying, “How was it just for blessed Elijah to burn two captains with their soldiers by means of fire brought down from heaven?” How justly and mercifully this was done, dearly beloved, we want to indicate briefly to your hearts. In the days of the Old Testament, any crimes or offenses committed among the people were ordered to be physically punished. Thus it is written, “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.” Indeed, some were punished in order that the rest might fear bodily punishment and refrain from sins and offenses. Now, in the time of the prophet, blessed Elijah, all the Jewish people had abandoned God and were sacrificing to idols, not only refusing to honor God’s prophets but even very frequently trying to kill them. For this reason blessed Elijah was aroused with zeal for God and caused some to be punished physically, so that those who had neglected the salvation of their souls might be healed in heart by fearing bodily death. We should consider that not so much blessed Elijah as the Holy Spirit did this. We know that the same thing was done through blessed Peter in the case of Ananias and Sapphira, for through him they incurred the destruction of death themselves in order that an example might be given to the rest. Therefore, as it is written, “Great fear seized all who heard of this.” Examples are given to everyone whenever punishments are inflicted on sinners. Because the Jews thought only of their body and refused to be solicitous for the salvation of their soul, with God as judge they suffered punishment in the very body to which they had devoted so much care.
Sermon 125.1
9–14Now if you consider well, dearly beloved, you will realize that not only the Jewish people fell through pride, but also those two captains perished from the same weakness. With great pride and arrogance but lacking any humility, the latter came to blessed Elijah and said, “Man of God, the king summons you.” Because they did not give him honor as an old man or reverence as a prophet, the Holy Spirit spoke through the mouth of the prophet, and they were struck down by a blow sent from heaven. The third captain, however, coming with great humility and contrition, as was proper, pleaded in a tearful voice and not only merited to escape punishment but even induced blessed Elijah to condescend to go to the king. All this, dearly beloved, happened for the salvation of all the people, since the good and merciful Lord struck a few people in order that he might heal them all.
Sermon 125.2
And Eliu answered and said to the captain of fifty, And if I [am] a man of God, fire shall come down out of heaven, and devour thee and thy fifty. And fire came down out of heaven, and devoured him and his fifty.
καὶ ἀπεκρίθη ᾿Ηλιού, καὶ εἶπε πρὸς τὸν πεντηκόνταρχον· καὶ εἰ ἄνθρωπος Θεοῦ ἐγώ, καταβήσεται πῦρ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ καταφάγεταί σε καὶ τοὺς πεντήκοντά σου· καὶ κατέβη πῦρ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ κατέφαγεν αὐτὸν καὶ τοὺς πεντήκοντα αὐτοῦ.
И҆ ѿвѣща̀ и҆лїа̀ и҆ речѐ къ пѧтьдесѧ́тникꙋ: а҆́ще є҆́смь человѣ́къ бж҃їй а҆́зъ, то̀ да сни́детъ ѻ҆́гнь съ небесѐ и҆ снѣ́стъ тѧ̀ и҆ пѧтьдесѧ́тъ твои́хъ (съ тобо́ю). И҆ сни́де ѻ҆́гнь съ небесѐ и҆ снѣдѐ є҆го̀ и҆ пѧтьдесѧ́тъ мꙋже́й є҆гѡ̀.
And the king sent a second time to him another captain of fifty, and his fifty. And the captain of fifty spoke to him, and said, O man of God, thus says the king, Come down quickly.
καὶ προσέθετο ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ ἀπέστειλε πρὸς αὐτὸν ἄλλον πεντηκόνταρχον καὶ τοὺς πεντήκοντα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀνέβη καὶ ἐλάλησεν ὁ πεντηκόνταρχος πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπεν· ἄνθρωπε τοῦ Θεοῦ, τάδε λέγει ὁ βασιλεύς· ταχέως κατάβηθι.
И҆ приложѝ ца́рь посла́ти къ немꙋ̀ дрꙋга́го пѧтьдесѧ́тника и҆ пѧтьдесѧ́тъ (мꙋже́й) съ ни́мъ. И҆ возше́дъ, и҆ глаго́ла пѧтьдесѧ́тникъ къ немꙋ̀ и҆ речѐ: человѣ́че бж҃їй, си́це глаго́летъ ца́рь: потща́всѧ сни́ди.
And Eliu answered and spoke to him, and said, If I [am] a man of God, fire shall come down out of heaven, and devour thee and thy fifty. And fire came down out of heaven, and devoured him and his fifty.
καὶ ἀπεκρίθη ᾿Ηλιοὺ καὶ ἐλάλησε πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπεν· εἰ ἄνθρωπος Θεοῦ ἐγώ, καταβήσεται πῦρ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ καταφάγεταί σε καὶ τοὺς πεντήκοντά σου· καὶ κατέβη πῦρ ἐξ οὐρανοῦ καὶ κατέφαγε αὐτὸν καὶ τοὺς πεντήκοντα αὐτοῦ.
И҆ ѿвѣща̀ и҆лїа̀ и҆ глаго́ла къ немꙋ̀ и҆ речѐ: а҆́ще человѣ́къ бж҃їй а҆́зъ є҆́смь, то̀ да сни́детъ ѻ҆́гнь съ небесѐ, и҆ да снѣ́стъ тѧ̀ и҆ пѧтьдесѧ́тъ (мꙋже́й) съ тобо́ю. И҆ сни́де ѻ҆́гнь съ небесѐ и҆ снѣдѐ є҆го̀ и҆ пѧтьдесѧ́тъ мꙋже́й є҆гѡ̀.
And the king sent yet again a captain and his fifty. And the third captain of fifty came, and knelt on his knees before Eliu, and entreated him, and spoke to him and said, O man of God, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thine eyes.
καὶ προσέθετο ὁ βασιλεὺς ἔτι ἀποστεῖλαι ἡγούμενον καὶ τοὺς πεντήκοντα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἦλθεν ὁ πεντηκόνταρχος ὁ τρίτος καὶ ἔκαμψεν ἐπὶ τὰ γόνατα αὐτοῦ κατέναντι ᾿Ηλιοὺ καὶ ἐδεήθη αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐλάλησε πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπεν· ἄνθρωπε τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἐντιμωθήτω δὴ ἡ ψυχή μου καὶ ἡ ψυχὴ τῶν δούλων σου τούτων τῶν πεντήκοντα ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου·
И҆ приложѝ ца́рь є҆щѐ посла́ти старѣ́йшинꙋ, пѧтьдесѧ́тника тре́тїѧго, и҆ пѧтьдесѧ́тъ мꙋже́й съ ни́мъ. И҆ прїи́де къ немꙋ̀ пѧтьдесѧ́тникъ тре́тїй, и҆ поклони́сѧ на кѡлѣ́на своѧ̑ пред̾ и҆лїе́ю, и҆ молѝ є҆го̀, и҆ глаго́ла къ немꙋ̀ и҆ речѐ: человѣ́че бж҃їй, пощадѝ дꙋ́шꙋ мою̀ и҆ дꙋ́шꙋ ра̑бъ твои́хъ си́хъ пѧтьдесѧ́тъ пред̾ ѻ҆чи́ма твои́ма:
Behold, fire came down from heaven, and devoured the two first captains of fifty: and now, I pray, let my life be precious in thine eyes.
ἰδοὺ κατέβη πῦρ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ κατέφαγε τοὺς δύο πεντηκοντάρχους τοὺς πρώτους καὶ τοὺς πεντήκοντα αὐτῶν, καὶ νῦν ἐντιμωθήτω δὴ ἡ ψυχή μου ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου.
сѐ, сни́де ѻ҆́гнь съ небесѐ и҆ поѧдѐ два̀ пѧтьдесѧ̑тника пє́рвыѧ съ пѧтїюдесѧтьмѝ и҆́хъ: и҆ нн҃ѣ да пощади́тсѧ дꙋша̀ рабѡ́въ твои́хъ пред̾ ѻ҆чи́ма твои́ма.
And the angel of the Lord spoke to Eliu, and said Go down with him, be not afraid of them. And Eliu rose up, and went down with him to the king.
καὶ ἐλάλησεν ἄγγελος Κυρίου πρὸς ᾿Ηλιοὺ καὶ εἶπε· κατάβηθι μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ, μὴ φοβηθῇς ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν· καὶ ἀνέστη ᾿Ηλιοὺ καὶ κατέβη μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα.
И҆ глаго́ла а҆́гг҃лъ гдⷭ҇ень ко и҆лїѝ и҆ речѐ: сни́ди съ ни́мъ, не ᲂу҆бо́йсѧ ѿ лица̀ и҆̀хъ. И҆ воста̀ и҆лїа̀ и҆ сни́де съ ни́мъ къ царю̀,
And Eliu spoke to him, and said, Thus saith the Lord, Why hast thou sent messengers to enquire of Baal fly, the god of Accaron? [it shall] not [be] so: the bed on which thou art gone up, thou shalt not come down from it, for thou shalt surely die.
καὶ ἐλάλησε πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Ηλιού· τάδε λέγει Κύριος· τί ὅτι ἀπέστειλας ἀγγέλους ἐκζητῆσαι ἐν τῷ Βάαλ μυῖαν θεὸν ᾿Ακκαρών; οὐχ οὕτως· ἡ κλίνη, ἐφ᾿ ἧς ἀνέβης ἐκεῖ, οὐ καταβήσῃ ἀπ᾿ αὐτῆς, ὅτι θανάτῳ ἀποθανῇ.
и҆ глаго́ла къ немꙋ̀ и҆ речѐ: си́це гл҃етъ гдⷭ҇ь: что̀ ꙗ҆́кѡ посла́лъ є҆сѝ послы̀ вопроша́ти ваа́ла скве́рнаго бо́га во а҆ккарѡ́нѣ, а҆́ки бы не бы́лъ бг҃ъ во і҆и҃ли, є҆́же вопроси́ти ѿ негѡ̀ словесѐ; сегѡ̀ ра́ди ѿ ѻ҆дра̀, на́ньже возше́лъ є҆сѝ тꙋ̀, не и҆́маши слѣ́зти съ негѡ̀ ꙗ҆́кѡ сме́ртїю ᲂу҆́мреши.
So he died according to the word of the Lord which Eliu has spoken.
καὶ ἀπέθανε κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμα Κυρίου, ὃ ἐλάλησεν ᾿Ηλιού.
И҆ ᲂу҆́мре по гл҃ꙋ гдⷭ҇ню, є҆го́же гл҃го́ла и҆лїа̀. И҆ ца́рствова і҆ѡра́мъ бра́тъ ѻ҆хозі́инъ вмѣ́стѡ є҆гѡ̀, поне́же не и҆мѣ̀ сы́на ѻ҆хозі́а, въ лѣ́то второ́е і҆ѡра́ма сы́на і҆ѡсафа́та царѧ̀ і҆ꙋ́дина.
17–18After the death of Ahaziah, since he had no children who could inherit the kingdom, his brother Jehoram became king. This did not occur because the Law prescribed anything of the sort, but because this was the custom of their neighbors, which the children of Israel had observed by now for many years. But God gives another rule for the kingdom of the children of Judah: he binds them to the family of David, and it is in this manner that the kingship was constantly transmitted from the father to the son or the next of kin—but they refused this succession only once, at the time of Jechonias, who became king after Zedekiah, brother of his father, because Jechonias was deported to Babel and Zedekiah was forced to take his place and stop the fall of the monarchy.
On the Second Book of Kings 1:15
And the rest of the acts of Ochozias which he did, behold, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 18α and Joram son of Achaab reigns over Israel in Samaria twelve years [beginning] in the eighteenth year of Josaphat king of Juda: 18β and he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, only not as his brethren, nor as his mother: 18γ and he removed the pillars of Baal which his father made, and broke them in pieces: only he was joined to the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who led Israel to sin; he departed not from them. 18δ And the Lord was very angry with the house of Achaab.
δ καὶ ἐθυμώθη ὀργῇ Κύριος εἰς τὸν οἶκον ᾿Αχαάβ.
И҆ прѡ́чаѧ слове́съ ѻ҆хозі́иныхъ, є҆ли̑ка сотворѝ, не се́ ли, сїѧ̑ пи̑сана въ кни́гахъ слове́съ дні́й царе́й і҆и҃левыхъ;
Ochozias fell through the lattice that was in his upper chamber in Samaria and was sick; and he sent messengers, and said to them, Go and enquire of Baal fly, the god of Accaron, whether I shall recover of this my sickness. And they went to enquire of him.
καὶ ἔπεσεν ᾿Οχοζίας διὰ τοῦ δικτυωτοῦ τοῦ ἐν τῷ ὑπερῴῳ αὐτοῦ τῷ ἐν Σαμαρείᾳ καὶ ἠρρώστησε. καὶ ἀπέστειλεν ἀγγέλους καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτούς· δεῦτε καὶ ἐπιζητήσατε ἐν τῷ Βάαλ μυῖαν θεὸν ᾿Ακκαρών, εἰ ζήσομαι ἐκ τῆς ἀρρωστίας μου ταύτης· καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν ἐπερωτῆσαι δι᾿ αὐτοῦ.
Ѻ҆хозі́а же падѐ и҆з̾ ѻ҆кна̀, є҆́же въ го́рницѣ є҆гѡ̀ въ самарі́и, и҆ разболѣ́сѧ, и҆ посла̀ послы̀ и҆ речѐ къ ни̑мъ: и҆ди́те и҆ вопроси́те ᲂу҆ ваа́ла скве́рнагѡ бо́га а҆ккарѡ́нска, а҆́ще жи́въ бꙋ́дꙋ ѿ болѣ́зни моеѧ̀ сеѧ̀; и҆ и҆до́ша вопроша́ти є҆гѡ̀ ра́ди.