A compleat history and mystery of the Old and New Testament logically discust and theologically improved : in four volumes ... the like undertaking (in such a manner and method) being never by any author attempted before : yet this is now approved and commended by grave divines, &c. / by Christopher Ness ...

2 Kings CHAP. I.

THIS Chapter is a Narrative of the Life of Ahaziah, who was his Father Ahab's Vice-Roy during his absence at Ramoth-Gilead, and his Successor when he fell there, and Contemporary with Jehosaphat, as before. The two General Parts of this Chapter are, 1st, the Life, and, 2dly, the Death of this King.

Remarks upon the First, are, First this Ahaziah hath a black Brand put upon him, 1 Kings 22.51, 52, 53. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, an evil Egg, of an evil Bird; his Father Ahab was bad, but his Mother Jezebel was well worse: No good Son could well be expected from such notoriously bad Parents, seeing both their Loins and their Lives were sufficient to Debauch him. He clave close to his Parents Patterns, and succeeded Ahab not only in his Throne, but also in his Sin; so he did truly [Patrizare,] prone to prove the same Sins, and to be his Father's Second Edition therein.

Remark the Second; This mopish Man makes Moab revolt from their long Subjection, ver. 1. here; they had been subdued by David, 2 Sam. 8.2. Upon the Division Moab was adjoined to the Ten Tribes, as Edom was to Judah, 1 Kings 22.47. Moab had fur∣nish'd Israel with rich Flocks and Fleeces, Chap. 3.4, 5▪ and was kept in that Subjection until that warlike King Ahab died; but now they cast off the Yoke when Ahaziah comes, who was a weak as well as a wicked King: This was the first Judgment of God upon him, to punish his Wickedness.

Remark the Third, is, This mopish Man hearing of Moab's Revolt, walks musing up∣on the Battlements of his Palace, and leaning on the Lattice, the same righteous God that had guided the Arrow to kill Ahab, now orders the Lattice to break asunder, and to let Ahaziah fall, so as mortally to wound him, vee. 2. Where can obstinate Sin∣ners be, but God's Justice may meet them, and their sin find them out? Numb. 32.23. now is he disinabled to attempt any thing against Moab.

Remark the Fourth, is, When this Second Judgment of God had befall'n him, he, fearing Death, and being desirous of Life, inquires of Baal-zebub, or of the Devil, and not of God, touching the Issue. Thus his Body was not so sick, as his Soul was sinful, in sending to Satan either for Medicine or for Intelligence. This is the first time we hear of Baal-zebub in Scripture; the Name signifies a Fly-Lord; the Ekronites called their Idol thus, thinking (by the perswasion of their Priests) that Baal freed their Country from the annoyance of Flies, wherewith they were much infested. All the Dunghil-Deities of the Pagans were Devil's, saith the Apostle, 1 Cor. 10.20. and in after-times the Prince of Devils is called Beelzebub, Matth. 12.24. At Ekron he was chiefly Worshipped, hence Acheron is taken for Hell in Virgil.

Flectere si nequeo superos Acheronta movebo.

Saul had said the same in effect; If God will not be my Friend, the Devil will be glad to be so, 1 Sam. 28.6, 7. but Ahaziah (Saul's worse) seeks not to God at all, but to the Devil in the first place: Nor did he seek to his own Baal, for that he had lately gull'd Ahab out of his Life, but to that of Ekron among the Philistines: Oh sottish Soul, thus to admire a Foreign Idol!

Remark the Fifth; The Lord look'd upon this Message as an intolerable Affront to himself, that a King of Israel should so far degenerate from an Israelite indeed, John 1.47. as to prefer the Idol or Devil of Ekron before the God of Israel, who had never said to the Seed of Jacob or Israel, [Seek ye me in vain,] but bids them [Concerning the work of his hands command him, and be asham'd of their dumb Idols, Isa. 45.11, 16, 19] because of this heinous Crime in ascribing Prescience (God's Attribute) to the Devil, who knows no future Things but what are in their working Causes, or in the Light of Parti∣ci••••tion (as the Schoolmen say) therefore God sent his Angel (a great honour) to Elijah, who bids him meet the Messengers of Ahaziah, and denounce the Doom of

Death to him, ver. 3, 4. and then, when he had better do any thing else than die, Eccles. 7.17.

Remark the Sixth, The Messengers (saith Peter Martyr) thought Elijab to be more than a Man, even some Angel, who knew the King's Secrets, delivered to them in his Bed-Chamber, therefore durst not apprehend him, but he departed to Mount Carmel, and they returned to the King with the Tidings without going to Ekron, concluding, he that could tell what the King had so secretly spoken, could also foretel how he should finally speed. N. B. Their so speedy return did easily discover to the King they had not been at Ekron, therefore he enquires of them; What manner of man he was that met them with these Tidings? ver. 5, 6, 7. they describe him, ver. 8. how he had a rough Garment, Zech. 13.4. a pattern of Repentance, Isa. 20.2. Matth. 3.4. Hebr. 11.37. to mind the King of becoming a Penitent, otherwise he was himself hastning to Beelzebub the Prince of Devils, Matth. 12.24. and Baalzebub the God of Ekron could not save him from it.

The Second Part of this Chapter hath relation to the Death of Ahaziah, as it was usher'd in by the Death of two of his Captains, and an Hundred of his Men of War by Fire from Heaven.

Remark the First, is, Ahaziah readily apprehends it to be Elijah, whom he had seen more than once, an unwelcome Guest to his Father Ahab, and to his Mother Je∣zebel; and, instead of Repenting, he resolveth in a great rage to make Elijah die be∣fore himself, saith Sanctius: N. B. And therefore sends he not a Messenger of Peace to call him to Court that he might pray for him, but a Captain of War with a Band of Soldiers to fetch him by force, ver. 9. All Authors agree, That his wicked Mother Jezebel stirred him up to breath out such persecuting Threatnings against the Lord's Prophet, she being as highly incensed against him, 1 Kings 19.2. as ever Herodias was against John the Baptist, Matth. 14.8. This Captain goes to Carmel, and there calls him in contempt, [Thou man of God, come down] I must carry thee Prisoner to the King; or, if he confessed him to be so without a Jear, 'twas with a false Heart and bloody Hands, the World abounds with Courtesies, that be no better than Cruelties.

Remark the Second; This proud and prophane Captain with his fifty, Elijah destroys by Fire from Heaven, as 1 Kings 18.38. which was his Ninth Miracle, ver. 10. Vatablus saith here, [Thou thinks me not a man of God, but scornfully calls me so. yet God will prove me to be so by Fire from Heaven.] This Judgment was the greater, wherein not one of the one and fifty were spared. N. B. Nor did the Prophet pray for it out of any Carnal and Re∣vengeful Passion, but from a pure Zeal to vindicate God's Name and Glory (which was so notoriously dishonoured) and from a motion of God's Spirit, whereof God gave his Approbation in a miraculous Answer to his Prayer▪ Therefore Christ doth not con∣demn this Fact of Elijah (saith Peter Martyr) when he reproved his Disciples for de∣siring such a Deed from private Revenge, and not from a divine Impulse, nor suitable to a Gospel-Spirit, much differing from Elijah's Severity, Luke 9.54, 55.

Remark the Third; Neither Oracles nor Miracles can mend this mad King, though he lay on his Death-bed, yet is nothing moved (saith Peter Martyr) at the loss of his Subjects by so dreadful a Judgment as Sodom was destroyed with, Gen. 19.24. the whole World will be so, 2 Pet. 3.7. yea and the Torments of Hell are resembled by it, Mark 9.43. Notwithstanding Ahaziah in his Phrenzy exposes one Company after another, and this second Captain was more impudent than the first, saying, [Come down quickly] ver. 11. as if he had said, [or I will fetch thee down with a Vengeance,] therefore did Elijah most justly fetch down Fire upon him and his with a Vengeance, and worthily made him an Example to his Successor, who would not take the Example of his Predecessor to be∣ware, &c. ver. 12. This was Elijah's Tenth Miracle.

Remark the Fourth; This frantick King doth desperately expose a Third Captain and his Company, ver. 13, 14. Ahaziah, &c. could not be ignorant how Elijah had made fire fall down to consume the Sacrifice at Carmel, 1 Kings 18.38. so powerful was this Pro∣phet's Prayer, James 5.17. and now again he had done the like twice, to lick up the two Bands of Soldiers at Carmel also; yet the King (in despight of God and his Pro∣phet) sends a Third Captain with his Company: This Captain took caution, and con∣sidered what a sorry thing Man is in the Hands of his Maker, who by a flash of Lightning had lick'd up two Captains with their Companies, therefore he prostrates himself before God's miraculously protected Prophet, expressing a Reverence to his Person, and a belief of his Power, with a dread of God's Wrath. N. B. Hereupon, some think, it was good Obadiah who, the King knew, could best prevail with the Prophet, to come along with him to the Court. He saw nothing could be got by

strong hand, so tries what might be done by Suit, and he sues more for own Life, than for Elijah's Company, God and not he must direct him therein: He saw the Mad King incapable of Admonition, but fears not to find Elijah inexorable.

Remark the Fifth, God commands Elijah by his Angel to go without fear, ver. 15. What could he expect at Court from a raging King, a Jezebel at his Elbow, &c. but such hot service as the Captains had found in coming to summon and apprehend him N. B. Yet having the Angels Protection as well as Warrant, his Faith was grown above his former fear, when he fled from the face of Jezebel, 1 Kings 19.3. He comes con∣fidently into the King's Bed-chamber, ver. 16. tells the King to his Face his whole er∣rand not abating a Word: The King, as daunted with the Prophet's presence and mes∣sage, is strangely manucled and muzzl'd, he neither speaks nor acts against him. N.B. The stoutest and stubbornest Stomachs must stoop, when God takes them to task, Prov. 16.1. and 21.1. Ahaziah died away, ver. 17. undoubtedly so affrighted with E∣lijah's Words, as it hastened his Death, whereas he might have recovered as did He∣zekiah, had he sought to God, and not to the Devil: Now dies he childless, and leaves his Throne to his Brother Jehoram, &c.