1. After the death of Ahab, Moab rebelled against Israel.
2. Ahaziah had fallen through the latticed window of his upper room in Samaria and was injured. So he sent messengers instructing them: “Go inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, if I will recover from this injury.”
3. But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Go and meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? ’
4. Therefore, this is what the Lord says: ‘You will not get up from your sickbed — you will certainly die.’ ” Then Elijah left.
5. The messengers returned to the king, who asked them, “Why have you come back? ”
6. They replied, “A man came to meet us and said, ‘Go back to the king who sent you and declare to him: This is what the Lord says: Is it because there is no God in Israel that you’re sending these men to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore, you will not get up from your sickbed — you will certainly die.’ ”