And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease.

2 KINGS 1:2KJV
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2 Kings 1:2 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 1:2 mean?

2 Kings 1:2 describes how King Ahaziah of Israel fell through a lattice in his upper room in Samaria, was injured and became sick, and then sent messengers to ask Baalzebub, the god of Ekron, whether he would recover from his illness. The verse highlights Ahaziah’s decision to seek guidance from a foreign god instead of the God of Israel.

The verse is set in the northern kingdom of Israel, with Ahaziah as king in Samaria. After his accident, Ahaziah chooses to send messengers (not going himself) to consult Baalzebub, a Philistine deity from Ekron, about his recovery. This action sets up the rest of the chapter, where the prophet Elijah confronts Ahaziah’s lack of faithfulness to Israel’s God.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 1:2

  • "lattice" (סַבָּכָה, sabbakah): This refers to a kind of wooden or decorative screen or grid, likely part of a window or balcony. The detail suggests Ahaziah’s fall was accidental but serious, as upper rooms were often high and the lattice might not have been strong.
  • "Baalzebub" (בַּעַל זְבוּב, Ba‘alzəvuv): This name means "lord of the flies" and refers to a specific god worshiped in Ekron, a Philistine city. The use of this name underlines the foreign and even mocking nature of the deity Ahaziah turns to for help.
  • "enquire" (דָּרַשׁ, darash): This verb means to seek, ask, or consult. Ahaziah’s act of sending messengers to enquire shows a deliberate choice to look outside Israel’s God for answers, which is a key issue in the story.

Why 2 Kings 1:2 matters

  • The verse clarifies that Ahaziah’s injury was accidental, not a result of battle or conspiracy, which frames his later actions as a personal crisis rather than a political one.
  • Ahaziah’s choice to consult Baalzebub, rather than the God of Israel, highlights a pattern of unfaithfulness among Israel’s kings and sets up the confrontation with Elijah.
  • The mention of Ekron and its god shows the influence of neighboring cultures and religions on Israel, a recurring theme in the history of the divided kingdom.

Where else these words appear

“Baalzebub” Hebrew H1176 · used in 4 verses

  • 2 Kings 1:3 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 unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?
  • 2 Kings 1:6 And they said unto him, There came a man up to meet us, and said unto us, Go, turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that thou sendest to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron? therefore thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.
  • 2 Kings 1:16 And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to enquire of his word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.

“lattice” Hebrew H7639 · used in 12 verses

  • 1 Kings 7:17 And nets of checker work, and wreaths of chain work, for the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars; seven for the one chapiter, and seven for the other chapiter.
  • 1 Kings 7:41 The two pillars, and the two bowls of the chapiters that were on the top of the two pillars; and the two networks, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars;
  • 2 Chronicles 4:13 And four hundred pomegranates on the two wreaths; two rows of pomegranates on each wreath, to cover the two pommels of the chapiters which were upon the pillars.

“chamber” Hebrew H5944 · used in 20 verses

  • Judges 3:20 And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat.
  • 1 Kings 17:23 And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth.
  • 2 Chronicles 9:4 And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel; his cupbearers also, and their apparel; and his ascent by which he went up into the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.

“Ekron” Hebrew H6138 · used in 20 verses

  • Joshua 13:3 From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites:
  • 1 Samuel 5:10 Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people.
  • 2 Kings 1:6 And they said unto him, There came a man up to meet us, and said unto us, Go, turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that thou sendest to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron? therefore thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.