2 Kings 1:2

1:2 Ahaziah fell through a window lattice in his upper chamber in Samaria 1  and was injured. He sent messengers with these orders, 2  “Go, ask 3  Baal Zebub, 4  the god of Ekron, if I will survive this injury.”

2 Kings 13:17

13:17 Elisha 5  said, “Open the east window,” and he did so. 6  Elisha said, “Shoot!” and

he did so. 7  Elisha 8  said, “This arrow symbolizes the victory the Lord will give you over Syria. 9  You will annihilate Syria in Aphek!” 10 

1 map For location see Map2-B1; Map4-D3; Map5-E2; Map6-A4; Map7-C1.

2 tn Heb “and he sent messengers and said to them.”

3 tn That is, “seek an oracle from.”

4 sn Apparently Baal Zebub refers to a local manifestation of the god Baal at the Philistine city of Ekron. The name appears to mean “Lord of the Flies,” but it may be a deliberate scribal corruption of Baal Zebul, “Baal, the Prince,” a title known from the Ugaritic texts. For further discussion and bibliography, see HALOT 261 s.v. זְבוּב בַּעַל and M. Cogan and H. Tadmor, II Kings (AB), 25.

5 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elisha) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

6 tn Heb “He opened [it].”

7 tn Heb “and he shot.”

8 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elisha) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

9 tn Heb “The arrow of victory of the Lord and the arrow of victory over Syria.”

10 tn Heb “you will strike down Syria in Aphek until destruction.”