(1) What kind of a king was Ahaziah? (1 Ki. 22:52-53)
(2) Why did he seek out Baal-Zebub instead of the Lord? (Baal-Zebub—the fly-god of Ekron, the northernmost city of the Philistines) What was it an indication of?
a. That he truly believed in the power of this fly-god
b. That he was too afraid of the Lord
c. He was too hard-hearted in his rebellion against the Lord
(3) Why was God so angry at Ahaziah that He would pronounce his sure death? (v. 4)
(4) Although God now pronounced his certain death, but not immediate death, how then should Ahaziah have responded to this?
(5) Recognizing that it was the prophet Elijah, why did Ahaziah send a contingent of 50 soldiers to see Elijah, and not just messengers?
(6) Although the captain addressed Elijah as “man of God”, was what he said an invitation or an order? (v. 9)
(7) Why did Elijah choose to have fire fall from heaven to consume them? (v. 10)
(8) Did the second captain show more respect to Elijah than the first captain? (v. 11)
(9) After the death of his two captains and soldiers, what should Ahaziah have done?
(10) While Ahaziah appeared not to have changed his attitude, was the 3rd captain any different from the previous two captains? (vv. 13-14)
(11) In your opinion, why didn’t Ahaziah repent or at least show signs of remorse (like his father in 1 Ki. 21:27)?
(12) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
(1) 請重溫亞哈謝是怎樣的一個王。(王上22:52-53)
(2) 他為何不向耶和華求問，而向巴力西卜求問？(巴力西卜，即蒼蠅的神，是非利士、以革倫的神) 這是表示：
a. 他真的相信巴力西卜的神力？
b. 他懼怕向神求問？
c. 還是因他心硬，至死也背叛神？
(3) 為何神會如此憤怒，要亞哈謝死亡？(1:4)
(4) 神的宣判是亞哈謝必死，而不是即死；用意是什麼？
(5) 既知道迎著使者的是以利亞，為何亞哈謝要派軍長和五十人去找以利亞，而不是單差使者？
(6) 五十夫長既稱以利亞為「神人」，為何會觸怒以利亞？(1:9)
(7) 為何以利亞選擇以火從天降下來燒滅眾人？
(8) 第二個五十夫長對以利亞的態度有改變嗎？為什麼？(1:11)
(9) 既見所差遣的兵士與軍長都死了，亞哈謝該怎樣作？
(10) 亞哈謝照樣差遣人去送死，但這被差遣的軍長的態度與前的有什麼不同？
(11) 在你看來，亞哈謝到現在還不學效父親亞哈謙卑下來的原因是什麼？(參王上21:27)?
(12) 今日你得到的主要提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
“So he died, according to the word of the LORD that Elijah had spoken.” (2 Ki. 1:17)
One wonders why Ahaziah would choose to worship Baal-Zebub, the “fly-god” of the Philistines, instead of the Lord. Even if he had not been able to witness God’s victory over Baal on Mount Carmel because he was too young, he would definitely have heard of this incident, not to mention the God-granted victory of Aram with 7,000 Israelites over more than 127,000 Aramean solders (1 Ki. 19:29-30).
Towards the end of Ahab’s life, as much as he might not have fully turned back to the Lord, it appears that he no longer worshipped Baal (all Baal’s prophets in Israel had been slain on Mount Carmel) as he showed remorse at Elijah’s rebuke (1 Ki. 21:27).
Once Ahab died, Ahaziah followed the ways of his mother, no doubt, and brought back the worship of Baal right away even within his short reign of two years (1 Ki. 22:52). This was indication that it was his deliberate act to choose evil over good. The worship of Yahweh was too restrictive for him, while the worship of other gods—Baal and Asherah—allowed him to engage in all kinds of immorality. Freedom from God was what he wanted, without knowing that the alternative was really being enslaved not so much by these false gods, but by Satan!
The three attempts to send soldiers to order (and capture) Elijah to go and see him fully demonstrated his hard-heartedness towards the Lord. By the time of the final pronouncement of his death right in front of him by Elijah, he was so deep into his rebellion that he was beyond repentance.
「亞哈謝果然死了，正如耶和華藉以利亞所說的話。」(王下1:17)
亞哈謝已自知面臨死亡，為何仍堅持敬拜這非利士的蒼蠅神—巴力西卜，而不求告耶和華呢？這是令人費解的。就是他或許在迦密山比試時尚年幼不懂事，他一定對這事有所聽聞；而且他肯定見證到他父親以七千軍力殺戮了127,000亞蘭人的神蹟（王上19:20）。
在亞哈的晚年，雖然他沒有全然悔改歸向神，他似乎再沒有敬拜或求問於巴力了—一方面以利亞已殺盡當時境內的巴力先知，而亞哈也向以利亞顯出謙卑的懊悔（王上19:27）。
亞哈謝在亞哈死後登基，就在短短兩年的掌權期間，(聖經就指出)他跟隨母親再次敬拜巴力（王上22:52）。這足以證明他是刻意的棄善行惡。當然，敬拜巴力和其他的偶像能給他很大的自由，特別是在放縱情慾這方面，不再被摩西律法所管轄。換句話說，這自由—特別是擺脫神律法約束的自由—是他所選擇的，但換來的後果是成為偶像和罪的奴僕，他卻不自知。
他三次的派兵去見（或應說捉拿）以利亞，充份顯出他對神的心是何等的剛硬。故此，當他親耳聽到以利亞宣告他必死的審判時，他的心靈已到無藥可救的地步了。
(1) It is obvious that Elijah knew that God was to take him home and in a special way. (v. 10)
a. Why did he not want Elisha to accompany him?
b. Why did he not even make it plain to Elisha whom he knew would be his successor? (1 Ki. 19:16)
c. If no one saw him depart, would people not simply be searching for him and should he not pass on some parting words to the successor of his important ministry?
(2) Why did Elisha ask the prophets at Bethel and Jericho to be quiet? Shouldn’t there be a farewell by them?
(3) We previously read about Elijah using his cloak to cover his head (1 Ki. 19:13).
a. What did Elijah use it for now?
b. What symbol does this cloak bear, especially in comparison to the staff of Moses? (Exod. 14:16, 21)
(4) What did Elijah think he could do for Elisha before his departure? What might he expect Elisha to ask for?
(5) Why did Elisha ask for “a double portion” of Elijah’s spirit?
(6) In what sense might his request be similar to that of Solomon? (1 Ki. 3:9)
(7) Why was it a “difficult thing” that Elijah could not give by himself?
(8) Why did Elijah not have to go through death (like Enoch in Gen. 5:24) but be transported in such a fashion, i.e. in a whirlwind by a chariot of fire and horses of fire?
(9) Upon seeing how Elijah was transported up into heaven, Elisha cried out, “The chariots and horsemen of Israel”. How might it point to the ministry of Elijah?
(10) Elisha tore his own garment apart and took up Elijah’s cloak instead:
a. What does this signify?
b. How did he test if his request was granted?
(11) What might be the meaning of having a “double portion” of Elijah’s spirit?
(12) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
(1) 以利亞知道神要接他回天家，並且接的方式是很特別的(見2:10)
a. 為何他總不想以利沙陪伴著他？
b. 為何他不向以利沙直言？(他知道以利沙是要承繼他的—見王上19:16)
c. 若是沒有人親眼見他的被提：
i. 他們豈不會到處找他嗎？
ii. 難道他不該向以利沙留下提醒或勉勵之言嗎？
(2) 為何以利沙叫眾先知不要作聲？他們既知道以利亞那天要離去，豈不應好好向他道別嗎？
(3) 我們曾讀到以利亞是用外衣來蒙頭的(王上19:13) ：
a. 現在他用外衣來作什麼？
b. 這外衣現在成了什麼徵記(與摩西的杖相彷—參出14:16, 21)
(4) 以利亞以為自己在被接去之前能為以利沙作什麼？他以為以利沙會問的是什麼？
(5) 為何以利沙所求的是以利亞加倍的靈？
(6) 他這請求與所羅門所求的有什麼相似之處？（參王上3:9）
(7) 為何以利亞說，這請求是「難以得到」的？
(8) 為何以利亞能像以諾不用見死(創5:24) ，而且是被「火車火馬」所載而去？
(9) 以利沙看見以利亞被提時，不禁呼叫：“以色列的戰車馬兵” ：這句話給我們領會到以利亞對以色列有什麼貢獻？
(10) 以利沙撕裂自己的衣服，卻拾起以利亞的外衣：
a. 這象徵著什麼？
b. 他怎樣以此去證實得到了所求的？
(11) 你認為得著以利亞加倍的靈是什麼意思？
(12) 今日你得到的主要提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中?
“When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, 'Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?'.” (2 Ki. 2:9)
We have no idea why Elijah tried to shake Elisha off when he knew it was time for him to depart. Some opine that it reflected the humility of Elijah, because he knew that his transport into heaven would be very spectacular (implied in his words to Elisha in v. 10).
Whatever his motive might be, if he was
determined not to have Elisha present at his departure, the following would result:
- No one would know what happened to him and they would keep on searching for him.
- These prophets might assume that Elijah had died and would mourn for him.
- More importantly, Elisha would not be able to receive a double portion of his spirit and the prophets would not know for sure that God had chosen Elisha to succeed him.
In other words, as much as Elijah had been greatly used by God (as when chariots and horsemen of Israel protected Israel not so much from destruction by other nations, but from self-destruction in straying too far from God), this ministry needed to continue on, and God had chosen Elisha to succeed him. Therefore, as spectacular as his transport into heaven was, it was not just for his sake, but for the sake of Elisha and the other prophets.
Had Elijah succeeded in shaking Elisha off, Elisha would not have the opportunity to ask for a double portion of his spirit which was not for his own sake, but for the accomplishment of his God-given calling. As it turned out, all scholars agree (even though they may have varying opinions on the meaning of the “double portion”), that “Elisha performed a greater number of miracles than Elijah” (K&D, 208).
In my reading of the life of Elijah, I cannot help but feel that ever since the victory at Mount Carmel, Elijah appeared to have forgotten that as much as he was still needed and used by God, it was never about him, but about God and His purposes.
「過去之後，以利亞對以利沙說：我未曾被接去離開你，你要我為你做甚麼，只管求我。」(王下2:9)
我們不曉得為何以利亞明知自己要被神接去時，屢次想撇下以利沙。有解經者認為他是出於謙卑，不願有人看見自己被接上天那榮耀的一刻。
不論以利亞的動機是什麼，如果以利沙未能目睹他離去的情景，那末：
- 沒有人會知道他去了那裡，他們會一直的尋找他；
- 甚至會以為他死去而為他哀悼；
- 更重要的是，以利沙就不會承受了他加倍的靈，而眾先知也不肯定神以以利沙來承繼他。
換句話說，雖然以利亞確是被神重用，如戰車馬兵般，成為以色列的保障，不但不至被列國所消滅，更不至因叛逆神而遭毀滅的審判。這重任是需要有人繼續承擔的；而神早已揀選以利沙來接替他（王上19:16）。
故此，以火車火馬接他上天這事，不是單為以利亞而作，也是與以利沙，甚至其他的先知有關的。
如果以利亞真的把以利沙撇下，獨自經歷這被提，以利沙就沒有要求得到他加倍的靈的機會—以利沙所求的，絕非為自己，乃為要完成神給他的呼召！結果，我們看到以利沙所行的神蹟竟然比以利亞所行的更多！這是解經者所公認的。
每次讀到以利亞的生平時，我總覺得他在迦密山之役後，急忙的逃離耶斯列，似乎他是忘記了，雖然他是被神繼續重用，一切發生在他生命中的事，不是單以他為中心，乃仍是以神和祂的工作為中心！
(1) We have no idea how far toward the east they went beyond the Jordan and whether the company of prophets from Jericho saw the transport of Elijah into heaven, but at least what did they bear witness to?
(2) What would result if Elijah denied Elisha the chance to see him taken up by God?
(3) Why did the prophets insist on searching for Elijah? Did they find him? Why not?
(4) While the prophets witnessed the miracle of the parting of the Jordan by Elisha, the Bible gives us two public displays of the power of the Spirit through him:
a. We know that the city of Jericho was cursed in the sense that it should never be rebuilt into a fortified city (Jos. 6:26; 1 Ki. 16:34):
- In what other way was it cursed?
- How did Elisha reverse it?
- What might be the messages of this miracle?
b. The miracle at Bethel was a rather strange one:
- Since there was a school of prophets at Bethel, do you think they and the city would have heard of Elisha as the successor of Elijah by now?
- How many boys were there mocking Elisha?
- In what ways were these boys wicked?
- How did their behavior reflect the condition of the city?
- Why did Elisha call down a curse “in the name of the Lord”?
- As harsh as this punishment was, what were the messages to the people of the city?
(5) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
(1) 如果二人向約但河之東走得太遠，這五十個先知門徒至少見證到什麼？
(2) 如果以利亞真的攔阻到以利沙不能目睹他的離去，會帶來什麼後果？
(3) 為何這些先知門徒仍堅持去找以利亞？找到嗎？為什麼？
(4) 先知們目睹以利沙分水的神蹟，但仍需公開的神蹟來證明以利沙確承繼了以利亞的位份：
a. 耶利哥城：
i. 這城曾得到什麼咒詛？(書6:26；王上16:34)
ii. 現在又得到什麼咒詛？(2:19)
iii. 以利沙為它行了什麼神蹟？
iv. 這神蹟的背後有什麼意思？
b. 伯特利—仍拜金牛犢的地方
i. 這裡既有一群先知早已知道以利亞要被接去，你認為他們已聽到以利沙承繼的神蹟沒有？
ii. 這裡至少有多少個童子戲弄以利沙？
iii. 這些童子所行的惡是什麼？(“上去罷” 似是咒詛以利沙像以利亞一般的死去！)
iv. 這如流民般的行為怎樣反映城市的屬靈境況？
v. 為何以利沙是「奉耶和華的名」來咒詛他們？
vi. 雖然這審判是嚴厲的，但對這城的人發出了什麼信息？
(5) 今日你得到的主要提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中?
“From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some boys came out of the town and jeered at him. ‘Get out of here, baldy!’ they said. ‘Get out of here, baldy!’.” (2 Ki. 2:23)
At first sight, it appears that Elisha was a prophet without compassion: How could he curse and kill 42 young boys?
However, if we analyze the situation deeper, these young boys in fact reflected the perverted spiritual condition of the city.
We know that there was a school of prophets in Bethel, and they all knew about the impending departure of Elijah. Therefore, they would have heard of the succession of Elisha and would be looking forward to his coming. Elisha did come and logically the whole city would know of his coming.
These young boys would have known they were prophets and especially who Elisha was, yet he was the object of their bullying — they did not welcome Elisha, because they obviously had been raised not to fear God and they had no respect for prophets either. We should not underestimate what this gang of over 42 boys could do to Elisha. But more importantly, they reflected the spiritual condition of the adults who might even rejoice over the disappearance of Elijah and look forward to their uninterrupted worship of Baal and other gods.
Therefore, this punishment was not directed merely to the boys, but to the entire city! Perhaps, it may not be an exaggeration to say that the spiritual condition of the children is a fairly accurate reflection of the adults!
「以利沙從那裡上伯特利去，正上去的時候，有些童子從城裡出來，戲笑他說：禿頭的上去罷！禿頭的上去罷！」(王下2:23)
讀到以利沙對童子的咒詛，我們不禁的問：他怎可以這樣殘忍，導致42個童子的死亡？但是，如果我們仔細一點分析這事件，就會明白這些童子顯出那世代的醜惡。
我們知道伯特利是有一群先知的，他們都一早知道以利亞要被神接去(2:3) 。故此，他們也會聽到以利亞怎樣被提和以利沙怎樣擊打、分開河水的事。現在，他們渴望迎接以利沙的到臨。
其實，整個城市都應風聞以利沙的事和他的到訪。這一群童子，人多勢眾，竟然把這先知成為他們挑釁的目標，明顯反映出這城市對先知的態度；他們得的教養，是不畏神、也不尊敬神的僕人。我們不可輕看這大群所謂童子能怎樣凌辱、甚至傷害以利沙。他們這樣侮辱以利沙，甚可能反映出這伯特利屬靈的境況，就是以為以利亞不在，他們可以安心的繼續敬拜耶羅波所立的金牛犢了！故此，以利沙的咒詛，豈是針對這些童子而已，乃是對全城的警告。
我也不禁的聯想到今天我們對下一代的批評，是否明白到他們其實是我們的反照！