2 Kings 1:2

And Ahaziah fell down through a[R.V. the] lattice From the use of the word rendered -lattice" elsewhere (cf. Job 18:8), it must mean some kind of net or trellis-work put in front of an open space, a window or a balcony. As it is said the king fell throughit, we may most probably conclude that an Oriental window space with its trellis-work is intended. The description of it as -in his upper chamber" shews that it cannot have been a palisade round the flat roof of the house, as some have thought, which broke away as he was leaning on it, and let him fall down. Josephus (Ant.IX. 2. 1) represents the king as having fallen as he was coming down from the housetop.

and was sick The verb is employed, as here, of sickness caused by wounds, and also of ordinary disease (cf. 2 Kings 13:14) as in the case of Elisha. It is also used metaphorically (cf. Song of Solomon 2:5; Song of Solomon 5:8).

inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron The son of Jezebel follows his mother's example in his adherence to false gods. It was probably because Ekron was the nearest shrine of such a divinity that Ahaziah was sending thither. Ekron was the most northern of the five great Philistine cities, and so most easily within reach from Samaria. It is not possible to say, from the form of the two Hebrew words which make up the name Baal-zebub, whether they are in construction or in apposition. The latter word signifies -a fly", and the LXX. taking them as in apposition rendered -Baal, the fly", as though the image of the god had been in that form, just as Dagon's image, in the neighbouring Ashdod, was in part at least like a fish. But it seems more natural to regard the words as in construction, so that -the Baal (or lord) of flies" would be an epithet implying that the god was supposed to be an averter of flies, these insects being, especially in hot countries, a very serious pest. Such among the Greeks was Ζεὺς ἀπόμυιος (Paus. v. 14. 2), and among the Romans a deity supposed to possess this fly-dispelling power was named -Myiagrus" and -Myiodes" = the fly catcher. (Plin. x. 28. 40; xxix. 6. 34.)

whether I shall recover of this disease R.V. sickness. The noun is from the same root as the verb rendered -was sick", just before. There must have been some oracle at Ekron, for it was an answer that Ahaziah sought. He did not send his messengers to make supplication for his recovery. The LXX. adds at the close of this verse -and they went to inquire concerning him".