2 Kings 1:6

There came a man up to meet The R.V. puts -up" before -a man", because the Hebrew verb signifies -to come up". So in A.V. in the next verse. It would appear as though the prophet had met the messengers very early in their journey while they were going down from the hill on which Samaria was built. They did not know Elijah, for he, like John the Baptist afterwards, was not one of those who were to be found in kings" houses. And the messengers were most likely some of the persons in close attendance on the king.

Go, turn again &c. These words are not in verse 3, but they are natural as a preface to the message there given.

that thou sendest Elijah speaking to the messengers (verse 3) said naturally -that ye go", but they put the words into a form suitable to their position as servants obeying an order. Yet we can see from some parts of the narrative which follows that some of the king's servants were willing enough to follow where he led them.