2 Kings 1 - NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible

1:2 Samaria. See note on 1Ki 16:24.

1:10 may fire come down from heaven. The idea of gods raining down fire to destroy enemies is well known in the ancient world. Here the power of Elijah’s God is signaled as a sign that Elijah is Yahweh’s prophet. (For another instance of messengers of a king who come to find a prophet and find themselves incapacitated, see 1Sa 19:18–24. For signs given of a king’s doom, see Jeroboam in 1Ki 13:1–6.)

1:18 book of the annals of the kings of Israel. See note on 1Ki 14:19.