The Captain and His Fifty Men

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  1. Ahazya (Part 4)

    Why are the Two Captains of Fifty, and their Fifty Men, Consumed by Fire?

    Rabbi Elchanan Samet

    Neither the Sages nor the commentators criticize Eliyahu for the consumption by fire of the captains and their men because Eliyahu's actions throughout this chapter are guided by the Angel of God and not of his own initiative. Ahazya wants to harm Eliyahu not merely as a punishment, but as an attempt to battle God's decree that he will die. God prevails on three occasions: by consuming the first two captains by fire, by the surrender of the third captain, and by Eliyahu's fearless appearance in person to Ahazya. The captains and their men were deserving of their punishment as they chose Ahazya over Eliyahu - God's representative as opposed to the messengers earlier in the story and to the third captain.

  2. Ahazya (Part 5)

    The First Captain of Fifty vs. The Second

    Rabbi Elchanan Samet

    Despite the obvious similarities, several subtle difference exist between the first two confrontations between Eliyahu and the captains with their men. While the second captain is more cautious in the aftermath of the outcome of the first, ultimately the confrontation between the second captain and Eliyahu is more acute than the first, both in terms of the behavior and speech of the captain and in terms of the punishment that emerges from heaven at Eliyahu's decree.

  3. Ahazya (Part 6)

    The Third Captain of Fifty

    Rabbi Elchanan Samet

    In order to save his life from the fate of the previous two captains, it would be sufficient for the captain to refuse to comply to the Ahazya's orders. Going to Eliyahu and begging for his life means that the captain is asking Eliyahu to come with him. However, Eliyahu's agreement to go to the king would seem to give the king the victory as he achieved what he wanted. The Angel commanding Eliyahu to go gives Eliyahu the permission to proceed to Ahazya.

  4. “All the King's Men” - Ahazya's Messengers

    Rabbi Alex Israel

    By sending messengers to Ba'al Zevuv, the god Ekron, Ahazya has outdown his father. Turning to the surrounding nations is a desecration of God's name. Eliyahu turns Ahazya first messengers to Ekron into his messengers with God's message of Ahazya's death. Ahazya sends a captain with a company of fifty men with the intention of killing Eliyahu and nullifying his message. The first and second companies of soldiers are consumed by a fire from heaven. The actions of the third captain signify an absolute surrender of royal power to God's power. 

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