Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Kings 1

The Moabites, who had once ruled over Israel (Judges 3:12–14), were subjugated by David and treated with extreme severity.

During the time of Ahab, they were dependent on the kingdom of Israel. It was generally supposed that Moab fell to the northern kingdom when Israel separated from Judah. However, the Moabite Stone (see 2 Kings 3:4), discovered in 1869, now provides reason to believe that they had recovered their independence after the separation but were later subjugated again by Omri.

Omri, along with his son Ahab, is said to have oppressed them for “forty years” in round numbers. Ahab’s death was seized as an opportunity to revolt, and Moab—perhaps due to Ahaziah’s sickness—easily regained its independence.

A lattice - The “upper chamber” probably had a single latticed window, through which Ahaziah fell. Windows in the East are to this day generally closed by lattices of interlaced wood, which open outward, so that if the fastening is not properly secured, one who leans against them may easily fall out.

Baal-zebub - This name literally means “Lord (that is, averter) of flies.” In the East, flies constitute one of the most terrible of plagues (Psalms 105:31; Exodus 8:24), and people of the Orient would be as likely to have a “god of flies” as a god of storm and thunder. To inquire of Baal-zebub (2 Kings 1:3) was practically to deny Yahweh. Ahaziah cast aside the last remnant of respect for the old religion and consulted a foreign oracle, as if the voice of God were wholly silent in his own country.

Therefore... — As a punishment for this insult to Yahweh.

An hairy man — This is either an allusion to his shaggy cloak of untanned skin or, more probably, an expression describing the prophet’s physical appearance: his long, flowing locks, abundant beard, and general profusion of hair. His costume was that of a thorough ascetic. Generally, the Jews wore soft and comfortable girdles of linen or cotton material. Under the girdle, they wore one or two long linen gowns or shirts, and over these, they sometimes had a large shawl. Elijah had only his leather girdle and his sheepskin cape or “mantle.”

Then the king sent to him - that is, in order to seize and punish him. Compare 1 Kings 18:10; 1 Kings 22:27.