King Ahaziah lies sick after having fallen through an upper window: Elijah foretells his death. Drawing by H.P. Bone.

The story is in the Bible, Old Testament, II Kings I. Ahaziah, King of Israel BC 850-849, fell through a lattice in the upper chamber of his palace and lay sick. He sent messengers to obtain an oracle from Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron (and the Syrian god of life). An angel of the Lord told Elijah to go and meet the messengers and tell them the king would die. Ahaziah sent 50 men to Elijah who sat on a hill as they approached. They called to him in the name of the king to come down but Elijah called down fire from heaven on them and they were consumed by flames. The king sent another 50 men and they met the same fate. A third company of 50 was sent, this time the leader of them pleading with Elijah not to take their lives. The angel told Elijah to go with the men to see the king. Elijah went and informed the king to his face that he was to die because he had sent for prophets from the god of Ekron. Ahaziah died as Elijah had foretold