Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down. (2 Kings 1:9)
Ahaziah hated but feared the prophet. The message of doom did not bring the king to repentance. He knew that he was a dying man, but he was filled with bitterness and anger, and was determined to send for the prophet to avert, if possible, the threatened judgment. A band of 50 armed men was sent to intimidate the prophet.