And when the messengers turned back unto him, he said unto them, Why are ye now turned back?

And the messengers turned back to Ochozias. And he said to them: Why are you come back?

And when the messengers turned back to him, he said to them, Why have ye now returned?

And the messengers turn back unto him, and he saith unto them, 'What is this, ye have turned back!'

And the men he had sent came back to the king; and he said to them, Why have you come back?

And the messengers returned to Ahaziah. And he said to them, "Why have you returned?"

And when the messengers turned back unto him,.... To Ahaziah king of Israel, as they did as soon as Elijah was gone from them; concluding from his habit, his gravity, and the authority with which he spoke, that he was a prophet of the Lord, and especially from his knowledge of them, and of what they were sent about:
he said unto them, why are ye now turned back? for, by the time they had been gone, he knew they could never have been at Ekron and returned.

the messengers turned back--They did not know the stranger; but his authoritative tone, commanding attitude, and affecting message determined them at once to return.

Why, &c. - Before you have been at Ekron: which he knew by their quick return.