1 Könige 22:30

30 Und der König Israels sprach zu Josaphat: Ich will mich verstellen und in den Streit kommen; du aber habe deine Kleider an. Und der König Israels verstellte sich und zog in den Streit.

1 Könige 22:30 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 22:30

And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise
myself, and enter into the battle
Change his clothes, his royal robes, and put on others, perhaps the habit of a common soldier; having, it may be, been informed by some deserters or spies, of the design of Benhadad against him. Abarbinel thinks the meaning is, that he would clothe himself with a coat of mail, and take to him the each of the instruments of war, and so go into the battle secure; this seems probable from ( 1 Kings 22:34 ) and this he might do to elude the prophecy of Micaiah:

but put thou on thy robes;
his royal robes, or rather keep them on, that he might appear to be the chief commander of the army. There seems to be a good deal of insincerity and treachery in this conduct of Ahab's, whatever honour he might pretend to Jehoshaphat, or safety he might promise him in such a situation; his view seems to be to save himself at the hazard of the life of Jehoshaphat, especially if the Septuagint version could be established, "and put on my clothes"; which is natural enough, but would have been too barefaced:

and the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle;
as if he had been a common soldier.

1 Könige 22:30 In-Context

28 Micha sprach: Kommst du mit Frieden wieder, so hat der HERR nicht durch mich geredet. Und sprach: Höret zu, alles Volk!

29 Also zog der König Israels und Josaphat, der König Juda's, hinauf gen Ramoth in Gilead.

30 Und der König Israels sprach zu Josaphat: Ich will mich verstellen und in den Streit kommen; du aber habe deine Kleider an. Und der König Israels verstellte sich und zog in den Streit.

31 Aber der König von Syrien gebot den Obersten über seine Wagen, deren waren zweiunddreißig, und sprach: Ihr sollt nicht streiten wider Kleine noch Große, sondern wider den König Israels allein.

32 Und da die Obersten der Wagen Josaphat sahen, meinten sie er wäre der König Israels, und fielen auf ihn mit Streiten; aber Josaphat schrie.