Kings I 22:22

22 And David said to Abiathar, I knew it in that day, that Doec the Syrian would surely tell Saul: I am guilty of the death of the house of thy father.

Kings I 22:22 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 22:22

And the Lord said unto him, wherewith?
&c.] What way and method did he propose, to persuade Ahab to go up to Ramoth? the Lord is introduced in this visionary narrative as asking this question, not as ignorant of the scheme of the evil spirit, but in order to bring it out, and lead on to the following account:

and he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth
of all his prophets;
put them on encouraging Ahab to go up, and promising him success, as he had in former battles with the king of Syria, and which might both encourage them to give forth such a prediction, and him to believe it to be true; this proposal was quite agreeable to the character of the devil, as the father of lies:

and he said, thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also;
not only make use of this artifice to persuade, but succeed also; the Lord knew that what he should suggest to the prophets, and they should deliver to Ahab, would be agreeable to his inclination, nor would he do anything in the course of his providence to hinder its taking effect:

go forth, and do so;
which was giving leave to try his skill in the art of persuasion, in which he knew he would succeed, and bring on the righteous judgment of God upon Ahab; with this compare ( John 13:27 ) .

Kings I 22:22 In-Context

20 And one son of Abimelech son of Achitob escapes, and his name Abiathar, and he fled after David.

21 And Abiathar told David that Saul had slain all the priests of the Lord.

22 And David said to Abiathar, I knew it in that day, that Doec the Syrian would surely tell Saul: I am guilty of the death of the house of thy father.

23 Dwell with me; fear not, for wherever I shall seek a place for my life, I will also seek a place for thy life, for thou art safely guarded with me.

Footnotes

• [a]. lives.