1 Kings 22:1-12

Ahab and the False Prophets

1 For three years Syria and Israel continued without war.

2 ¹But in the third year ²Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel.

3 And the king of Israel said to his servants, "Do you know that ³Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, and we keep quiet and do not take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?"

4 And he said to Jehoshaphat, "Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead?" And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, ⁴"I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses."

5 And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Inquire first for the word of the LORD."

6 Then the king of Israel ⁵gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, "Shall I go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?" And they said, "Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king."

7 But ⁶Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not here another prophet of the LORD of whom we may inquire?"

8 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, Micaiah the son of Imlah, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil." And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say so."

9 Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, "Bring quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah."

10 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting on their thrones, arrayed in their robes, at the threshing floor ⁷at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying before them.

11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made for himself ⁸horns of iron and said, "Thus says the LORD, 'With these ⁹you shall push the Syrians until they are destroyed.'"

12 And all the prophets prophesied so and said, "Go up to Ramoth-gilead and triumph; the LORD will give it into the hand of the king."

1 Kings 22:1-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 22

This chapter relates, that after three years' peace with the king of Syria, Ahab was inclined to go to war with him, to take Ramothgilead out of his hands; and he drew in Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, to join him in it, 1Ki 22:1-4, but before they went into it, they took advice, Ahab of his four hundred prophets, which Jehoshaphat not being satisfied with, a true prophet of the Lord, Micahah, was sent for, 1Ki 22:5-14 who, when he came, jeered Ahab with what his prophets had said to him; intimated that he should be killed, and explained it to him how he came to be deceived by his prophets, 1Ki 22:15-23 upon which he was smitten on the cheek by Zedekiah, one of the false prophets, and imprisoned by the order of Ahab, 1Ki 22:24-28, after which the two kings went to the battle, and Jehoshaphat was in great danger of his life; but Ahab was wounded, and died, 1Ki 22:29-40, and the chapter is concluded with an account of the reign of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, 1Ki 22:41-50, and of Ahaziah king of Israel, 1Ki 22:51-53.

Cross References

• 1. For ver. 1-35, see 2 Chronicles 18:2-34
• 2. 1 Kings 15:24
• 3. Deuteronomy 4:43; Joshua 21:38; 2 Kings 8:28; 2 Kings 9:1, 14; 2 Chronicles 22:5
• 4. 2 Kings 3:7
• 5. 1 Kings 18:19
• 6. 2 Kings 3:11
• 7. See Ruth 4:1
• 8. [Zechariah 1:18, 19]
• 9. [Deuteronomy 33:17]