1 Kings 22:1-28

Jehoshaphat's Alliance with Ahab

1 There was a lull of three years without war between Aram and Israel.

2 However, in the third year, Jehoshaphat king of Judah went to visit the king of Israel.

3 The king of Israel had said to his servants, "Don't you know that Ramoth-gilead is ours, but we have failed to take it from the hand of the king of Aram?"

4 So he asked Jehoshaphat, "Will you go with me to fight Ramoth-gilead?" Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, "I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses."

5 But Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "First, please ask what the Lord's will is."

6 So the king of Israel gathered the prophets, about 400 men, and asked them, "Should I go against Ramoth-gilead for war or should I refrain?" They replied, "March up, and the Lord will hand it over to the king."^[a]

7 But Jehoshaphat asked, "Isn't there a prophet of Yahweh here any more? Let's ask him."^[b]

8 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man who can ask the Lord, but I hate him because he never prophesies good about me, but only disaster. He is Micaiah son of Imlah." "The king shouldn't say that!" Jehoshaphat replied.

9 So the king of Israel called an officer and said, "Hurry [and get] Micaiah son of Imlah!"^[c]

10 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah, clothed in royal attire, were each sitting on his own throne. They were on the threshing floor at the entrance to Samaria's gate, and all the prophets were prophesying in front of them.

11 Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah made iron horns and said, "This is what the Lord says: 'You will gore the Arameans with these until they are finished off.' "

12 And all the prophets were prophesying the same: "March up to Ramoth-gilead and succeed, for the Lord will hand it over to the king."^[d]

Micaiah's Message of Defeat

13 The messenger who went to call Micaiah instructed him, "Look, the words of the prophets are unanimously favorable for the king. So let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably."

14 But Micaiah said, "As the Lord lives, I will say whatever the Lord says to me."^[e]

15 So he went to the king, and the king asked him, "Micaiah, should we go to Ramoth-gilead for war, or should we refrain?" Micaiah told him, "March up and succeed. The Lord will hand it over to the king."

16 But the king said to him, "How many times must I make you swear not to tell me anything but the truth in the name of the Lord?"

17 So Micaiah said: I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd.^[f] And the Lord said, 'They have no master; let everyone return home in peace.'^[g]

18 So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Didn't I tell you he never prophesies good about me, but only disaster?"

19 Then Micaiah said, "Therefore, hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and the whole heavenly host was standing by Him at His right hand and at His left hand.

20 And the Lord said, 'Who will entice Ahab to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' So one was saying this and another was saying that.

21 "Then a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord, and said, 'I will entice him.'

22 "The Lord asked him, 'How?' "He said, 'I will go and become a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' "Then He said, 'You will certainly entice him and prevail. Go and do that.'^[h]

23 "You see, the Lord has put a lying spirit into the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the Lord has pronounced disaster against you."

24 Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah came up, hit Micaiah in the face, and demanded, "Did^[i] the Spirit of the Lord leave me to speak to you?"

25 Micaiah replied, "You will soon see when you go to hide yourself in an inner chamber on that day."^[j]

26 Then the king of Israel ordered, "Take Micaiah and return him to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, the king's son,

27 and say, 'This is what the king says: Put this guy in prison and feed him only bread and water^[k] until I come back safely.' "

28 But Micaiah said, "If you ever return safely, the Lord has not spoken through me." Then he said, "Listen, all you people!"^[l][m][n]

1 Kings 22:1-28 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. 2 Kg 3:7-8
• [b]. 2 Kg 3:11
• [c]. 2 Ch 18:1-8
• [d]. 2 Ch 18:9-11
• [e]. Nm 22:38; 24:13
• [f]. Nm 27:16-17; Mt 9:36; Mk 6:34
• [g]. 1 Kg 22:35-36
• [h]. Dt 13:1-5; Ezk 14:9;
• [i]. Lit Which way did
• [j]. 1 Kg 20:30
• [k]. Lit him on bread of oppression and water of oppression
• [l]. LXX omits Then he said, "Listen, all you people!"
• [m]. Mc 1:2
• [n]. 2 Ch 18:12-27