Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about
four hundred men
False prophets, as the Targum and Arabic version; and they are called Ahab's prophets, and not the Lord's, ( 1 Kings 22:23 ) perhaps these were the prophets of the groves, that ate at Jezebel's table, and were preserved when the prophets of Baal were destroyed, since the number agrees with them, see ( 1 Kings 18:19 )
and said unto them, shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or
shall I forbear?
which would you advise to? signifying he should take their advice:
and they said, go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of
the king:
which words are very ambiguous, like the oracles of the Heathens; for they do not express who or what should be delivered up, for the word it is a supplement, nor to what king the delivery should be made; whether the Syrians, and the place they held should be given up to king Ahab, which they would have understood; or whether the Israelites should be delivered up to king Benhadad; so that, whichever had been the case, the credit of their prophecy would be secured. They used the word "Lord", and not Baal, in complaisance to Jehoshaphat, and perhaps as directed by Ahab.