1 Kings 22:2-12

2 And it came to pass in the third year that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel.

3 And the king of Israel said unto his servants, "Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we are still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria?"

4 And he said unto Jehoshaphat, "Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramothgilead?" And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses."

5 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, "Inquire, I pray thee, for the word of the LORD today."

6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, "Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear?" And they said, "Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king."

7 And Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might inquire of him?"

8 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil." And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say so."

9 Then the king of Israel called an officer and said, "Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah."

10 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a vacant place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.

11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made himself horns of iron; and he said, "Thus saith the LORD: `With these shalt thou push the Syrians until thou have consumed them.'"

12 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, "Go up to Ramothgilead and prosper, for the LORD shall deliver it into the king's hand."

1 Kings 22:2-12 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.