1 Kings 22:21-31

21 There came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him.

22 The LORD said to him, 'How?' He said, 'I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' He said, 'You shall entice him, and shall prevail also: go forth, and do so.'

23 Now therefore, behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; and the LORD has spoken evil concerning you.

24 Then Tzidkiyahu the son of Kena`anah came near, and struck Mikhayahu on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak to you?

25 Mikhayahu said, Behold, you shall see on that day, when you shall go into an inner chamber to hide yourself.

26 The king of Yisra'el said, Take Mikhayahu, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Yo'ash the king's son;

27 and say, Thus says the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in shalom.

28 Mikhayahu said, If you return at all in shalom, the LORD has not spoken by me. He said, Hear, you peoples, all of you.

29 So the king of Yisra'el and Yehoshafat the king of Yehudah went up to Ramot-Gil`ad.

30 The king of Yisra'el said to Yehoshafat, I will disguise myself, and go into the battle; but put you on your robes. The king of Yisra'el disguised himself, and went into the battle.

31 Now the king of Aram had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Yisra'el.

1 Kings 22:21-31 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.