1 Kings 22:21

21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD and said, `I will persuade him.'

1 Kings 22:21 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 22:21

And there came forth a spirit
Not from the heavenly host on the right hand or the left, for they are pure and holy spirits, and impeccable, and cannot lie or deceive; but the evil spirit, Satan, the father of lies, the old deceiver, who came forth from his own place and his own company:

and stood before the Lord
presented himself before him, as Satan did, ( Job 1:6 ) ,

and said, l will persuade him;
or prevail upon him; evil spirits love to be employed in doing harm to men, they go about seeking whom they may devour. This could not be the spirit of Naboth, as the Jews say {q}, seeking revenge on Ahab; that was in a state of happiness, could not move from thence, and be capable of sinning.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 89. 1. & 102. 2. Targum in 2 Chron. xviii. 20.

1 Kings 22:21 In-Context

19 And Micaiah said, "Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right hand and on His left.

20 And the LORD said, `Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead?' And one said in this manner, and another said in that manner.

21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD and said, `I will persuade him.'

22 And the LORD said unto him, `Wherewith?' And he said, `I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And He said, `Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also. Go forth, and do so.'

23 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee."