2 Chronicles
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2 Chronicles 18
2 Chronicles 18
1Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and he joined affinity with Ahab.
1Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.
Commentary · verse 1
2And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that were with him, and moved him to go up with him to Ramoth-gilead.
3And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth-gilead? And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the war.
4And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Inquire first, I pray thee, for the word of Jehovah.
2And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth–gilead.
3And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth–gilead? And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the war.
4And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.
Commentary · verses 2-4
Ahab asked Jehoshaphat to go with him against Ramoth-gilead. However, the teaching king wanted to consult God, as God's Word had encouraged believers to do.
5Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the hand of the king.
6But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of Jehovah besides, that we may inquire of him?
5Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramoth–gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the king’s hand.
6But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?
Commentary · verses 5-6
Jehoshaphat wanted a prophet other than the prophets Ahab provided. Apparently, none of these prophets were in the all-star cast of teachers of the Word of God to the people.
7And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Jehovah: but I hate him; for he never prophesieth good concerning me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
7And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
Commentary · verse 7
Ahab told him of Micaiah. However, Ahab hated Micaiah because his prophecies were always evil unto Ahab. Micaiah was mentioned in the group of prophets Jehoshaphat sent on the teaching tour.
8Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.
9Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, and they were sitting in an open place at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them.
10And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron and said, Thus saith Jehovah, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until they be consumed.
11And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper; for Jehovah will deliver it into the hand of the king.
8And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.
9And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.
10And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt push Syria until they be consumed.
11And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth–gilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
Commentary · verses 8-11
All the prophets told Ahab to attack.
12And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one mouth: let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.
13And Micaiah said, As Jehovah liveth, what my God saith, that will I speak.
12And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.
13And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.
Commentary · verses 12-13
Micaiah was told that everyone was telling Ahab to attack because Ahab would be successful. Micaiah stated he would speak what God said…
14And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper; and they shall be delivered into your hand.
15And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou speak unto me nothing but the truth in the name of Jehovah?
14And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth–gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.
15And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the LORD?
Commentary · verses 14-15
Micaiah gave the same prophecy as the other prophets. Ahab did not believe him.
16And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and Jehovah said, These have no master; let them return every man to his house in peace.
17And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?
16Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace.
17And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?
Commentary · verses 16-17
Micaiah told Ahab he would attack and lose.
Commentary · verses 18-22
Verses 18-22: Micaiah's vision, also covered in 1 Kings 22:19-23.
18And Micaiah said, Therefore hear ye the word of Jehovah: I saw Jehovah sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.
19And Jehovah said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.
20And there came forth a spirit, and stood before Jehovah, and said, I will entice him. And Jehovah said unto him, Wherewith?
21And he said, I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt entice him, and shalt prevail also: go forth, and do so.
18Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.
19And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth–gilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.
20Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith?
21And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the LORD said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so.
Commentary · verse 21
We covered this in 1 Kings 22: God wanted to entice Ahab to his death. However, God, Himself, could not make this happen. That would be unjust. If God was able to initiate His Will on people, not only would He have been able to cause Ahab to go to battle, God would be able to make everyone worship Him.
Spirits are different than souls. In the Book of Job, Satan attended a meeting between God and His angels. It looked as if an unclean lying spirit offered to deceive Ahab. This spirit would be able to state a plan within its nature and not be able to state a will for itself. It would need God to tell it to go. God told it to go.
Notice also, this still did not mean that Ahab had no choice to be deceived. It was still Ahab's choice to be deceived: to choose to believe not the truth and to pleasure in unrighteousness. Finally, if anyone thinks this story contradicted Biblical Doctrine, take a look at 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 -
22Now therefore, behold, Jehovah hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets; and Jehovah hath spoken evil concerning thee.
22Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee.
Commentary · verse 22
Micaiah was warning Ahab that God had spoken evil against him. God would destroy Ahab. Micaiah was doing his job and helping Ahab.
23Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of Jehovah from me to speak unto thee?
24And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.
25And the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son; 26and say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.
27And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, Jehovah hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hear, ye peoples, all of you.
23Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?
24And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.
25Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son;
26And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.
27And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, then hath not the LORD spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, all ye people.
Commentary · verses 23-27
Micaiah's "fleece" was whether or not Ahab came back in peace.
28So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.
29And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and go into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went into the battle.
28So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth–gilead.
29And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle.
Commentary · verses 28-29
Ahab decided he would outsmart God by wearing a disguise...
30Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel.
31And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they turned about to fight against him: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and Jehovah helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.
32And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.
33And a certain man drew his bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the armor: wherefore he said to the driver of the chariot, Turn thy hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am sore wounded.
30Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that were with him, saying, Fight ye not with small or great, save only with the king of Israel.
31And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.
32For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him.
33And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: therefore he said to his chariot man, Turn thine hand, that thou mayest carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.
Commentary · verses 30-33
An arrow struck Ahab between the joints of his armor, probably a coat of mail.
34And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the even; and about the time of the going down of the sun he died.
34And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the even: and about the time of the sun going down he died.
Commentary · verse 34
Ahab was wounded and died, just like God stated would happen through Micaiah.
2 Chronicles 16-18 covered the end of Asa's reign and the beginning of Jehoshaphat's reign.
Jehoshaphat joined affinity (to become a son-in-law) with Ahab. Remember, Ahab was the worst king to date of the ten tribes of Israel.