I Kings 22:17-40
“And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.
And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?” (I Kings 22:17-18)
Micaiah had been advised to tell Ahab and Jehoshaphat the same things the four hundred prophets who worked for Ahab had said. When he did, Ahab knew that wasn’t what God said because as II Corinthians 6:14-16 reminds us, God and other religions never agree. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?” He demanded, “How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD?”
Micaiah responded that in his vision, he saw Israel scattered out like a flock of sheep no one was watching and heard God say that they had no leader. As a result each one should just go home. This was exactly the kind of thing Ahab had expected and he had avoided asking because he didn’t want to hear it. Micaiah wasn’t finished yet.
“And he 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. And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.
And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.
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.
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.” (I Kings 22:19-23)
In his vision, Micaiah saw the Lord asking who could convince Ahab to go up and fight Syria so he could be destroyed as Elijah had warned him in I Kings 20:42. After some discussion one of the spirits(angels) said he could do it by going and telling all Ahab’s hired prophets they should go. Since Ahab would choose not to listen to anyone else, the Lord said that would work. The plan was followed and that is why all the prophets had said the same thing.
“But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?
And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.” (I Kings 22:24-25)
The leader of the prophets then accused Micaiah of lying, implying that it was the spirit Micaiah described who was directing him. Micaiah said the the validity of his prophecy would be demonstrated when Ahab was dead and they were all looking for a place to get away from the Syrians. Deuteronomy 18:22 tells us, “When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.”
“And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son; And 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 come in peace.
And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, the LORD hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you.” (I Kings 22:26-28)
Ahab ordered that Micaiah be held hostage to keep God from allowing him to be killed. Micaiah said God wouldn’t be blackmailed, and that if he came back victorious, it would prove that Micaiah had lied and not been speaking God’s word.
“So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead. And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle.” (I Kings 22:19-30)
Despite Micaiah’s warning, both Ahab and Jehoshaphat went to fight at Ramothgilead. Fearing that perhaps holding Micaiah hostage wouldn’t deter God, Ahab decided to disguise himself so no one would know who he was and he wouldn‘t be as much of a target. He asked Jehoshaphat to wear his robe so they would think he was Ahab, and Jehoshaphat went along with it.
“But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel. And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it is the king of Israel. And they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out. And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.” (I Kings 22:31-33)
Ahab had allowed Benhadad to go free when he had the opportunity to kill him, but Benhadad did not appreciate it. His only concern was to kill Ahab. In fact he gave orders to find him and kill him. When they saw Jehoshaphat dressed as king they took the bait and attacked him, only stopping when the realized it wasn’t Ahab. By agreeing to Ahab’s request, Jehoshaphat put his own life at risk.
Later God would rebuke Jehoshaphat for even trying to help Ahab, in II Chronicles 19:2. “And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.” Ephessians 5:11-12 commands, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.”
By trying to help Ahab, Jehoshaphat was placing his approval on his behavior and enabling him to keep on. He had heard what God said about it and still went along. It almost cost him his life, and brought God’s judgment on him. It is a serious warning to us.
“And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.
“And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot.” (I Kings 22:34-35)
God was not deceived at all by Ahab’s efforts to disguise himself. A Syrian archer just shot at random, and God directed his arrow so that it struck between the metal plates of Ahab’s armor and inflicted a serious wound so that he had to pull back and have it treated. He had them prop him up and stayed in the battle with blood pooling around feet, finally dying of his wound that evening.
“And there went a proclamation throughout the host about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his own country.
So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria. And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the word of the LORD which he spake.” (I Kings 22:36-38)
When Ahab died, the entire army was sent home, and Ahab’s body was taken back to Samaria in his chariot. They washed out the blood in the same place where Naboth had been executed, exactly as Elijah had prophesied. Micaiah’s prophecy was also fulfilled as well.
“Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.” (I Kings 22:39-40)
“And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.
And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?” (I Kings 22:17-18)
Micaiah had been advised to tell Ahab and Jehoshaphat the same things the four hundred prophets who worked for Ahab had said. When he did, Ahab knew that wasn’t what God said because as II Corinthians 6:14-16 reminds us, God and other religions never agree. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?” He demanded, “How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD?”
Micaiah responded that in his vision, he saw Israel scattered out like a flock of sheep no one was watching and heard God say that they had no leader. As a result each one should just go home. This was exactly the kind of thing Ahab had expected and he had avoided asking because he didn’t want to hear it. Micaiah wasn’t finished yet.
“And he 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. And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.
And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.
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.
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.” (I Kings 22:19-23)
In his vision, Micaiah saw the Lord asking who could convince Ahab to go up and fight Syria so he could be destroyed as Elijah had warned him in I Kings 20:42. After some discussion one of the spirits(angels) said he could do it by going and telling all Ahab’s hired prophets they should go. Since Ahab would choose not to listen to anyone else, the Lord said that would work. The plan was followed and that is why all the prophets had said the same thing.
“But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?
And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.” (I Kings 22:24-25)
The leader of the prophets then accused Micaiah of lying, implying that it was the spirit Micaiah described who was directing him. Micaiah said the the validity of his prophecy would be demonstrated when Ahab was dead and they were all looking for a place to get away from the Syrians. Deuteronomy 18:22 tells us, “When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.”
“And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son; And 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 come in peace.
And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, the LORD hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you.” (I Kings 22:26-28)
Ahab ordered that Micaiah be held hostage to keep God from allowing him to be killed. Micaiah said God wouldn’t be blackmailed, and that if he came back victorious, it would prove that Micaiah had lied and not been speaking God’s word.
“So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead. And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle.” (I Kings 22:19-30)
Despite Micaiah’s warning, both Ahab and Jehoshaphat went to fight at Ramothgilead. Fearing that perhaps holding Micaiah hostage wouldn’t deter God, Ahab decided to disguise himself so no one would know who he was and he wouldn‘t be as much of a target. He asked Jehoshaphat to wear his robe so they would think he was Ahab, and Jehoshaphat went along with it.
“But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel. And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it is the king of Israel. And they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out. And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.” (I Kings 22:31-33)
Ahab had allowed Benhadad to go free when he had the opportunity to kill him, but Benhadad did not appreciate it. His only concern was to kill Ahab. In fact he gave orders to find him and kill him. When they saw Jehoshaphat dressed as king they took the bait and attacked him, only stopping when the realized it wasn’t Ahab. By agreeing to Ahab’s request, Jehoshaphat put his own life at risk.
Later God would rebuke Jehoshaphat for even trying to help Ahab, in II Chronicles 19:2. “And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.” Ephessians 5:11-12 commands, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.”
By trying to help Ahab, Jehoshaphat was placing his approval on his behavior and enabling him to keep on. He had heard what God said about it and still went along. It almost cost him his life, and brought God’s judgment on him. It is a serious warning to us.
“And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.
“And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot.” (I Kings 22:34-35)
God was not deceived at all by Ahab’s efforts to disguise himself. A Syrian archer just shot at random, and God directed his arrow so that it struck between the metal plates of Ahab’s armor and inflicted a serious wound so that he had to pull back and have it treated. He had them prop him up and stayed in the battle with blood pooling around feet, finally dying of his wound that evening.
“And there went a proclamation throughout the host about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his own country.
So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria. And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the word of the LORD which he spake.” (I Kings 22:36-38)
When Ahab died, the entire army was sent home, and Ahab’s body was taken back to Samaria in his chariot. They washed out the blood in the same place where Naboth had been executed, exactly as Elijah had prophesied. Micaiah’s prophecy was also fulfilled as well.
“Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.” (I Kings 22:39-40)
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