U W r 1. Alliance. Matrimonial.
s 2. Jehoshaphat's consent.
r 3. Alliance. Military.
s 4-27. Jehoshaphat's anxiety.
X 28. The expedition.
W t 29-. Ahab's device.
u -29. Jehoshaphat's consent.
u 30,31. Jehoshaphat's concern.
y 32-34. Ahab's death.
2 Chronicles 18)
1 Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, (this is repeated from 17:5, to show that there was no need for any alliance of any king) and joined affinity with Ahab. (By marrying his son Jehram to Athaliah the daughter of Ahab [21:6. 2 Kings 8:18]. Contrast 17:1, where he began by strengthening himself against Ahab, and now "joined affinity" with him. Cp. Asa's alliance with Syria [1 Kings 15:17-19]. Note the 3 alliances or unequal yokes: [1] Marriage [here; 21:6]; [2] War [18:2-34]; [3] Commerce [20:35,36]. The consequences of this alliance was that Jerusalem ran with blood. The same was seen when James I of England married his son Charles I to Henrietta in France. England ran with blood, Charles lost his head, and his son James II lost his throne.)
2 And after certain years (the 3rd year of the peace between Ahab and Syria [1 Kings 22:1,2]) he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, (Ahab's "sheep and oxen" did what all his men of war could never have done [17:2,10-19]) and for the people that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth-gilead. (Now, probably Reimũn, in Gilead One of the cities of refuge [Deut. 4:43]. God's gift to Israel)
3 And Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, "Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?" And he answered him, "I am as you are, and my people as your people; and we will be with you in the war." (Jehoshaphat was deceived by its seeming to be a "good work". But "good" works are only "prepared" works [Eph. 2:10]. It could not be "good" if done "with you" [cp. 19:2]. "Better is he who rules his spirit than he take a city" [Prov. 16:22]. But Jehoshaphat did not "take it".)
s Y v 4. Jehoshaphat. Inquiry.
w 5. Ahab. Compliance.
v 6. Jehoshaphat. Further inquiry.
w 7. Ahab. Reply.
Z 8. True prophet sent for. Micaiah.
A 9,10. False prophets. Zedekiah.
A 11. False prophets. All.
Z 12,13. The prophet brought. Micaiah.
Y x 14-. Inquiry made. Ahab.
y -14. Micaiah's answer. Ironical.
x 15. Inquiry adjured. Ahab.
y 16-27. Micaiah's answer. Serious.
4 And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Inquire, I pray you, at the word of the Lord today." (This shows his consciousness that he was not doing right)
5 Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets (i.e. false prophets of Baal. They knew not experimental relationship with Yahaveh) four hundred men, and said to 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."
6 But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides, that we might inquire of him?" (He thus shows that he knew the were false prophets)
7 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one man, by whom we may inquire of the Lord: but I have always hated him; (true prophets are always hated by the Lord's enemies) for he never prophesied good to me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah (= Who is like Yahaveh?) the son of Imla." And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say so."
8 And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and said, "Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla."
9 And 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. (Jehoshaphat well knowing that they were not prophets of Yahaveh)
10 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron, and said, "Thus says the Lord, 'With these you shall push Syria until they be consumed.' " (Note the characteristic ambiguity of such communications.)
11 And 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."
12 And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, "Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one mouth; (put for what is spoken by it) let your word therefore, I pray you, be like one of theirs, and speak you good.
13 And Micaiah said, "As the Lord lives, even what my God says, that will I speak."
14 And when he was come to the king, the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?"
And he said, "Go you up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand." (Notice the change in number)
15 And the king said to him, "How many times shall I adjure you that you say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the Lord?"
y B1 a 16. Vision seen.
b 17. Understood.
a 18-21. Vision seen.
b 22. Interpreted.
B2 c 23. Zedekiah.
d 24. Micaiah.
c 25,26. Ahab.
d 27. Micaiah.
16 Then 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.' "
17 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good to me, but evil?"
18 Again 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.
19 And the Lord said, 'Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' And one spoke saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.
20 Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, 'I will entice him.' And the Lord said to him, 'In what way?'
21 And he said, 'I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And the Lord said, 'You shalt entice him, and you shall also prevail: go out, and do even so.'
22 Now therefore, behold, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets, and the Lord has spoken evil against you."
23 Then 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 to you?"
24 And Micaiah said, "Behold, you will soon see on that day when you shall go into an inner chamber to hide yourself."
25 Then the king of Israel said, "You take Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son; (Implying that Micaiah was already a prisoner.)
26 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 return in peace.' ' "
27 And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, then hath not the Lord spoken by me. And he said, "Hearken, all you Peoples."
28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.
29 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, I [am about] to disguise myself and go to the battle; but put you on your robes."
So the king of Israel disguised himself; and he entered to the battle.
30 Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that were with him, (having been taken into the camp of Israel and allowed to hear what Ahab said, we are now taken into the camp of the Syria to overhear what the king of Syria said. This is to enable us to understand what follows) saying, "Fight you not with small or great, save only with the king of Israel."
31 And 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; (i.e. Jehoshaphat, for Yehovah was his Covenant God) and God moved them to depart from him.
32 For 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.
33 And a certain man drew a bow in ignorance, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the armor: therefore he said to his chariot man, "Turn your hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am sore wounded.
800 B.C.
34 And 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. (Not fell asleep! No details of his death, here, in Chronicles, which concerned only Judah. Details given in Kings [1 Kings 22:35-38)