2nd Chronicles Chapter 18

From The Open Bible Project

18:1 Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and he joined affinity with Ahab.

• (a) For Joram Jehoshaphat’s son married Ahab’s daughter.

18:2 After certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. Ahab killed sheep and cattle for him in abundance, and for the people who were with him, and moved him to go up [with him] to Ramoth Gilead.

• (b) That is, the third year, (1 Kings 22:2).
• (c) To recover it out of the hands of the Syrians.

18:3 Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, "Will you go with me to Ramoth Gilead?" He answered him, "I am as you are, and my people as your people. We will be with you in the war."

18:4 Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Please inquire first for the word of Yahweh."

• (d) Hear the advise of some prophet to know whether it is God’s will.

18:5 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, "Shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?" They said, "Go up; for God will deliver it into the hand of the king."

• (e) Who were the prophets of Baal, signifying that the wicked esteem none but liars and such as will bear with their inordinate affections.

18:6 But Jehoshaphat said, "Isn't there here a prophet of Yahweh besides, that we may inquire of him?"

18:7 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Yahweh; but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil. He is Micaiah the son of Imla." Jehoshaphat said, "Don't let the king say so."

• (f) Yet the true ministers of God should not cease to do their duty, even though the wicked magistrates cannot abide them speaking the truth.
• (g) Meaning, that he should not refuse to hear any that was from God.

18:8 Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, "Get Micaiah the son of Imla quickly."

18:9 Now 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.

• (h) That is, in their majesty and royal apparel.

18:10 Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron, and said, "Thus says Yahweh, 'With these you shall push the Syrians, until they are consumed.'"

• (i) Read (1 Kings 22:11).

18:11 All the prophets prophesied so, saying, "Go up to Ramoth Gilead, and prosper; for Yahweh will deliver it into the hand of the king."

18:12 The messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, "Behold, the words of the prophets [declare] good to the king with one mouth. Let your word therefore, please be like one of theirs, and speak good."

• (k) Thinking, that since four hundred prophets had agreed in one thing, that he being but one man and in least estimation, did not dare to go against it.

18:13 Micaiah said, "As Yahweh lives, what my God says, that will I speak."

18:14 When he had come to the king, the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?" He said, "Go up, and prosper. They shall be delivered into your hand."

• (l) He spoke this in derision of the false prophets as the king well knew.

18:15 The king said to him, "How many times shall I adjure you that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of Yahweh?"

18:16 He said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. Yahweh said, 'These have no master. Let them return every man to his house in peace.'"

• (m) He prophesied of how the people would be scattered and Ahab slain.

18:17 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Didn't I tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?"

18:18 [Micaiah] said, "Therefore hear the word of Yahweh: I saw Yahweh sitting on his throne, and all the army of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.

• (n) Meaning his angels.

18:19 Yahweh said, 'Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead?' One spoke saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.

18:20 A spirit came out, stood before Yahweh, and said, 'I will entice him.' "Yahweh said to him, 'How?'

18:21 "He said, 'I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' "He said, 'You will entice him, and will prevail also. Go forth, and do so.'

• (o) That is, the Lord.

18:22 "Now therefore, behold, Yahweh has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets; and Yahweh has spoken evil concerning you."

• (p) To those who would not believe the truth, God sent a strong delusion, that they would believe lies, (2 Thessalonians 2:10).

18:23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, "Which way did the Spirit of Yahweh go from me to speak to you?"

• (q) By this cruelty his ambition and hypocrisy was discovered; thus the hypocrites boast of the Spirit which they do not have, and declare their malice against them on whom the true Spirit is.

18:24 Micaiah said, "Behold, you shall see on that day, when you shall go into an inner chamber to hide yourself."

18:25 The king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;

18:26 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."'"

• (r) Keep him in prison, and let him feel hunger and thirst.

18:27 Micaiah said, "If you return at all in peace, Yahweh has not spoken by me." He said, "Listen, you peoples, all of you!"

18:28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead.

18:29 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself, and go into the battle; but you put on your robes." So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went into the battle.

• (s) Thus the wicked think by their own subtilty to escape God’s judgments which he threatens by his word.

18:30 Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, "Fight neither with small nor great, except only with the king of Israel."

18:31 It happened, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, "It is the king of Israel!" Therefore they turned around to fight against him. But Jehoshaphat cried out, and Yahweh helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.

• (t) He cried to the Lord by acknowledging his fault in going with this wicked king to war against the word of the Lord by his prophet and also by desiring mercy for the same.

18:32 It happened, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.

18:33 A certain man drew his bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of the armor. Therefore he said to the driver of the chariot, "Turn your hand, and carry me out of the army; for I am severely wounded."

18:34 The battle increased that day. However the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the evening; and about the time of the going down of the sun, he died.

• (u) He disguised his wound that his soldiers might fight more courageously.