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1 Kings 22 - Benson Joseph - Bible Commentary

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1 Kings 22

1 And he rested three years, and there was no war between Syria and Israel.

2 And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat king of Judah went down to the king of Israel.

3 And the king of Israel said to his servants, Do you know that Ramoth Gilead is ours, and we are slow to take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?

4 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Will you go up with us to Ramoth Gilead to battle?

5 And Jehoshaphat said, As I am, so are you also; as my people, so are your people; as my horses, so are your horses. And Jehoshaphat king of Judah said to the king of Israel, Please inquire of the Lord today.

6 And the king of Israel gathered all the prophets together, about four hundred men. And the king said to them, Shall I go up to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I refrain? And they said, Go up, for the Lord will surely give it into the hands of the king.

7 And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, Is there not still a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of the Lord by him?

8 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, There is one man here for us to inquire of the Lord by; but I hate him, for he does not speak good of me, but only evil; Micaiah son of Imlah. And Jehoshaphat king of Judah said, Let not the king say such things!

9 And the king of Israel called a eunuch and said, Bring Micaiah son of Imlah here quickly.

10 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat, each on his throne, armed in the gates of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.

11 And Zedekiah son of Chenaanah made for himself iron horns, and said, Thus says the Lord: With these you shall push the Syrians, until they are consumed.

12 And all the prophets prophesied in like manner, saying, Go up to Ramoth Gilead, and the thing shall prosper, and the Lord shall deliver it and the king of Syria into your hands.

13 And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, Behold now, all the prophets speak good things with one mouth concerning the king; let now your words be like the words of one of them, and speak good things.

14 And Micaiah said, As the Lord lives, whatsoever the Lord shall say to me, that will I speak.

15 And he came to the king. And the king said to him, Micaiah, shall I go up to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I refrain? And he said, Go up, for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.

16 And the king said to him, How often must I adjure you, that you speak truth to me in the name of the Lord?

17 And he said, Not so. I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains as a flock without a shepherd. And the Lord said, Is not God the Lord of these? Let each one return to his home in peace.

18 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Did I not say to you that this man does not prophesy good to me, for he speaks nothing but evil?

19 And Micaiah said, Not so, it is not I: hear the word of the Lord: I saw the God of Israel sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven stood about Him on His right hand and on His left.

20 And the Lord said, Who will deceive Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall in Ramoth Gilead? And one spoke one way, and another spoke another way.

21 And there came forth a spirit and stood before the Lord, and said, I will deceive him.

22 And the Lord said to him, In what way? And he said, I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, You shall deceive him; yea, and you shall prevail: go forth, and do so.

23 And now, behold, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets, and the Lord has spoken evil against you.

24 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, What sort of a spirit of the Lord has spoken in you?

25 And Micaiah said, Behold, you shall see in that day, when you shall go into an innermost chamber to hide yourself there.

26 And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and take him away to Semer the keeper of the city;

27 and tell Joash the king's son to put this fellow in prison, and to feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction, until I return in peace.

28 And Micaiah said, If you ever return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.

29 So the king of Israel went up, and Jehoshaphat king of Judah with him to Ramoth Gilead.

30 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle, and you put on my robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle.

31 And the king of Syria had charged the thirty-two captains of his chariots, saying, Fight not against small or great, but against the king of Israel only.

32 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat king of Judah, that they said, this seems to be the king of Israel. And they compassed him about to fight against him; and Jehoshaphat cried out.

33 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw that this was not the king of Israel, that they returned from him.

34 And one drew a bow with a good aim, and struck the king of Israel between the lungs and the breastplate. And he said to his charioteer, Turn your hands, and carry me away out of the battle, for I am wounded.

35 And the war was turned in that day, and the king was standing on the chariot, against Syria from morning till evening; and he shed the blood out of his wound, into the bottom of the chariot, and died at evening, and the blood ran out of the wound into the bottom of the chariot.

36 And the herald of the army stood at sunset, saying, Let every man go to his own city and his own land,

37 for the king is dead. And they came to Samaria, and buried the king in Samaria.

38 And they washed the chariot at the fountain of Samaria; and the swine and the dogs licked up the blood, and the harlots washed themselves in the blood, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke.

39 And the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he built, and all the cities which he built, behold, are not these things written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

40 And Ahab slept with his fathers, and Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.

41 And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa reigned over Judah. In the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel Jehoshaphat began to reign.

42 He was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Azuba daughter of Shilhi.

43 And he walked in all the way of Asa his father: he turned not from it, even from doing that which was right in the eyes of the Lord. Only he took not away any of the high places; the people still sacrificed and burnt incense on the high places.

44 And Jehoshaphat was at peace with the king of Israel.

45 And the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his mighty deeds, whatever he did, behold, are not these things written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

46 (TEXT OMITTED)

47 (TEXT OMITTED)

48 (TEXT OMITTED)

49 (TEXT OMITTED)

50 And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried by his fathers in the City of David his father, and Jehoram his son reigned in his place.

51 And Ahaziah son of Ahab reigned over Israel in Samaria: in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Ahaziah son of Ahab reigned over Israel in Samaria two years.

52 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of Ahab his father, and in the way of Jezebel his mother, and in the sins of the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin.

53 And he served the Baals and worshipped them, and provoked the Lord God of Israel, according to all that had been done before him.

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1 Kings 22

1 Kings 22:1

And they continued three years without war between Syria and Israel. 1 Kings 22:1. They continued three years — That is, three years were spent; without war between Syria and Israel — Computed from the last war and league wherewith it was concluded. Both Ahab and Ben-hadad were so weakened and broken by the late wars, that they needed and desired peace to recruit themselves, and repair their former losses.

1 Kings 22:2

And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. 1 Kings 22:2. The king of Judah came down to the king of Israel — Having now, as he supposed, made a firm peace with him, by the alliance contracted between Jehoram his son, and Athaliah, Ahab’s daughter, 2 Kings 8:18; 2 Chronicles 18:1. It is strange that so good a man would be so closely connected with a king revolted, from the worship of God! But he appears to have been of to easy a temper, which betrayed him to many inconveniences.

1 Kings 22:3

And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we be still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria? 1 Kings 22:3. Know ye not that Ramoth in Gilead is ours? — Belongeth to us by right, both by God’s donation, and by our last agreement with Ben- hadad, 1 Kings 20:34. It is probable Ben-hadad had not made good his part of the covenant, to restore all the cities which the Syrians had taken from Israel, and that this was one which he refused to deliver up.

1 Kings 22:4

And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramothgilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses. 1 Kings 22:4. He said to Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go up with me, &c.? — It is not strange that Ahab should desire the assistance of so pious and prosperous a neighbour as Jehoshaphat, and should wish to draw him in to join him in this expedition for the recovery of Ramoth-Gilead. Even bad men have often coveted the friendship of the good; but it is strange that Jehoshaphat should go so entirely into Ahab’s interests as to say, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people — That is, I will heartily and effectually join with thee; and my forces shall be at thy service, as much as thine own.

1 Kings 22:5

And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Inquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day. 1 Kings 22:5. Jehoshaphat said, Inquire, I pray thee, &c. — By some prophet; that we may know the mind of God in this matter, and what success we may expect. A good man, wherever he goes, will take God along with him, will acknowledge him in all his ways, and look to him for success: and, wherever he goes, he ought to take his religion along with him; and not be ashamed to own it, even among those who have no kindness for it.

1 Kings 22:6

Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king. 1 Kings 22:6. The king of Israel gathered the prophets together — Doubtless his own false prophets, such as he had set up by rewards and promises, and who accordingly knew how to suit his humour, and flatter his vanity, and who yet gave in their answer in the name of Jehovah; either in compliance with Jehoshaphat, or by Ahab’s direction, that Jehoshaphat might be deceived by them into a good opinion of the war.

1 Kings 22:7

And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might inquire of him? 1 Kings 22:7-8. Is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides? — Besides these who may seem to be such in your opinion, and by their own profession? He did not entirely reject these as no prophets of the Lord, though he had some doubt of their being divinely inspired with the certain knowledge of future events; and therefore he desired to know if there was any other from whom he might receive further satisfaction. There is yet one man, &c. — Namely, in this place, for whom I can speedily send; for there were also other prophets elsewhere in the kingdom, but these were not at hand. Micaiah the son of Imlah — Not the person whom we call Micah, one of the twelve minor prophets, for he lived a hundred and fifty years after this time, but another of that name. He doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil — He is always a messenger to me of evil tidings. This probably was true, but not a sufficient reason why he should hate him, because Micaiah only delivered the messages which God sent by him; and whatsoever evil he denounced, Ahab himself was the cause and procurer of it. Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so — Let us neither hate his person, nor despise his message; but first hear it, and then do as we see cause.

1 Kings 22:8

And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

1 Kings 22:9

Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah. 1 Kings 22:9-10. Hasten hither Micaiah — It seems he had imprisoned him; for, 1 Kings 22:26, he bids the officer carry him back, namely, to the place where he was before. Probably this was he that had reproved him for letting Ben-hadad go, 1 Kings 20:42 : and for that, had lain in prison three years. But this did not make him less confident, or less faithful in delivering his message. Having put on their robes — Their royal robes and ensigns of majesty. In a void place — In the place of judicature, which was in or nigh the gate of the city, and in the front of some void place, where either people stood to hear and see justice administered, or soldiers were placed for the defence of the city in time of war. And all the prophets prophesied before them — Continued to encourage them in their design; all agreeing, to a man, in the same fawning compliances with Ahab, and the same treacherous counsels, which pleased and tickled, for the present, but proved fatal in the end.

1 Kings 22:10

And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.

1 Kings 22:11

And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them. 1 Kings 22:11. Zedekiah made him horns of iron — Fit emblems of the power and victory of these two kings. The devil is God’s ape, and the false prophets imitated the true, who, when they declared God’s mind by words, did also sometimes confirm it by sensible signs, Isaiah 20:2; Jeremiah 27:2. Thus saith the Lord — Hebrew, Jehovah, in whose name he pretends to speak, to gain the more credit and countenance to his words.

1 Kings 22:12

And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the king's hand.

1 Kings 22:13

And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good. 1 Kings 22:13-14. Speak that which is good — This was a most absurd request: for if Micaiah was a true prophet, he could say nothing but what was suggested to him by divine inspiration, and if he were not, why should he speak at all? Of what use could his prophesying be unless to deceive? What the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak — What answer the Lord shall put into my mind and mouth. He resolves as became one who had an eye to a greater king than either of these. He seems, as yet, to have had no revelation about the matter. But when the question was put to him, God taught him what to answer.

1 Kings 22:14

And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak.

1 Kings 22:15

So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king. 1 Kings 22:15-16. He answered him, Go, and prosper — He gave the very same answer, and in the same words, which the other prophets had done; but spake them in such a manner, that Ahab plainly discerned he derided and mocked him: his meaning being evidently this: Because thou dost not seek to know the truth, but only to please thyself, go to the battle, as all thy prophets advise thee, and try the truth of their prediction by thy own experience. The king said, How many times shall I adjure thee? — He had not adjured him before, but now he does; as, probably, observing something in the countenance and gesture of Micaiah, which persuaded him that what he said was rather ironical than the real sentiments of his mind.

1 Kings 22:16

And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD?

1 Kings 22:17

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. 1 Kings 22:17. And he said, I saw — Namely, in the Spirit, or in a vision; all Israel scattered upon the hills — Upon the mountains of Gilead, where they lay encamped by Ahab’s order, or to which they fled from the enemy. As sheep that have no shepherd — As people that have lost their king. The Lord said, These have no master; let them return, &c. — Discharged from the war. This was fulfilled, 1 Kings 22:36.

1 Kings 22:18

And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil? 1 Kings 22:18. The king of Israel said, Did not I tell thee, &c. — Now thou seest my words verified, and how this man shows his hatred by his malignant and treasonable prophecy, and how little regard is to be paid to his words. Which crafty insinuation seems to have had too great an influence on good Jehoshaphat, otherwise he would not have gone to the battle. That he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil — Nay, but what evil was it to tell him what would be the event if he proceeded in his expedition, while it was in his own power whether he would proceed or not? The greatest kindness we can do to one that is walking in a dangerous way is to tell him of his danger.

1 Kings 22:19

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. 1 Kings 22:19. And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the Lord — Because thou givest credit to thy false prophets, and disbelievest my words, as if they were but the suggestions of my own fancy, and of hatred to thy person, I will give thee a distinct and true account of the whole matter in God’s name and presence. I saw the Lord sitting on his throne — Not with his bodily eyes certainly, for with them he could not see God, but with the eyes of his mind, or rather in a vision. For we must by no means look upon what follows as the relation of an affair really transacted, but merely as an account of a symbolical vision, like that of Peter, (Acts 10.,) when he saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him; whereby Micaiah was informed how it came to pass that so many prophets prophesied falsely, or contrary to what the event of things would prove; which was, that these prophets were influenced, not by the Spirit of God, which is the spirit of truth, but by an evil spirit, a spirit of error and falsehood, of flattery and dissimulation. For we should form most unjust ideas of the truth and holiness of God, if we supposed he would really send a spirit of lying into any of his prophets, which they could not distinguish from true inspiration; for this would be to confound false prophecy with true, and to make God the author of moral evil, which he can in no way or manner ever be. It would have been to overturn the whole authority of prophecy; for, if the true prophets had been once actuated by a false spirit, there would have been an end of placing any dependance on them for the future. The whole foundation of their authority would have been overthrown.

1 Kings 22:20

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. 1 Kings 22:20-22. The Lord said, Who shall persuade Ahab, &c. — This is not to be understood grossly, as if God were at a loss to find out an expedient to accomplish his own designs; nor is it to be supposed that there was really any such consultation, before the Divine Majesty, as who should be employed to persuade Ahab to undo himself. But this is a symbolical representation, to signify that the Lord resolved to suffer Ahab to be deceived and perish at Ramoth-Gilead rather than in any other place; in order that he, who sinfully suffered Ben-hadad to escape, might be punished by Ben-hadad. And there came forth a spirit — An evil one; and stood before the Lord — This is not to be taken literally. There are, however, evil spirits who are very forward to entice men to their own destruction, and have power so to do, if the Lord do not hinder them. He said, I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets — I will suggest to them that which will deceive them. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also — I will give them up into thy hands, and leave them to their own ignorance and wickedness. Go forth, and do so — This is not a command, but only a permission. If we suppose this to be any thing more than a symbolical vision, we must say God permitted this evil spirit to follow his own inclinations, which he knew would have success, and prevail with Ahab to believe he should prosper in this war, wherein God intended he should perish. Ahab’s prophets had observed how prosperous he had been in former wars with the king of Syria, and that made them forward to promise him the same success in this also. And Ahab was as forward to believe as they were to promise.

1 Kings 22:21

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

1 Kings 22:22

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.

1 Kings 22:23

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. 1 Kings 22:23. Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put, &c. — It is frequent in the Holy Scriptures to call that the Lord’s doing which he only permits to be done; because he has the supreme direction of all things, and governs the event. Wicked devices proceed from wicked men and wicked spirits: but, that they prevail and take effect, is owing to the hand of God directing and ordering when and where they shall light, and what shall be the issue of them. Hath put a lying spirit into the mouth, &c. — Hath permitted a lying spirit to influence these men. Hath spoken evil concerning thee — Hath decreed that thou shalt perish in this war. It may not be amiss to observe here, that “the evil being, named Satan, was little known to the Jewish people till their captivity; and then this history was taught openly as a security against the doctrine of the two principles. The Jewish lawgiver, where he so frequently enumerates and warns the Israelites of the snares and temptations which would draw them to transgress the law of God, never mentions this capital enemy of heaven. Nay, when the form of that sacred history which Moses composed obliged him to treat of Satan’s first grand machination against mankind, he entirely hides this wicked spirit under the animal which he made his instrument; but, as the fulness of time drew near, they were made more and more acquainted with this their capital enemy. When Ahab, for the crimes and follies of the people, was suffered to be infatuated, we have the account in the words of Micaiah above. Satan is not here recorded by name; and so we must conclude the people were yet to know little of his history: however, this undertaking sufficiently declared his nature.” Div. Leg., vol. 4. p. 279.

1 Kings 22:24

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? 1 Kings 22:24-25. But Zedekiah went near — The chief of the false prophets, who was much in the king’s favour. Which way went the Spirit of the Lord, &c. — In what manner went it? Contemptuous language as well as behaviour: as much as to say, How dare you prophesy directly contrary to what I have done, who have the Spirit of the Lord! Behold, thou shalt go into an inner chamber — Into a secret place; to hide thyself — For fear of being seized and punished as a false prophet, and as the great author and abetter of this pernicious war, and of Ahab’s destruction. Probably he went with Ahab to the battle, after which he was glad to shelter himself where he could.

1 Kings 22:25

And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.

1 Kings 22:26

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; 1 Kings 22:26-27. Take Micaiah, and carry him back — Namely, into prison, where, it seems, he was before shut up; for so the Lord’s prophets were treated by Ahab. Feed him with bread of affliction, &c. — With very coarse and spare diet, whereby he may be only supported to endure his torment. Until I come in peace — Until I return in triumph, which I doubt not I shall, in spite of all his malicious suggestions to the contrary; and then I shall call him to an account for all his lies and impudence. Hard usage for one that would have prevented his ruin! We see here how confident Ahab was of success! He questions not but he should return in peace, forgetting what he himself had said to Ben-hadad, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast: but there was little likelihood of his returning in peace when he left one of God’s prophets behind him in prison.

1 Kings 22:27

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.

1 Kings 22:28

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. 1 Kings 22:28. Micaiah said, If thou return, &c., the Lord hath not spoken by me — Let me incur the reproach and punishment of a false prophet; and he — Namely, Micaiah; said, Hearken, O people, every one of you — Knowing in whom he had believed, and being fully assured of the truth of his prophecy, he calls all the people to be witnesses of it.

1 Kings 22:29

So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead. 1 Kings 22:29. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat — went up, &c. — Notwithstanding the declaration Micaiah had made of God’s decree, Jehoshaphat was persuaded by Ahab and other prophets to go on this expedition; partly because Micaiah was a person unknown to him, and both he and the other prophets professing to speak from God, it seemed difficult to him to determine the controversy between them, which, he probably thought, only the event could decide: and partly because the war was just and lawful, being undertaken to recover Ahab’s rights, which the Syrian king unjustly detained from him.

1 Kings 22:30

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. 1 Kings 22:30. The king of Israel said, I will disguise myself — Put off my imperial habit, and appear as a private man, that the Syrians may not know me, and direct their main force against me. This he judged they would do, as knowing him to be the principal author of this war, and that it was likely to die with him. But put thou on thy robes — Thy royal robes, which thou mayest do without danger, because thou art not the object of the rage of the Syrians, nor of this false prophecy. Thus, while he pretended to do honour to Jehoshaphat, and compliment him with the sole command of the army in this action, he hoped to elude the danger, and so defeat the threatening, as if by disguising himself he could escape the divine cognizance, and the judgments that pursued him.

1 Kings 22:31

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. 1 Kings 22:31. Fight only with the king of Israel — This he ordered, truly supposing this to be the best way to put an end to the war; and by the providence of God, which disposeth the hearts of kings as he pleaseth, and which inclined them to this course, that they might, though ignorantly, accomplish his counsel. Perhaps Ben-hadad only designed to have taken him prisoner, that he might now give him as honourable a treatment as he had formerly received from him.

1 Kings 22:32

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. 1 Kings 22:32-33. When the captains — saw Jehoshaphat, they said, Surely, &c. — They saw no other but him in a royal habit, and hence concluded he must be the king of Israel, whom they believed to be present in the battle, and to be the commander of the Israelitish army. They turned aside to fight against him — They drew their forces from their several quarters toward him. And Jehoshaphat cried out — By his danger God now let him know that he was displeased with him, for joining in confederacy with Ahab. They that associate with evil doers are in danger of sharing in their plagues. When the captains — perceived it was not the king of Israel — This they would easily perceive, either by the words which he spake, when he cried out, or by the difference of his form and countenance from those of Ahab, whom, probably, many of them had seen, and knew well. They turned back from pursuing him — Thus, by his deliverance, God showed him that, though he was displeased with him, he had not deserted him. To him he cried out, not in cowardice, but devotion, and from him his relief came. For God, who has the hearts of all men in his hand, moved them to depart from him, 2 Chronicles 18:31. In the mean time Ahab, who brought him into this danger, seems to have been in no care to succour him. God is a friend who will not fail us when other friends do.

1 Kings 22:33

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.

1 Kings 22:34

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. 1 Kings 22:34. A certain man drew a bow at a venture — Shot at a venture among the army, without care, or choice, or any design of reaching Ahab, or any particular person; and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness — Where the several parts of his armour were joined together; the only place about him where this arrow of death could find entrance. No armour is proof against the darts of divine vengeance. Case the criminal in steel, and it is all one; he that made him can make his sword approach him. And that which to us seems altogether casual, comes by the determined counsel of God.

1 Kings 22:35

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. 1 Kings 22:35-36. The battle increased that day — There was a sharp fight after this; insomuch that the king, for fear his soldiers should give way, would return into the field, notwithstanding his wounds, and be supported in his chariot, to encourage his army. And died at even — Finding, too late, the truth of Micaiah’s words; and Zedekiah’s horns of iron pushing, not the Syrians, but himself into destruction. And there went a proclamation throughout the host — Probably by Jehoshaphat’s order, with the consent of the chief captains of Israel. Saying, Every man to his city, &c. — It is to no purpose to attempt any thing more: the king is dead, and the battle ended; and therefore every man has liberty to return to his own city and habitation. The Syrians also, it is likely, were content to be gone, having slain their capital enemy. By this proclamation the prediction of Micaiah was exactly fulfilled, according to his vision, 1 Kings 22:17.

1 Kings 22:36

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.

1 Kings 22:37

So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria.

1 Kings 22:38

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. 1 Kings 22:38. The dogs licked up his blood — Together with the water wherewith it was mixed. This circumstance is noticed because it was the accomplishment of one part of Elijah’s prophecy concerning him. Now Naboth’s blood was avenged!

1 Kings 22:39

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? 1 Kings 22:39. The ivory house which he made — Not that it was wholly made of solid ivory, but the other materials used in building it were covered, or intermixed, or adorned with ivory. It appears by this short history that Ahab would have had some noble qualities in him, if he had not been incurably addicted to idolatry, and other sins and vices.

1 Kings 22:40

So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.

1 Kings 22:41

And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.

1 Kings 22:42

Jehoshaphat was thirty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. 1 Kings 22:42. Jehoshaphat was thirty and five years old, &c. — The intention of the writer of this book was principally to give us the history of the kings of the house of David, with which he begins, and then interweaves with it some account of the kings of Israel. Thus having finished the history of Asa, king of Judah, he recounts the affairs of Israel under Ahab; who being dead, he returns to the history of the kings of Judah, who were the chief objects of his attention.

1 Kings 22:43

And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the LORD: nevertheless the high places were not taken away; for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places. 1 Kings 22:43. He walked in all the ways of Asa — He took the same care for the government of his kingdom, and especially for the reformation of religion, which Asa did. Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away — Not fully, or not in the beginning of his reign. For that he did take them away, at least in part, and probably all those which were erected for the worship of idols, appears from 2 Chronicles 17:9. The people offered — incense yet in the high places — Old corruptions are not eradicated without difficulty, especially when they have formerly had the patronage of those that were good, as the high places had of Samuel, Solomon, and some others. Indeed this error was so deeply rooted, that the best of their kings, till Hezekiah’s time, connived at it.

1 Kings 22:44

And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel. 1 Kings 22:44-46. Jehoshaphat made peace, &c. — With Ahab first, and then with his son. This is noted as a blemish in his government, 2 Chronicles 19:2; and proved of most mischievous consequence to his posterity. The remnant of the sodomites — he took out of the land — He made a more narrow search after them than his father had done, who is said to have removed them; but, it appears, some still remained, though without his knowledge.

1 Kings 22:45

Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he shewed, and how he warred, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

1 Kings 22:46

And the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land.

1 Kings 22:47

There was then no king in Edom: a deputy was king. 1 Kings 22:47. A deputy was king — Sent and set over them by the kings of Judah, whose viceroy he was, as we now speak. This kind of government continued in Edom from the days of David, who began it, until the time of Jehoram, Jehoshaphat’s son, who lost this authority.

1 Kings 22:48

Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber. 1 Kings 22:48. Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish — These ships were not to go to Tharshish, but Ophir. But, it appears, they were called ships of Tharshish from their form, being made after the model of the ships which traded to that place. And all such ships, wheresoever they were built, were called ships of Tharshish. The ships were broken at Ezion-geber —

Probably by a storm.

1 Kings 22:49

Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not. 1 Kings 22:49. Jehoshaphat would not — He had contracted an amity with this king, and engaged himself so far, as to permit him to join with him in this navy, 2 Chronicles 20:35. But, being chastised, and better instructed by his ill success, and the breaking of the ships, and being reproved for his sin in joining with him, by a prophet, he would not be persuaded to repeat it, or to continue this league with him.

1 Kings 22:50

And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.

1 Kings 22:51

Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel. 1 Kings 22:51-52. And reigned two years over Israel — Not complete, as appears from 2 Kings 3:1; but part of two years; for he died before his second year was ended. He walked in the way of his father — Followed the wicked example he had set, especially in worshipping Baal. And in the way of his mother — Jezebel, who was still living; acting according to her wicked counsel. And in the way of Jeroboam — Kept up his idolatry in worshipping the calves. Though he had heard of the ruin of Jeroboam’s family, and had seen his own father drawn to his own destruction by the prophets of Baal, who had been often proved to be false prophets, yet he received no instruction, took no warning, but pursued their wicked courses, not in the least amended by all that had befallen them. And provoked the Lord, according to all that his father had done — Most unhappy parents, that thus help to damn their own children’s souls! We see by all this, how little the example of parents or ancestors is to be valued, where it is opposed to the word and will of God!

1 Kings 22:52

And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin:

1 Kings 22:53

For he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the LORD God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.


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The Complete Apostles' Bible

Translated by Sir Lancelot C.L. Brenton. Revised and Edited by Paul W. Esposito, and, The English Majority Text Version (EMTV) of the Holy Bible, New Testament. Copyright © 2002-2004 Paul W. Esposito.

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