AHAB AND JEHOSHAPHAT UNITE TO REGAIN RAMOTH-GILEAD FOR ISRAEL AND AHAB LEARNS FROM A PROPHET OF YHWH THAT THEY WILL BE SUCCESSFUL BUT THAT HE WILL DIE IN THE ATTEMPT (1 KINGS 22:1). Ahab's life has been one of continual contact with prophets of YHWH as YHWH has sought to win him back to true obedie... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FINAL FATE OF AHAB IS SEALED (1 KINGS 22:1). As we have seen, prophets have featured all through Ahab's reign, and here they feature to the end. Ahab could never argue that he had not been given a chance. God gave him plenty of chances. But in the end even his repentance proved to be temporary,... [ Continue Reading ]
“ And YHWH said, ‘Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.” What Micaiah was trying to give here was an explanation of the prophesying of the false prophets, and he did it in striking picture terms. His aim, in... [ Continue Reading ]
“ And YHWH said to him, ‘How?' And he said, ‘I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And he said, ‘You will entice him, and will also prevail. Go forth, and do so.' ” Micaiah had far too high a view of God to actually believe that YHWH needed help and guidance... [ Continue Reading ]
“ Now therefore, behold, YHWH has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets, and YHWH has spoken evil concerning you.” Micaiah then explained the meaning of his parable. He very much saw God as the ‘first cause' of everything, simply because He was sovereign over all things. He thu... [ Continue Reading ]
“ And say, ‘Thus says the king, put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with food of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.' ” The king's command was that ‘this fellow' be fed and watered sparsely until Ahab safely returned in full health. Then, his prophecy having prov... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FAILURE OF THE SUBTERFUGE TO PREVENT THE FULFILMENT OF MICAIAH'S PROPHECY (1 KINGS 22:30). With what Micaiah had prophesied in mind Ahab was determined to demonstrate that he was wrong. Both he and Jehoshaphat had heard the prophecy, and he thus suggested to Jehoshaphat that in the light of it... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BATTLE FOR RAMOTH-GILEAD AND THE DEATH OF AHAB (1 KINGS 22:30) The prophetic author is not really interested in the details of the battle. His concern is with the failure of the subterfuge which sought to prevent the fulfilment of Micaiah's prophecy, and with the subsequent death of Ahab and hi... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DEATH OF AHAB AND YHWH'S ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE DISPOSAL OF HIS BLOOD (1 KINGS 22:35). To his credit Ahab recognised that his absence from the battlefield would be a blow to his army's morale, and having had his wound patched up, returned in his chariot into the fray, having in some way been prov... [ Continue Reading ]
AHAB'S OBITUARY (1 KINGS 22:39). Ahab's experiences with the prophets now end with the usual final summary. Anyone interested in his achievements and his secular history could consult the court annals of Israel which had clearly been preserved and brought to Judah. The author was only marginally in... [ Continue Reading ]
THE REIGN OF JEHOSHAPHAT, KING OF JUDAH C. 870-848 BC (1 KINGS 22:41). We have already come across Jehoshaphat with regard to his alliance with Ahab against the Aramaeans (1 Kings 22:1), although that incident was mainly connected with the conflict between Ahab and Micaiah the prophet. (We will also... [ Continue Reading ]
THE REIGN OF AHAZIAH KING OF ISRAEL C. 853-852 BC (1 KINGS 22:51 - 2 KINGS 1:18). Ahaziah, Ahab's son and king of Israel, only had a short reign of a few months (two part years) but he amply succeeded during that short time in displeasing YHWH and bringing his wrath on him. He did this by walking i... [ Continue Reading ]