Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
1 Kings 22:23
“ 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 thus knew that in the end everything that happened was ‘God's doing'. But the point was that that was because He had created man and was allowing him to live out what he was. He was allowing man's behaviour within His sovereign purpose, not instigating it.
“God has spoken evil concerning you.” That is, through the false prophets He has allowed them to hear lies about the future (but has combated it by sending His true prophet).
‘ Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, “Which way went the Spirit of YHWH from me to speak to you?” '
Infuriated at Micaiah's suggestion that he was not a true prophet Zedekiah came near and struck Micaiah across the cheek. This was a regular way of indicating that such a person was not to be listened to and had spoken lies. (Compare how Jesus was struck across the cheek when replying to the High Priest - John 18:22). Then he called on Micaiah to justify his statement. Did he not realise that all, as they had watched, had been able to see that he, Zedekiah, had been ‘filled with the spirit of YHWH' by his very behaviour and actions. Let Micaiah then explain how that spirit had passed on from him to Micaiah. There was nothing about Micaiah's behaviour which indicated possession by such a spirit.
‘ And Micaiah said, “Behold, you will see on that day, when you shall go into an inner chamber to hide yourself.” '
Micaiah's reply was simple. The true evidence of the spirit of prophecy was that what was prophesied came about (Deuteronomy 18:22). Thus when Zedekiah had to go to his inner room in order to hide himself because of his shame at the failure of his own prophecy, (and knew that Micaiah had spoken truly) he would know the answer to his own question.
‘ And 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,”
Ahab recognised that what Micaiah was saying would destroy the morale of the army and immediately commanded that he be held in custody. He was to be put in the charge of Amon the governor of the city, and of Joash the king's son until Ahab arrived back safely. Ahab would have had a good number of sons by his many wives, all having their own royal duties to fulfil in different areas of government. Joash was clearly the son, possibly of a concubine, appointed to be seen as responsible for the safe custody of state prisoners.