_A.M. 3105. B.C. 899._ Ahab invites Jehoshaphat to join in recovering Ramoth-Gilead, 1 Kings 22:1. His false prophets promise him success, 1Ki 22:5, 1 Kings 22:6. He sends for Micaiah, 1 Kings 22:7. Further promises, 1 Kings 22:11; 1 Kings 22:12. Micaiah's uprightness and prediction, 1 Kings 22:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
_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 r... [ Continue Reading ]
_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 r... [ Continue Reading ]
_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 th... [ Continue Reading ]
_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... [ Continue Reading ]
_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 o... [ Continue Reading ]
_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... [ Continue Reading ]
_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; a... [ Continue Reading ]
_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 n... [ Continue Reading ]
_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_... [ Continue Reading ]
_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... [ Continue Reading ]
_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... [ Continue Reading ]
_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 h... [ Continue Reading ]
_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,... [ Continue Reading ]
_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 pr... [ Continue Reading ]
_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... [ Continue Reading ]
_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 p... [ Continue Reading ]
_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 S... [ Continue Reading ]
_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_ U... [ Continue Reading ]
_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 t... [ Continue Reading ]
_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 s... [ Continue Reading ]
_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... [ Continue Reading ]
_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... [ Continue Reading ]
_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 dr... [ Continue Reading ]
_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 abo... [ Continue Reading ]
_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 Micai... [ Continue Reading ]
_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!... [ Continue Reading ]
_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... [ Continue Reading ]
_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 o... [ Continue Reading ]
_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... [ Continue Reading ]
_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... [ Continue Reading ]
_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.... [ Continue Reading ]
_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 Th... [ Continue Reading ]
_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... [ Continue Reading ]
_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... [ Continue Reading ]