CHAPTER XVIII _Jehoshaphat joins affinity with Ahab, king of Israel_, 1, 2; _who invites him to assist him in the war against the Syrians,_ _to which Jehoshaphat agrees_, 3. _They consult the prophets concerning the success of the war;_ _and all, except Micaiah, promise Ahab victory_, 4-17. _M... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 18:3. _TO RAMOTH-GILEAD_] This place belonged to the Israelites, and was now held by the king of Syria. The whole of this chapter is circumstantially explained in the notes on 1 Kings 22:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 18:9. _THE KING OF ISRAEL AND JEHOSHAPHAT_] "Ahab consulted false prophets; but Jehoshaphat sought instruction from the presence of the Lord, and prayed at the entering in of Samaria; and before these all the false prophets prophesied lies." - _Targum_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 18:20. _THEN THERE CAME OUT A SPIRIT_] The _Targum_ gives a strange gloss here: "Then the spirit of Naboth of Jezreel came out from the abode of the righteous, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will deceive him. And the Lord said, By what means? To which he answered, I will b... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 18:29. _I WILL DISGUISE MYSELF_] 1 Kings 22:30.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 18:31. _BUT JEHOSHAPHAT CRIED OUT_] "Jehoshaphat cried, and the WORD of the Lord brought him assistance." - _Targum_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 18:33. A CERTAIN _MAN DREW A BOW_] The _Targum_ tells us _who_ it was. "Now, Naaman, the captain of the host of the great king of Syria, drew a bow against him, (that the prophecy of Elijah the Tishbite, and of Micaiah the son of Imla, might be fulfilled,) and smote the king of Is... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 18:34. _STAYED_ HIMSELF _UP - AGAINST THE SYRIANS_] There was a great deal of true personal courage and patriotism in this last act of the king of Israel: he well knew that if his troops found that he was mortally wounded, they would immediately give way, and the battle would not... [ Continue Reading ]