221 Three years passed without war between Aram and Israel . 2 In the third year Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel . 3 Now the king of Israel said to his servants , "Do you know that Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, and we are still doing nothing to take it out of the hand of the king of Aram ?" 4 And he said to Jehoshaphat , "Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead ?" And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel , " I am as you are, my people as your people , my horses as your horses ." 5 Moreover, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel , "Please inquire first for the word of the Lord ." 6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men , and said to them, "Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle or shall I refrain ?" And they said , "Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king ." 7 But Jehoshaphat said , "Is there not yet a prophet of the Lord here that we may inquire of him?" 8 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat , "There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord , but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil . He is Micaiah son of Imlah ." But Jehoshaphat said , "Let not the king say so ." 9 Then the king of Israel called an officer and said , "Bring quickly Micaiah son of Imlah ." 10 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting each on his throne , arrayed in their robes , at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria ; and all the prophets were prophesying before them. 11 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made horns of iron for himself and said , "Thus says the Lord , ' With these you will gore the Arameans until they are consumed .' " 12 All the prophets were prophesying thus , saying , "Go up to Ramoth-gilead and prosper , for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king ." 13 Then the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying , "Behold now , the words of the prophets are uniformly e favorable to the king . Please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably ." 14 But Micaiah said , " As the Lord lives , what e the Lord says to me, that I shall speak ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Kings 22:1-14
Commentary on 1 Kings 22:1-14
(Read 1 Kings 22:1-14)
The same easiness of temper, which betrays some godly persons into friendship with the declared enemies of religion, renders it very dangerous to them. They will be drawn to wink at and countenance such conduct and conversation as they ought to protest against with abhorrence. Whithersoever a good man goes, he ought to take his religion with him, and not be ashamed to own it when he is with those who have no regard for it. Jehoshaphat had not left behind him, at Jerusalem, his affection and reverence for the word of the Lord, but avowed it, and endeavoured to bring it into Ahab's court. And Ahab's prophets, to please Jehoshaphat, made use of the name of Jehovah: to please Ahab, they said, Go up. But the false prophets cannot so mimic the true, but that he who has spiritual senses exercised, can discern the fallacy. One faithful prophet of the Lord was worth them all. Wordly men have in all ages been alike absurd in their views of religion. They would have the preacher fit his doctrine to the fashion of the times, and the taste of the hearers, and yet to add. Thus saith the Lord, to words that men would put into their mouths. They are ready to cry out against a man as rude and foolish, who scruples thus to try to secure his own interests, and to deceive others.