2 Chronicles 18:1-3 (cp. 1 Kings 22:1-4). The Alliance between Jehoshaphat and Ahab 1. _joined affinity_ Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat married Athaliah the daughter of Ahab (2Ki 8:16; 2 Kings 8:18; 2 Kings 8:26). Athaliah though called "daughter" of Omri in 2 Kings 8:26 was really his grand-daught... [ Continue Reading ]
_killed sheep and oxen_ This phrase implies a _feast_, for flesh is eaten in the East only on festal occasions. The phrase used for supplying necessary food is _to set bread and water before one_. _that_he had _with him_ R.V. THAT WERE WITH HIM. _and persuaded him_ R.V. AND MOVED HIM. The meaning... [ Continue Reading ]
_and_we will be _with thee in the war_ In 1 Kin. the corresponding phrase is, _my horses as thy horses_. The Chronicler makes the words of Jehoshaphat a definite promise. The phrases In 1 Kin. _need_not be more than the expression of oriental politeness. At the present day the Arab says to his guest... [ Continue Reading ]
(1 Kings 22:5-28). The Prophecy of Micaiah 4. _Jehoshaphat_ Cp. 2 Kings 3:11. _Inquire … at the word_ Cp. Daniel 2:10 (A.V.), "no king … asked such things at any magician." The use of "at" after verbs of asking is obsolete.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore the king_of _Israel gathered together of prophets_ R.V. THEN THE KING OF ISRAEL GATHERED THE PROPHETS TOGETHER. These no doubt were prophets of Jehovah (not of Baal); cp. 2 Chronicles 18:4 and note on 2 Chronicles 18:6. _Shall we go … or shall I forbear?_ in 1 Kin., "Shall I go … or shal... [ Continue Reading ]
Is there _not here a prophet of the Lord besides_ Or, HATH NOT THE LORD HERE YET ANOTHER PROPHET. The unanimity of the four hundred prophets aroused the suspicion of Jehoshaphat.... [ Continue Reading ]
_prophesied good unto me_ R.V. PROPHESIETH GOOD CONCERNING ME (similarly 1 Kin.).... [ Continue Reading ]
_called for one_of his _officers_ R.V. CALLED AN OFFICER. The Heb. word means "eunuch." From 1 Samuel 8:15 we may perhaps conclude that such officers were known in Israel from the very beginning of the monarchy. Cp. 1 Chronicles 28:1, note.... [ Continue Reading ]
_either of them … clothed_ R.V. EACH … ARRAYED. _in a void place_at _the entering in_ Render, IN A THRESHINGFLOOR AT THE ENTRANCE. The threshingfloor was convenient as being a large flat open space; cp. Gen 50:10; 1 Chronicles 13:9; 1 Chronicles 21:18 ff.... [ Continue Reading ]
_made him horns of iron_ For a similar use of symbolic action by a prophet cp. Jeremiah 27:2 (also 2 Chronicles 28:10). For the meaning of the phrase cp. Amos 6:13, "Have we not taken to us horns?" i.e. "Have we not acquired military power?" _thou shalt push_ Cp. Deuteronomy 33:17. So Rameses II is... [ Continue Reading ]
_with one assent_ R.V. WITH ONE MOUTH (so Heb. here and 1 Kin.).... [ Continue Reading ]
_even what my God saith_ Render, SURELY, WHAT MY GOD SHALL SAY. The divine message has not yet come to the prophet.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Go ye up … into your hand_ Micaiah addresses both kings. In 1 Kin. Ahab only is addressed, _Go and prosper, for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king_. Micaiah repeats in mocking tones the utterance of the other prophets.... [ Continue Reading ]
_that thou say nothing but the truth to me_ R.V. THAT THOU SPEAK UNTO ME NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH. The tone of scorn in Micaiah's voice was noticed by the king.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then he said, I did see_ Render, AND HE SAID, I SEE. _the Lord said, These have no master_ Render, THE LORD HATH SAID, THESE HAVE A MASTER WHO IS NO MASTER. Ahab was no shepherd, but a spoiler of his people. To translate as A.V. and R.V. translate, is to strain the meaning of the Heb., and to refe... [ Continue Reading ]
_Again he said_ R.V. AND HE SAID. There are three stages in the prophet's dealings with the king, (1) irony in 2 Chronicles 18:14, (2) serious advice in 2 Chronicles 18:16, (3) denunciation of death in 2 Chronicles 18:18-22. _I saw_ Render, I SEE. The vision comes to the prophet as he stands before... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who shall entice Ahab_ So 1 Kin. (R.V.). The same Heb. word is used in Jeremiah 20:7, "thou hast deceived (mg. -enticed") me," where Jeremiah complains that he has been called to the fruitless labour of a hated prophet. For the underlying thought that delusion is sometimes a preliminary part of Div... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then there came out_ R.V. AND THERE CAME FORTH. _a spirit_ Heb. _the spirit_, but the definite art. simply singles out one spirit from the rest. The Evil Spirit (Heb. "the Satan") is not meant here.... [ Continue Reading ]
_go out_ R.V. GO FORTH.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Zedekiah_ He takes the lead as in 2 Chronicles 18:10. _smote … upon the cheek_ This phrase is tantamount to "gave an insulting blow"; cp. Micah 5:1; Matthew 5:39.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, thou shalt see_ Micaiah answers Zedekiah's gibe with the verb "see" (rather than "know") because of its double meaning, "Behold, thou shalt be a seer, thou shalt possess the power of vision" _when it is too late_. _go into an inner chamber_ "Seek safety in hiding from enemies"; cp. 1 Kings... [ Continue Reading ]
_carry him back_ Micaiah is not to accompany the expedition, having foretold its failure.... [ Continue Reading ]
_bread of affliction … water of affliction_ Cp. Ezekiel 4:9-11.... [ Continue Reading ]
_If thou certainly return in peace_ R.V. IF THOU RETURN AT ALL IN PEACE (so 1 Kin.). _Hearken, all ye people_ R.V. HEAR, YE PEOPLES, ALL OF YOU. The "peoples" represented at this gathering were probably, Israel, Judah, Edom, and Moab. The phrase occurs in Micah 1:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
(1 Kings 22:29-37). The Death of Ahab at Ramoth-Gilead 29. _I will disguise myself_ Ahab's proposal is that he himself (disguised) should take part in the fighting, and that Jehoshaphat in royal robes should remain in the rear. Thus Ahab would be doubly protected, i.e. by his disguise and by the ch... [ Continue Reading ]
_the captains of the chariots that_were _with him_ R.V. THE CAPTAINS OF HIS CHARIOTS. _Thirty-two_in number (1 Kin.). While the rest of the Syrian army met the Israelite attack, the chariots were to act as an independent force, whose primary task should be to kill or capture Ahab. The king of Syria... [ Continue Reading ]
_saw Jehoshaphat … to fight_ Render, SAW JEHOSHAPHAT, (NOW THEY SAID, IT IS THE KING OF ISRAEL!) THAT THEY TURNED ABOUT AGAINST HIM TO FIGHT. The captains of the chariots obeying the orders given them made a circuit in order to reach the rear of the Israelite army where Jehoshaphat was stationed. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
_And a_certain _man drew a bow_ Render, BUT A CERTAIN MAN HAD DRAWN A BOW. God had already brought about that which the Syrians were labouring to perform. _at a venture_ Better, as mg., IN HIS SIMPLICITY, i.e. without knowing that he was aiming at Ahab. Cp. 2 Samuel 15:11. _between the joints of t... [ Continue Reading ]
_stayed_himself _up in_his _chariot_ 1 Kin. _was stayed up_. The expression in Chron. probably means that Ahab by his continued presence on the field stayed his army from retreat until sundown. Ahab sustained his reputation as a good soldier (cp. 1 Kings 20:14; 1 Kings 22:31) to the last; his death... [ Continue Reading ]