1 Kings 22:1-5

I. FAITHLESS AHAB AND FEARLESS MICAIAH 22:1-40

Against the earnest protestations of a faithful prophet, the foolhardy Ahab organized a military campaign to try and recapture the Transjordan border town of Ramoth-gilead which was held by the forces of Benhadad. In this futile effort Ahab lost his life. The historian relates here (1) the proposal for the campaign (1 Kings 22:1-5); (2) the predictions of the court prophets (1 Kings 22:6-12), and (3) of Micaiah (1 Kings 22:13-28) regarding the campaign; and finally (4) the death of Ahab at Ramoth-gilead (1 Kings 22:29-38). To this account is appended a concluding note about the reign of Ahab (1 Kings 22:39-40).

A. THE PROPOSAL FOR THE CAMPAIGN 22:1-5

TRANSLATION

(1) And they continued for three years; there was no war between Aram and the children of Israel. (2) And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went down unto the king of Israel. (3) Now king of Israel said unto his servants, Do you know that Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, and we are still doing nothing to take it from the hand of the king of Aram? And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Will you go with me to fight against Ramoth-gilead? And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, I am as you, my people as your people, my horses as your horses. (5) And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Inquire, I pray you, at the word of the LORD today.

COMMENTS

Following the second defeat of Benhadad, the Arameans and Israelites remained at peace for over two years.[491] It was during this period that a new power, Assyria, made its presence felt in the ancient Near East. In 853 B.C. Shalmaneser made a push westward through Syria that caused consternation and alarm in the various petty states of that region. An anti-Assyrian coalition was formed to which both Ahab and Benhadad contributed forces.[492] In the famous battle of Qarqar the coalition successfully withstood the Assyrian onslaught and forced the invaders to withdraw. The common danger from the Assyrians had caused a temporary suspension of hostilities between Aram and Israel (1 Kings 22:1).

[491] According to the Hebrew system of time reckoning, any time over two years would be called three years. 1 Kings 22:2 clearly shows that the events in chapter 22 took place in the third year and thus before the completion of that year.

[492] The Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser relates that Ahab contributed ten thousand footmen and two thousand chariots to this war effort.

After the battle of Qarqar, in the third year of the peaceful relations between the two countries, King Jehoshaphat came down from the mountain-top city of Jerusalem to visit Ahab in Samaria (1 Kings 22:2). This would appear to be the first time that the monarchs of the sister kingdoms had met, except in battle, since the schism of 931 B.C. three quarters of a century earlier.[493] It was perhaps the growing power, first of Damascus, and then of Assyria, that caused Israel and Judah to enter into an alliance with one another. Probably the invitation to visit Samaria had been extended to Jehoshaphat for ulterior motives. Benhadad, it seems, had failed to comply with his treaty obligations to return to Israel the cities which had previously been captured by his father (cf. 1 Kings 20:34). Ahab knew he was powerless to enforce the terms of the treaty single-handedly without the help of his Southern ally whose military organization at this time must have been substantial (cf. 2 Chronicles 17:10-19).

[493] The marriage of Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat, with Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, had taken place some years before this date. Cf. 2 Chronicles 18:1-2.

The focal point of Ahab's concern was the fortress of Ramothgilead located west of the sea of Galilee on the frontier with Aram. Though belonging to Israel, this city had been and continued to remain in the possession of Benhadad in flagrant violation of the treaty of Aphek. Thus far Ahab had remained still, i.e., he had said or done nothing about the situation, for fear of stirring up the wrath of his powerful northern adversary (1 Kings 22:3).

During the course of Jehoshaphat's royal visit, Ahab broached the question of a possible joint campaign to recapture Ramoth-gilead. The alliance between the two kingdoms was new, and Ahab probably wondered how this proposal would strike the pious prince of Judah. Whereas Jehoshaphat should have forthrightly refused aid to Ahab (cf. 2 Chronicles 19:2), he instead at once expressed his enthusiastic interest[494] in engaging in this war (1 Kings 22:4). Probably Jehoshaphat feared the growing power of Damascus and considered that it would be in his own best interest to dislodge Benhadad from his stronghold in Gilead. Being the godly man that he was, Jehoshaphat insisted that the will of the Lord be sought regarding the proposed project[495] (1 Kings 22:5).

[494] On the basis of this verse some have proposed that Jehoshaphat was a vassal of Ahab rather than an ally of equal rank. However, Jehoshaphat's answer may simply be the result of oriental diplomatic courtesy. The statement is not to be taken literally. The fact that Jehoshaphat was given a free choice to accompany Ahab would seem to indicate that he was an ally and not a vassal. See Gray, OTL, p. 449.
[495] The word today in 1 Kings 22:5 should not be overlooked. The thought is: even if you are not generally accustomed to inquire the word of the Lord, kindly do it on this occasion.