1 Kings 22 - Introduction
_AHAB, SEDUCED BY FALSE PROPHETS, IS SLAIN AT RAMOTH-GILEAD: THE DOGS LICK UP HIS BLOOD. JEHOSHAPHAT'S GOOD REIGN: HE IS SUCCEEDED BY JEHORAM, AND AHAB BY AHAZIAH._ _Before Christ 897._... [ Continue Reading ]
_AHAB, SEDUCED BY FALSE PROPHETS, IS SLAIN AT RAMOTH-GILEAD: THE DOGS LICK UP HIS BLOOD. JEHOSHAPHAT'S GOOD REIGN: HE IS SUCCEEDED BY JEHORAM, AND AHAB BY AHAZIAH._ _Before Christ 897._... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PROPHETS TOGETHER, ABOUT FOUR HUNDRED MEN— It is clear enough, from the 7th and 23rd verses, that these were idolatrous and false prophets; most probably the worshippers of Baal, and the tools of Ahab and Jezebel. Some have thought, since the number so exactly hits, that these false prophets wer... [ Continue Reading ]
ZEDEKIAH—MADE HIM HORNS OF IRON— It was by these actions that the prophets instructed the people in the will of God, and conversed with them in signs; but where God teaches the prophet, and, in compliance with the custom of the times, condescends to the same mode of instruction, then the significati... [ Continue Reading ]
GO, AND PROSPER: FOR THE LORD SHALL DELIVER, &C.— Supposing Micaiah had spoken in earnest, his answer does not at all contradict the other prophets: but the words, it is most likely, were spoken ironically, and in mockery to the equivocal promises which the other prophets made to Ahab. Accordingly,... [ Continue Reading ]
I SAW THE LORD SITTING ON HIS THRONE, &C.— The following passage must be considered as a lively and affecting parable. The prophets who came to Ahab were not the LORD'S prophets, but _Ahab's._ They spake at all adventures what they presumed would please him, like fawning parasites and flattering syc... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE CAME FORTH A SPIRIT— That evil being, named Satan, was little known to the Jewish people till their captivity; and then this history was taught openly as a security against the doctrine of the _two principles._ The Jewish law-giver, where he so frequently enumerates and warns the Israelites of... [ Continue Reading ]
FIGHT NEITHER WITH SMALL NOR GREAT— Ben-hadad might give this order, either in policy, supposing this to be the best and readiest way to put an end to the war, or with a design to take Ahab prisoner, that thereby he might wipe out the stain of his own captivity, and recover the honour and advantages... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE WAS THEN NO KING IN EDOM; A DEPUTY WAS KING— This is inserted to give us the reason why Jehoshaphat might build ships in the port of Ezion-geber, which was in the territories of the Edomites; namely, that there were no kings in Edom from the time that David had conquered the Edomites, but that... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT JEHOSHAPHAT WOULD NOT— In the parallel place, 2 Chronicles 20:36. Jehoshaphat is blamed by the prophet for having joined himself with Ahaziah in building ships. Commentators endeavour by various methods to solve this difficulty. Houbigant reads it, אבה ולו _velo abah, he consented._ Or, rather w... [ Continue Reading ]