CHAPTER XXII _Jehoshaphat King of Judah, and Ahab King of Israel, unite_ _against the Syrians, in order to recover Ramoth-gilead_, 1-4. _They inquire of false prophets, who promise them success._ _Micaiah, a true prophet, foretells the disasters of the war_, 5-17. _A lying spirit in the mouths... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 22:4. _WILT THOU GO WITH ME_] We find that there was a good understanding between Jehoshaphat and Ahab, which no doubt was the consequence of a matrimonial alliance between the son of the former, Jehoram, and the daughter of the latter, Athaliah; see 2 Chronicles 18:1; 2 Kings 8:18. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 22:6. _ABOUT FOUR HUNDRED MEN_] These were probably the _prophets of Asherah_ or _Venus_, maintained by Jezebel, who were not present at the contention on Mount Carmel. See 1 Kings 18:19, c.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 22:8. _MICAIAH THE SON OF IMLAH_] The Jews suppose that it was this prophet who reproved Ahab for dismissing Ben-hadad, 1 Kings 20:35, c. And that it was because of the judgments with which he had threatened him, that Ahab hated him: _I hate him, for_ _he doth not prophesy good concern... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 22:9. _THE KING OF ISRAEL CALLED AN OFFICER_] סריס _saris_, literally _a eunuch_; probably a foreigner, for it was not lawful to disgrace an Israelite by reducing him to such a state.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 22:11. _ZEDEKIAH - MADE HIM HORNS OF IRON_] This was in imitation of that sort of prophecy which instructed by significative actions. This was frequent among the prophets of the Lord.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 22:13. _THE WORDS OF THE PROPHETS_ DECLARE _GOOD_] What notion could these men have of _prophecy_, when they supposed it was in the power of the prophet to model the prediction as he pleased, and have the result accordingly?... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 22:15. _GO, AND PROSPER_] This was a strong _irony_; as if he had said, All your prophets have predicted success; you wish me to speak as they speak: _Go, and prosper; for the Lord will deliver_ it _into the hand of the king_. These were the precise words of the false prophets, (see 1... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 22:17. _THESE HAVE NO MASTER_] Here the prophet foretells the defeat of Israel, and the death of the king; they were as _sheep_ that had not a _shepherd_, people that had no _master_, the political _shepherd_ and _master_ (Ahab) shall fall in battle.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 22:19. _I SAW THE LORD SITTING ON HIS THRONE_] This is a mere parable, and only tells in figurative language, what was in the womb of providence, the events which were shortly to take place, the agents employed in them, and the permission on the part of God for these agents to act. Mic... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 22:22. _GO FORTH, AND DO SO._] This is no more than, "God has _permitted_ the spirit of lying to influence the whole of thy prophets; and he now, by my mouth, apprises thee of this, that thou mayest not go and fall at Ramoth-gilead." Never was a man more circumstantially and fairly war... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 23. _THE LORD HATH PUT A LYING SPIRIT_] He hath _permitted_ or _suffered_ a lying spirit to influence thy prophets. Is it requisite again to remind the reader that the Scriptures repeatedly represent God as _doing_ what, in the course of his providence, he only _permits_ or _suffers_ to be don... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 24. _WHICH WAY WENT THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD FROM ME_] This is an expression of as great insolence as the act was of brutal aggression. "Did the Spirit of the Lord, who rests solely upon me, condescend to inspire thee? Was it at this ear [where he smote him] that it entered, in order to hold com... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 25. _WHEN THOU SHALT GO INTO AN INNER CHAMBER_] It is probable that this refers to some Divine judgment which fell upon this deceiver. Hearing of the tragical result of the battle, he no doubt went into a secret place to hide himself from the resentment of Jezebel, and the Israelitish courtier... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 27. _FEED HIM WITH BREAD OF AFFLICTION._] Deprive him of all the _conveniences_ and _comforts_ of life; treat him _severely_; just keep him alive, that he may see my triumph.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 30. _I WILL DISGUISE MYSELF_] Probably he had heard of the orders given by Ben-hadad to his thirty-two captains, _to fight_ _with the king of Israel only_; that is, to make their most powerful attack where he commanded, in order to take him prisoner, that he might lead him captive whose captiv... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 34. _DREW A BOW AT A VENTURE_] It is supposed that he shot, as the archers in general did, not aiming at any person in particular. The word לתמו _lethummo_, which we translate _in his simplicity_, has been variously understood; _in his integrity, his uprightness;_ _in his perfection_; i.e.,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 35. _THE KING WAS STAYED UP_] He did not wish his misfortune should be known, lest his troops should be discouraged.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 36. _EVERY MAN TO HIS CITY_] It appears that the Israelites and Jews maintained the fight the whole of the day; but when at evening the king died, and this was known, there was a proclamation made, probably with the consent of both Syrians and Israelites, that the war was over. Ahab being dead... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 38. _THE DOGS LICKED UP HIS BLOOD_] Some of the rabbins think that this was in the _very place_ where Naboth was stoned; see on 1 Kings 21:19. The _Septuagint_ translates this verse strangely: "And the swine and the dogs licked his blood, and the whores bathed themselves in his blood, accordin... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 39. _IVORY HOUSE_] A royal palace which he built in Samaria, decorated with _ivory_, and hence called the _ivory house_. _Amos_ the prophet speaks against this luxury, Amos 3:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 43. _THE HIGH PLACES WERE NOT TAKEN AWAY_] In 2 Chronicles 17:6, it is expressly said, that he _did take away the high places_. Allowing that the text is right in 2 Chron., the two places may be easily reconciled. There were _two kinds_ of _high places_ in the land: 1. Those used for _idolatr... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 46. _THE REMNANT OF THE SODOMITES_] הקדש _of the consecrated_ _persons_; or it may rather apply here to the _system_ of pollution, effeminacy, and debauch. He destroyed the thing itself; the abominations of Priapus, and the rites of Venus, Baal, and Ashtaroth. No more of that impure worship wa... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 47. THERE WAS _NO KING IN EDOM_] It is plain that the compiler of this book lived after the days of Jehoshaphat, in whose time the Edomites revolted; see 2 Kings 8:22. David had conquered the Edomites, and they continued to be governed by _deputies_, appointed by the kings of Judah, till they... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 22:48. _SHIPS OF THARSHISH TO GO TO OPHIR FOR GOLD_] In the parallel place (2 Chronicles 20:36) it is said that Jehoshaphat joined himself to Ahaziah, _to make ships to go to Tharshish; and they_ _made the ships in Ezion-geber_. Concerning these places, and the voyage thither, see the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 22:49. _BUT JEHOSHAPHAT WOULD NOT._] It appears from the above cited place in Chronicles that Jehoshaphat did join in making and sending ships to Tharshish, and it is possible that what is here said is spoken of a _second_ expedition, in which Jehoshaphat _would_ _not_ join Ahaziah. B... [ Continue Reading ]