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1 Kings Chapter Twenty-two

 

1 Kings 22 Outline of Contents

Micaiah Warns Ahab (v.1~28)

Ahab Dies in Battle (v. 29~40)

Jehoshaphat Reigns in Judah (v. 41~50)

Ahaziah Reigns in Israel (v.51~53)

New King James Version (NKJV)

 

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 22

This chapter relates that after three years' peace with the king of Syria Ahab was inclined to go to war with him to take Ramothgilead out of his hands; and he drew in Jehoshaphat king of Judah to join him in it 1 Kings 22:1 but before they went into it they took advice Ahab of his four hundred prophets which Jehoshaphat not being satisfied with a true prophet of the Lord Micahah was sent for 1 Kings 22:5 who when he came jeered Ahab with what his prophets had said to him; intimated that he should be killed and explained it to him how he came to be deceived by his prophets 1 Kings 22:15 upon which he was smitten on the cheek by Zedekiah one of the false prophets and imprisoned by the order of Ahab 1 Kings 22:24 after which the two kings went to the battle and Jehoshaphat was in great danger of his life; but Ahab was wounded and died 1 Kings 22:29 and the chapter is concluded with an account of the reign of Jehoshaphat king of Judah 1 Kings 22:41 and of Ahaziah king of Israel 1 Kings 22:51.

 

1 Kings 22:1   Now three years passed without war between Syria and Israel.

   YLT  1And they sit still three years there is no war between Aram and Israel

And they continued three years without war between Syria and Israel. From the time that Benhadad made a covenant with Ahab; not three full years but part of them: it was threatened by Elijah from the Lord that Ahab's life should go for Benhadad's because he had let him go 1 Kings 22:42 but because of his humiliation as is thought by Ben Gersom and others it was respited for those three years; and now an opportunity and occasion would be given for the fulfilment of what was threatened.

 

1 Kings 22:2   2 Then it came to pass in the third year that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went down to visit the king of Israel.

   YLT  2and it cometh to pass in the third year that Jehoshaphat king of Judah cometh down unto the king of Israel

And it came to pass in the third year .... Of the peace before it was expired:

that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel; to Ahab from Jerusalem to Samaria reckoned thirty two milesF13Bunting's Travels &c. p. 178. near 40 Rainold. Praelect. 31. col. 266. ; either to make peace with him and put an end to the wars which subsisted between Israel and Judah since the division of the kingdom 1 Kings 22:44 or to contract an affinity with him by marrying his son to a daughter of Ahab 2 Kings 8:18 or rather after peace was made and that strengthened by the marriage; and so he went merely to pay a visit as he judged he might then with great safety; and he and all his retinue were entertained by Ahab in a very sumptuous and liberal manner 2 Chronicles 18:1.

 

1 Kings 22:3   3 And the king of Israel said to his servants “Do you know that Ramoth in Gilead is ours but we hesitate to take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?”

   YLT  3and the king of Israel saith unto his servants `Have ye not known that ours [is] Ramoth-Gilead? and we are keeping silent from taking it out of the hand of the king of Aram!'

 (And the king of Israel said unto his servants .... His nobles those of his privy council his ministers of state; or "had said"F14ויאמר "et dixerat" Junius & Tremellius. some little time before Jehoshaphat came:

know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours a city of refuge beyond Jordan in the tribe of Gad and so of course must belong to the kingdom of Israel of which see Joshua 20:8.

and we be still and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria?) neither demand it nor take any measures to oblige him to deliver it up; representing it as a great omission and as a piece of negligence and slothfulness or cowardice.

 

1 Kings 22:4   4 So he said to Jehoshaphat “Will you go with me to fight at Ramoth Gilead?” Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel “I am as you are my people as your people my horses as your horses.”

   YLT  4And he saith unto Jehoshaphat `Dost thou go with me to battle [to] Ramoth-Gilead?' and Jehoshaphat saith unto the king of Israel `As I am so thou; as my people so thy people; as my horses so thy horses.'

This affair being lately canvassed at the council board and very much on Ahab's mind he puts this question to Jehoshaphat his visitor relation and ally; wisely considering that his own forces were small and that to have such an auxiliary might be of great advantage to him:

and Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel I am as thou art my people as thy people my horses as thy horses; meaning that he and his soldiers foot and horse were at his service.

 

1 Kings 22:5   5 Also Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel “Please inquire for the word of the Lord today.”

   YLT  5And Jehoshaphat saith unto the king of Israel `Seek I pray thee to-day the word of Jehovah;'

And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel inquire I pray thee at the word of the Lord today. Being a pious and religious prince he did not choose to go into a war at once without consulting the Lord by his prophets whether it was his will and pleasure they should engage in it and should prosper; and he was desirous of having this done immediately before they proceeded any further.

 

1 Kings 22:6   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 fight or shall I refrain?” So they said “Go up for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.”

   YLT  6and the king of Israel gathereth the prophets about four hundred men and saith unto them `Do I go against Ramoth-Gilead to battle or do I forbear?' and they say `Go up and the Lord doth give [it] into the hand of the king.'

Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together about four hundred men .... False prophets as the Targum and Arabic version; and they are called Ahab's prophets and not the Lord's 1 Kings 22:23 perhaps these were the prophets of the groves that ate at Jezebel's table and were preserved when the prophets of Baal were destroyed since the number agrees with them see 1 Kings 18:19.

and said unto them shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle or shall I forbear? which would you advise to? signifying he should take their advice:

and they said go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king: which words are very ambiguous like the oracles of the Heathens; for they do not express who or what should be delivered up for the word it is a supplement nor to what king the delivery should be made; whether the Syrians and the place they held should be given up to king Ahab which they would have understood; or whether the Israelites should be delivered up to king Benhadad; so that whichever had been the case the credit of their prophecy would be secured. They used the word "Lord" and not Baal in complaisance to Jehoshaphat and perhaps as directed by Ahab.

 

1 Kings 22:7   7 And Jehoshaphat said “Is there not still a prophet of the Lord here that we may inquire of Him?”[a]

   YLT  7And Jehoshaphat saith `Is there not here a prophet of Jehovah besides and we seek by him?'

And Jehoshaphat said is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides that we might inquire of him? He suspected these to be false prophets though he would not call them so; nor suggest that they were not the prophets of the Lord because he would not affront Ahab who had an opinion of them; and therefore asks if there were no other that went under the character of a prophet of the Lord that he might inquire of him for his further satisfaction.

 

1 Kings 22:8   8 So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat “There is still one man Micaiah the son of Imlah by whom we may inquire of the Lord; but I hate him because he does not prophesy good concerning me but evil.” And Jehoshaphat said “Let not the king say such things!”

   YLT  8And the king of Israel saith unto Jehoshaphat `Yet -- one man to seek Jehovah by him and I have hated him for he doth not prophesy concerning me good but evil -- Micaiah son of Imlah;' and Jehoshaphat saith `Let not the king say so.'

And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat there is yet one man (Micaiah the son of Imlah) by whom we may inquire of the Lord .... And but one in Samaria; Elijah and Elisha were elsewhere:

but I hate him for he doth not prophesy of good concerning me but evil; who is thought to be the same that was several times with him when engaged in the war with the king of Syria 1 Kings 20:13 and each time excepting the last he brought him good tidings; but because in his last message he told him that since he had let Benhadad go his life should go for his life and his people for his people for that he hated him:

and Jehoshaphat said let not the king say so; which was very modestly though perhaps too gently said; suggesting that the prophets of the Lord should be heard respected and honoured let their message be as it would since they spake not of their own mind and will but what they were moved unto by the Spirit of God.

 

1 Kings 22:9   9 Then the king of Israel called an officer and said “Bring Micaiah the son of Imlah quickly!”

   YLT  9And the king of Israel calleth unto a certain eunuch and saith `Hasten Micaiah son of Imlah.'

Then the king of Israel called an officer .... An eunuch as the word is sometimes used one of pages:

and said hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah; who as it seems from 1 Kings 22:26 was in prison where perhaps Ahab had cast him for his last prophecy to him and where he had lain ever since; and this gives a reason why he could so readily send for him knowing where he was.

 

1 Kings 22:10   10 The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah having put on their robes sat each on his throne at a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.

   YLT  10And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah are sitting each on his throne clothed with garments in a threshing-floor at the opening of the gate of Samaria and all the prophets are prophesying before them.

And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne .... In great state and majesty:

having put on their robes; their royal robes which they wore when they appeared in pomp and grandeur:

in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; where courts of judicature were held and there was an open void space for the people to assemble in to hear; the word has the signification of a corn floor and the Jews suppose they and their attendants sat in a semicircle like the half of a corn floor after the same manner in which they say the sanhedrim at Jerusalem satF15T. Bab. Cholin fol. 5. 1. Vid. Kimchium in loc. :

and all the prophets prophesied before them; concerning this affair of going to Ramothgilead.

 

1 Kings 22:11   11 Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made horns of iron for himself; and he said “Thus says the Lord: ‘With these you shall gore the Syrians until they are destroyed.’”

   YLT  11And Zedekiah son of Chenaanah maketh for himself horns of iron and saith `Thus said Jehovah By these thou dost push the Aramaeans till they are consumed;'

And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron .... Horns are emblems of power and might and iron ones of greater strength still; the prophets sometimes made use of visible signs to represent the things they prophesied of should come to pass see Isaiah 20:2 and the same method this prophet took:

and he saith thus saith the Lord; imitating the true prophets: with these shall thou push the Syrians until thou hast consumed them: Abarbinel thinks he had in view the blessing of Joseph by Moses Deuteronomy 33:17 where he is compared to a bullock with horns; and these said to be the ten thousands of Ephraim and the thousands of Manasseh; and Ahab being of the tribe of Joseph and ruling in Ephraim and Manasseh the prophet chose to make use of this emblem for his encouragement.

 

1 Kings 22:12   12 And all the prophets prophesied so saying “Go up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper for the Lord will deliver it into the king’s hand.”

   YLT  12and all the prophets are prophesying so saying `Go up to Ramoth-Gilead and prosper and Jehovah hath given [it] into the hand of the king.'

And all the prophets prophesied so saying go up to Ramothgilead and prosper .... All encouraged the king to go up against this place and prophesied of victory as Zedekiah did:

for the Lord shall deliver it into the king's hand; see Gill on 1 Kings 22:6.

 

1 Kings 22:13   13 Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him saying “Now listen the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king. Please let your word be like the word of one of them and speak encouragement.”

  YLT  13And the messenger who hath gone to call Micaiah hath spoken unto him saying `Lo I pray thee the words of the prophets with one mouth [are] good towards the king; let it be I pray thee thy word as the word of one of them -- and thou hast spoken good.'

And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him .... By the way as they came along together as JosephusF16Antiqu. l. 8. c. 15. sect. 4. observes:

behold now the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth; they are unanimous that he shall prosper in his undertaking against the Syrians:

let thy word I pray thee be like the word of one of them and speak that which is good; which as an ignorant man he might advise to from good will to the prophet that he might not be branded with singularity and a spirit of contradiction and that he might have the favour of the king and be released from prison pitying his miserable condition in which he found him.

 

1 Kings 22:14   14 And Micaiah said “As the Lord lives whatever the Lord says to me that I will speak.”

   YLT  14And Micaiah saith `Jehovah liveth; surely that which Jehovah saith unto me -- it I speak.'

And Micaiah said as the Lord liveth .... He swore by the living God for the confirmation of what he was about to say:

what the Lord saith unto me that will I speak; truly and faithfully keeping nothing back nor adding anything whether it be good or evil pleasing or displeasing; it looks as if as yet he had no instruction from the Lord what to say and yet the vision he later declares seems to have been had by him before 1 Kings 22:17.

 

1 Kings 22:15   15 Then he came to the king; and the king said to him “Micaiah shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead or shall we refrain?”

And he answered him “Go and prosper for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king!”

   YLT  15And he cometh in unto the king and the king saith unto him `Micaiah do we go unto Ramoth-Gilead to battle or do we forbear?' and he saith unto him `Go up and prosper and Jehovah hath given [it] into the hand of the king.'

So he came to the king .... Being introduced by the officer:

and the king said unto him Micaiah shall we go up against Ramothgilead to battle or shall we forbear? the same question in the same words that was put to the other prophets 1 Kings 22:6 only there he uses the singular number here the plural including Jehoshaphat with him:

and he answered him go and prosper: for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king; he answered not in the name of the Lord saying "thus saith the Lord" nor did he speak his own sense and in his own words nor seriously but by way of derision; he took up the words of the prophets and bantered them; it is as if he should say the prophets bid you go and tell you that you shall "prosper" and that the city will be delivered into the king's hand; do as they direct you and see what the issue will be no doubt it will be good since they are all agreed; but he delivered the above words with such gestures and such a tone and with a contemptuous smile in his countenance which showed that he spoke not seriously but sarcastically; and this the king plainly discovered as appears by what follows.

 

1 Kings 22:16   16 So the king said to him “How many times shall I make you swear that you tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?”

   YLT  16And the king saith unto him `How many times am I adjuring thee that thou speak nothing unto me but truth in the name of Jehovah?'

And the king said unto him how many times shall I adjure thee .... Not that he had as yet adjured him at all or not till now; but he asks him how often he must be obliged to do it; and now he adjures him once for all that he might not be forced to repeat it:

that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the Lord? for he observed he did not speak in the name of the Lord before and what he said was not in a serious but ludicrous manner and not to be regarded as truth.

 

1 Kings 22:17   17 Then he said “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said ‘These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.’”

   YLT  17And he saith `I have seen all Israel scattered on the hills as sheep that have no shepherd and Jehovah saith These have no master; they turn back each to his house in peace.'

And he said .... The prophet in a serious and solemn manner being adjured by the king:

I saw all Israel scattered on the hills as sheep that have not a shepherd; the armies of Israel routed dispersed and fleeing some one way and some another on the mountains of Gilead near Ramoth weak and helpless not knowing where to go for safety having none to direct them; and this was either now instantly represented to his mind or what had been before in a dream or vision:

and the Lord said these have no master; these sheep have no shepherd this army hath no general

Israel has lost its king: let them return every man to his house in peace very few slain Jarchi thinks Ahab only see 1 Kings 22:31 that part of the threatening 1 Kings 20:42 was now to he accomplished "thy life shall go for his life" but the other part "and thy people for his people" was to be deferred to another time.

 

1 Kings 22:18   18 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat “Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me but evil?”

   YLT  18And the king of Israel saith unto Jehoshaphat `Have I not said unto thee He doth not prophesy of me good but evil?'

And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat .... Plainly perceiving that the prophet foretold that he should fall in battle:

did not I tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me but evil? intimating that this proceeded from spite and malice from ill will to him and hatred of him and was not from the Lord and therefore not to be regarded; he had told him three years ago his life should go for letting Benhadad go; but it had not proved true and no more would this; and Jehoshaphat being an easy man and too credulous believed what Ahab said of the character of this prophet or otherwise it is not to be accounted for that he should go with him to war after such a declaration made.

 

1 Kings 22:19   19 Then Micaiah said “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His throne and all the host of heaven standing by on His right hand and on His left.

   YLT  19And he saith `Therefore hear a word of Jehovah; I have seen Jehovah sitting on His throne and all the host of the heavens standing by Him on His right and on His left;

And he saith hear thou therefore the word of the Lord .... Since he had represented what he had said as proceeding from hatred to him he would make it clear and plain that what he had said was the word of the Lord and according to his mind; and that what the other prophets had said was owing to a lying spirit in them which the Lord suffered for his ruin; all which are represented as in a vision in which things are brought down to the capacities of men and not as really transacted:

I saw the Lord sitting on his throne; so it was represented to his mind as if he had seen with his bodily eyes the divine Being in a glorious form as a king sitting on his throne to do justice and judgment; as Ahab and Jehoshaphat were now sitting on their thrones only as a far greater King even the King of kings and in a more splendid manner:

and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left the ministering angels ready to do his will.

 

1 Kings 22:20   20 And the Lord said ‘Who will persuade Ahab to go up that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ So one spoke in this manner and another spoke in that manner.

   YLT  20and Jehovah saith Who doth entice Ahab and he doth go up and fall in Ramoth-Gilead? and this one saith thus and that one is saying thus.

And the Lord said who shall persuade Ahab that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead?.... Not that it can be supposed that the Lord entered into a consultation with the angels upon this subject; only that it was the decree of God that he should go thither and fall by the hand of the man whom he had let go as a just punishment of him:

and one said on this manner and another said on that manner; not that there was such an altercation among them; it only signifies that there are various ways and means by which the purposes and decrees of God may be and are brought about.

 

1 Kings 22:21   21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord and said ‘I will persuade him.’

   YLT  21`And the spirit goeth out and standeth before Jehovah and saith I -- I do entice him; and Jehovah saith unto him By what?

And there came forth a spirit .... Not from the heavenly host on the right hand or the left for they are pure and holy spirits and impeccable and cannot lie or deceive; but the evil spirit Satan the father of lies the old deceiver who came forth from his own place and his own company:

and stood before the Lord presented himself before him as Satan did Job 1:6

and said l will persuade him; or prevail upon him; evil spirits love to be employed in doing harm to men they go about seeking whom they may devour. This could not be the spirit of Naboth as the Jews sayF17T. Bab. Sanhedrin fol. 89. 1. & 102. 2. Targum in 2 Chron. xviii. 20. seeking revenge on Ahab; that was in a state of happiness could not move from thence and be capable of sinning.

 

1 Kings 22:22   22 The Lord said to him ‘In what way?’ So he said ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And the Lord said ‘You shall persuade him and also prevail. Go out and do so.’

   YLT  22and he saith I go out and have been a spirit of falsehood in the mouth of all his prophets; and He saith Thou dost entice and also thou art able; go out and do so.

And the Lord said unto him wherewith?.... What way and method did he propose to persuade Ahab to go up to Ramoth? the Lord is introduced in this visionary narrative as asking this question not as ignorant of the scheme of the evil spirit but in order to bring it out and lead on to the following account:

and he said I will go forth and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets; put them on encouraging Ahab to go up and promising him success as he had in former battles with the king of Syria and which might both encourage them to give forth such a prediction and him to believe it to be true; this proposal was quite agreeable to the character of the devil as the father of lies:

and he said thou shalt persuade him and prevail also; not only make use of this artifice to persuade but succeed also; the Lord knew that what he should suggest to the prophets and they should deliver to Ahab would be agreeable to his inclination nor would he do anything in the course of his providence to hinder its taking effect:

go forth and do so; which was giving leave to try his skill in the art of persuasion in which he knew he would succeed and bring on the righteous judgment of God upon Ahab; with this compare John 13:27.

 

1 Kings 22:23   23 Therefore look! The Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours and the Lord has declared disaster against you.”

   YLT  23And now lo Jehovah hath put a spirit of falsehood in the mouth of all these thy prophets and Jehovah hath spoken concerning thee -- evil.'

Now therefore behold the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these thy prophets .... That is suffered the lying spirit to suggest a lie to them and sent them strong delusions to believe that lie whose minds were disposed at any rate to flatter Ahab to whom they told it; which was the way designed to bring him to the ruin appointed for him:

and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee: he had decreed it in himself declared it by Micaiah his prophet and suffered all those steps to be taken by Satan and the false prophets to bring him to it.

 

1 Kings 22:24   24 Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said “Which way did the spirit from the Lord go from me to speak to you?”

   YLT  24And Zedekiah son of Chenaanah draweth nigh and smiteth Micaiah on the cheek and saith `Where [is] this -- he hath passed over -- the Spirit of Jehovah -- from me to speak with thee?'

But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near .... Stepped in haste and passion from the place where he was:

and smote Micaiah on the cheek; in contempt of him and to show his indignation at what he said; this he did in open court before two kings; one he believed would favour and screen him in this lawless action and the other out of his own jurisdiction had not courage and presence of mind to resent it:

and said which way went the Spirit of the Lord from me to speak unto thee? hereby boasting that he had the Spirit of the Lord and was directed by him in what he said and still remained with him and could not possibly go to Micaiah and suggest the very reverse; and therefore pertly asks him which way the spirit went intimating that it was impossible he could steer a course contrary to himself.

 

1 Kings 22:25   25 And Micaiah said “Indeed you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide!”

   YLT  25And Micaiah saith `Lo thou art seeing on that day when thou goest in to the innermost chamber to be hidden.'

And Micaiah said behold thou shalt see in the day when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself. Who would either accompany Ahab to the battle and upon his being wounded flee to the first place of secrecy for safety; or upon the news of his defeat brought to Samaria would betake himself to a private chamber for security fearing the enemy would pursue to the very place; or else through fear of the populace who would attribute the death of the king to the advice of him and the other prophets.

 

1 Kings 22:26   26 So the king of Israel said “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son;

   YLT  26And the king of Israel saith `Take Micaiah and turn him back unto Amon head of the city and unto Joash son of the king

And the king of Israel said .... To some of his officers:

take Micaiah and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city: the chief magistrate under the king; a sort of sheriff who had the care of malefactors and of all committed to prison from whom he was received by the messenger and now sent back to him:

and to Joash the king's son; who might be over his household as sometimes the king's son was 2 Chronicles 26:21 or might be viceroy while the king was without the city and at the gate of it and about to go to war.

 

1 Kings 22:27   27 and say ‘Thus says the king: “Put this fellow in prison and feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction until I come in peace.”’”

   YLT  27and thou hast said Thus said the king Place ye this one in the house of restraint and cause him to eat bread of oppression and water of oppression till my coming in peace.'

And say thus saith the king put this fellow in prison .... In the common prison of the city where he had been before as it seems; and might be now ordered into a more confined place in it and what might be called "little ease":

and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction; with bad bread and foul water and but little of either; just enough to keep alive and to continue starving:

until I come in peace; which he seemed confident of and intimates that then he would punish him more severely even with death as a false prophet.

 

1 Kings 22:28   28 But Micaiah said “If you ever return in peace the Lord has not spoken by me.” And he said “Take heed all you people!”

   YLT  28And Micaiah saith `If thou at all return in peace -- Jehovah hath not spoken by me;' and he saith `Hear O peoples all of them.'

And Micaiah said if thou return at all in peace the Lord hath not spoken by me .... I am content to be reckoned a false prophet and to be punished as such:

and he said hearken O people everyone of you; he called aloud unto them to observe what he had predicted and mark the issue of it and to bear testimony for him or against him as things should be.

 

1 Kings 22:29   29 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead.

   YLT  29And the king of Israel goeth up and Jehoshaphat king of Judah to Ramoth-Gilead.

So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead. Which according to BuntingF18Travels &c. p. 178. was twenty four miles from Samaria. That Ahab went is no wonder it was his own motion first his inclination led to it his prophets encouraged him and in bravado to the prophet of the Lord was determined upon it; but it may seem much more strange that Jehoshaphat should after such an account as Micaiah had given and who doubtless could observe a great difference between him and the prophets of Ahab; and yet there is much to be said which might incline him to go as that there were four hundred prophets all agreed and who made use of the name of the Lord and pretended to be true prophets; and though he might suspect them he could not confute them; and Micaiah he prophesied evil of Ahab only and therefore Jehoshaphat might think himself safe in going; and besides he had given his word to Ahab and he did not choose to go from it; to which may be added that Ahab's cause was just to recover a part of his own dominions.

 

1 Kings 22:30   30 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat “I will disguise myself and go into battle; but you put on your robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

   YLT  30And the king of Israel saith unto Jehoshaphat to disguise himself and to go into battle `And thou put on thy garments.' And the king of Israel disguiseth himself and goeth into battle.

And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat I will disguise myself and enter into the battle .... Change his clothes his royal robes and put on others perhaps the habit of a common soldier; having it may be been informed by some deserters or spies of the design of Benhadad against him. Abarbinel thinks the meaning is that he would clothe himself with a coat of mail and take to him the each of the instruments of war and so go into the battle secure; this seems probable from 1 Kings 22:34 and this he might do to elude the prophecy of Micaiah:

but put thou on thy robes; his royal robes or rather keep them on that he might appear to be the chief commander of the army. There seems to be a good deal of insincerity and treachery in this conduct of Ahab's whatever honour he might pretend to Jehoshaphat or safety he might promise him in such a situation; his view seems to be to save himself at the hazard of the life of Jehoshaphat especially if the Septuagint version could be established "and put on my clothes"; which is natural enough but would have been too barefaced:

and the king of Israel disguised himself and went into the battle; as if he had been a common soldier.

 

1 Kings 22:31   31 Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots saying “Fight with no one small or great but only with the king of Israel.”

   YLT  31And the king of Aram commanded the heads of the charioteers whom he hath -- thirty and two -- saying `Ye do not fight with small or with great but with the king of Israel by himself.'

But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had the rule over his chariots .... This was the number of his kings in the first battle with Israel and of his captains in the second 1 Kings 20:1 and the same number he had now being very probably not only the number of his chariots but the division of his army was into so many battalions under the command of these captains of chariots:

saying fight neither with small nor great; of those that belonged to Jehoshaphat:

save only with the king of Israel; and his men; for it can hardly be thought that his orders were to fight with none nor kill any in the battle but Ahab personally; though it is very probable he might give them directions to aim at him chiefly knowing that if he was killed or taken his army would flee or surrender; and he might be desirous of getting him into his hands as he had been in his; and the rather his spite was against him as he was the mover of the war.

 

1 Kings 22:32   32 So it was when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat that they said “Surely it is the king of Israel!” Therefore they turned aside to fight against him and Jehoshaphat cried out.

   YLT  32And it cometh to pass at the heads of the charioteers seeing Jehoshaphat that they said `He [is] only the king of Israel;' and they turn aside to him to fight and Jehoshaphat crieth out

And it came to pass when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat .... In his royal robes:

that they said surely it is the king of Israel; for they might not know the persons either of Ahab or him but judged by his habit:

and they turned aside to fight against him; pressed upon him with all their force either to take him or slay him:

and Jehoshaphat cried out; with a loud voice either to the captains to let them know who he was or to his men to come to his assistance or rather to God to help and deliver him; since it is said in 2 Chronicles 18:31 that the Lord helped him and moved or inclined the hearts of the captains to depart from him as it follows here.

 

1 Kings 22:33   33 And it happened when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel that they turned back from pursuing him.

   YLT  33and it cometh to pass at the heads of the charioteers seeing that he [is] not the king of Israel that they turn back from after him.

And it came to pass when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel .... Against whom only their orders were to fight:

that they turned back from pursuing him; for upon so great a force coming upon him he could not withstand he fled.

 

1 Kings 22:34   34 Now a certain man drew a bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot “Turn around and take me out of the battle for I am wounded.”

   YLT  34And a man hath drawn with a bow in his simplicity and smiteth the king of Israel between the joinings and the coat of mail and he saith to his charioteer `Turn thy hand and take me out from the camp for I have become sick.'

And a certain man drew a bow at a venture .... Not aiming at the king of Israel or knowing whereabout he was. In the Targum on 2 Chronicles 18:33 this man is said to be Naaman the general of the army of the king of Syria and so Jarchi here; but though he did this in his simplicity as the word signifies without any intention to smite any particular person; yet God directed the arrow to the man he had marked for destruction and neither his disguise nor coat of mail could secure from that:

and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: of which the pieces of armour on him were joined together the higher and lower parts of it the breastplate and what covered the belly; and though these were joined as close as they were capable of joining them in those times yet the arrow guided by divine Providence found its way into his body:

wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot turn thine hand; or hands with which he held the reins and turn the horses on one side:

and carry me out of the host; where the battle was hottest to a place more remote and private that he might have the wound examined and the blood stopped and return again as it seems he did:

for I am wounded; or rather "I am sick"F19החליתי "aegrotare factus sum" Vatablus; "aegrotus factus sum" Junius & Tremellius. or ill as the Targum; somewhat out of order and therefore chose to retire a little while; not caring it should be known that he was smitten and wounded lest his soldiers should be disheartened.

 

1 Kings 22:35   35 The battle increased that day; and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Syrians and died at evening. The blood ran out from the wound onto the floor of the chariot.

   YLT  35And the battle increaseth on that day and the king hath been caused to stand in the chariot over-against Aram and he dieth in the evening and the blood of the wound runneth out unto the midst of the chariot

And the battle increased that day .... It went on and did not stop upon Ahab's going out of the host but was very hot and both sides fought furiously:

and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians: the Targum is

"he strengthened himself and stood;'

he exerted himself to the uttermost and stood as long as he could or could be supported fighting against the Syrians to animate his army and that the Syrians might not have any notion of his being wounded:

and died at even: in his chariot:

and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot; or "bosom"F20אל חיק "ad sinum" Montanus; "in sinum" Vatablus. of it the hollow part of it.

 

1 Kings 22:36   36 Then as the sun was going down a shout went throughout the army saying “Every man to his city and every man to his own country!”

   YLT  36and he causeth the cry to pass over through the camp at the going in of the sun saying `Each unto his city and each unto his land.'

And there went a proclamation throughout the host about the going down of the sun .... Much about the time that Ahab died; and this proclamation by an herald might be made by his order as he was dying or by Jehoshaphat when he understood he was dead:

saying every man to his city and every man to his own country; the order was to cease fighting and make the best of their way as fast as they could to their own homes since their shepherd and master was dead which fulfilled the vision of Micaiah 1 Kings 22:17. It seems to have been a drawn battle at least there is no account of the advantage on either side.

 

1 Kings 22:37   37 So the king died and was brought to Samaria. And they buried the king in Samaria.

   YLT  37And the king dieth and cometh into Samaria and they bury the king in Samaria;

So the king died and they brought him to Samaria .... In the chariot he died in:

and they buried the king in Samaria; where his father Omri was buried 1 Kings 16:28.

 

1 Kings 22:38   38 Then someone washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria and the dogs licked up his blood while the harlots bathed [b] according to the word of the Lord which He had spoken.

   YLT  38and [one] rinseth the chariot by the pool of Samaria and the dogs lick his blood -- when the armour they had washed -- according to the word of Jehovah that He spake.

And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria .... After the body was taken out very likely the chariot driver who drove it into the pool and plunged it into it as the word signifies to cleanse it from the blood of his master:

and the dogs licked up his blood; mixed with the water of the pool; the Septuagint adds "the swine" which is not probable such creatures not being bred in the land of Israel:

and they washed his armour; his coat of mail through the joints of which the blood issued and ran upon it. The word is sometimes used for whores and is so translated here in the Greek version and by Munster and Castalio; and both Ben Gersom and Abarbinel say that women who were harlots washed here in his blood mixed with water; and so JosephusF21Antiqu. l. 8. c. 15. sect. 6. writes that afterwards it was a custom for whores to wash in this pool; though some sayF23See Jarchi & Kimchi in loc. two whores were painted on Ahab's chariot by the order of Jezebel to inflame his lust and these were what were washed; but the word signifies armour or rather ornaments clothes jewels &c.

and now all this was according to the word of the Lord which he spake; both by Elijah that as the dogs licked the blood of Naboth so they should his as they now did though not in the same place; nor was it necessary to fulfil the prophecy; see Gill on 1 Kings 21:19 though some have thoughtF24Kimchi in loc. that his blood mixed with the water of the pool of Samaria was carried in a stream down to Jezreel and there licked by the dogs where Naboth's was; but chiefly what was spoken by Micaiah is here respected that thus Ahab fell at Ramothgilead as he had prophesied 1 Kings 22:17 and his life went for the life of Benhadad as he had before declared 1 Kings 20:42.

 

1 Kings 22:39   39 Now the rest of the acts of Ahab and all that he did the ivory house which he built and all the cities that he built are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

   YLT  39And the rest of the matters of Ahab and all that he did and the house of ivory that he built and all the cities that he built are they not written on the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Now the rest of the acts of Ahab and all that he did and the ivory house which he made .... Which being a very curious and extraordinary thing is particularly mentioned; though perhaps it might not be made wholly of ivory but inlaid with it; we read of ivory houses in Amos 3:15

and all the cities that he built are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? in which the acts of his predecessors were recorded see 1 Kings 14:19 not the Scripture book of Chronicles for there none of these things are related.

 

1 Kings 22:40   40 So Ahab rested with his fathers. Then Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.

   YLT  40And Ahab lieth with his fathers and Ahaziah his son reigneth in his stead.

So Ahab slept with his fathers and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead Of whom more is said in the latter part of this chapter and in the following book.

 

1 Kings 22:41   41 Jehoshaphat the son of Asa had become king over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.

   YLT  41And Jehoshaphat son of Asa hath reigned over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel

And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. And as Ahab reigned twenty two years 1 Kings 16:29 Jehoshaphat must reign about eighteen years with him and seven years after him.

 

1 Kings 22:42   42 Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.

   YLT  42Jehoshaphat [is] a son of thirty and five years in his reigning and twenty and five years he hath reigned in Jerusalem and the name of his mother [is] Azubah daughter of Shilhi.

Jehoshaphat was thirty five years old when he began to reign and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem .... So that he must be sixty years of age when he died:

and his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi; but of what family they were is not said.

 

1 Kings 22:43   43 And he walked in all the ways of his father Asa. He did not turn aside from them doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord. Nevertheless the high places were not taken away for the people offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.

   YLT  43And he walketh in all the way of Asa his father he hath not turned aside from it to do that which [is] right in the eyes of Jehovah; only the high places have not turned aside yet are the people sacrificing and making perfume in high places.

And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father .... Who was a good prince:

he turned not aside from doing that which was right in the eyes of the Lord; in his moral conversation religious worship and civil government:

nevertheless the high places were not taken away for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places; he took away the high places and groves for idolatrous worship 2 Chronicles 17:6 but not the high places in which sacrifices were offered to the Lord which ought to have been especially since the temple was built; and those in the tribes of Judah and Benjamin were altogether inexcusable being near to the temple and under no restraint as those of the ten tribes were; but the people were fond of them because of their antiquity and it was difficult for religious princes to remove them if inclined.

 

1 Kings 22:44   44 Also Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.

   YLT  44And Jehoshaphat maketh peace with the king of Israel;

And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel. First with Ahab with whom he contracted an affinity and joined with him in his expedition to Ramothgilead and with Ahaziah his successor.

 

1 Kings 22:45   45 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat the might that he showed and how he made war are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

   YLT  45and the rest of the matters of Jehoshaphat and his might that he got and with which he fought are they not written on the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah?

And all the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat and all his might that he showed and all his wars are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel? Many of them are recorded in the canonical book of Scripture which bears the name of Chronicles; and more might be in this referred to out of which might be taken what God has thought fit to transmit to future times; see 2 Chronicles 17:1.

 

1 Kings 22:46   46 And the rest of the perverted persons [c] who remained in the days of his father Asa he banished from the land.

   YLT  46And the remnant of the whoremongers who were left in the days of Asa his father he took away out of the land;

And the remnant of the Sodomites which remained in the days of his father Asa he took out of the land. His father Asa removed many of these filthy creatures but not all; as many no doubt as came within his knowledge but some remained whom this his son removed being of the same disposition with his father see 1 Kings 15:12.

 

1 Kings 22:47   47 There was then no king in Edom only a deputy of the king.

   YLT  47and there is no king in Edom; he set up a king.

There was then no king in Edom a deputy was king. Which had been the case from the times of David who subdued Edom and placed garrisons in it and governors over it 2 Samuel 8:14 and continued through the reign of Jehoshaphat unto the times of his son under whom the Edomites revolted and set up a king of their own 2 Kings 8:20 with a view to which this is observed as also to account for it how Jehoshaphat could build ships in Eziongeber which was in the land of Edom of which in the next verse because the whole country was governed by a viceroy or deputy under him.

 

1 Kings 22:48   48 Jehoshaphat made merchant ships[d] to go to Ophir for gold; but they never sailed for the ships were wrecked at Ezion Geber.

   YLT  48Jehoshaphat made ships at Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold and they went not for the ships were broken in Ezion-Geber.

Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish .... Ships to go to sea particularly the Indian sea 1 Kings 10:22. Tarshish is used for the sea in general Psalm 48:7 in the Cetib or text it is "ten"; in the Keri or margin it is "made" which we follow and may be put together as in the Tigurine version and read "he made ten ships to go by sea":

even to go to Ophir for gold; as Solomon did; of which place see 1 Kings 9:28

but they went not for the ships were broken at Eziongeber; the port where they were built: as soon as they were launched or sailed they were broken to pieces against the rocks near the harbour which stood up like a man's backbone whence the port had its name; See Gill on 1 Kings 9:26 and if this was Calzem as there observed near to it was a dangerous place for ships and where many were lost and is supposed to be the place where Pharaoh and his host were drownedF25Vid. Geograph. Nub. Climat. 3. par. 3. in fine. ; the reason of this shipwreck was because Jehoshaphat joined himself with Ahaziah king of Israel for which he was reproved by the prophet Eliezer and this was his punishment 2 Chronicles 20:35.

 

1 Kings 22:49   49 Then Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat “Let my servants go with your servants in the ships.” But Jehoshaphat would not.

   YLT  49Then said Ahaziah son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat `Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships;' and Jehoshaphat was not willing.

Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat .... Who very probably had built some more ships on his own having broke off his partnership with Ahaziah:

let my servants go with thy servants in the ships; since he was refused a part in the ships themselves he desires leave to send men aboard them to traffic for him abroad:

but Jehoshaphat would not; having been reproved by a prophet of the Lord and had suffered the loss of his ships by joining with him already.

 

1 Kings 22:50   50 And Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the City of David his father. Then Jehoram his son reigned in his place.

   YLT  50And Jehoshaphat lieth with his fathers and is buried with his fathers in the city of David his father and Jehoram his son reigneth in his stead.

And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father .... In the city of Sion where David Rehoboam Abijam and Asa were buried:

and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead; who was now thirty two years of age and he reigned ten years.

 

1 Kings 22:51   51 Ahaziah the son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah and reigned two years over Israel.

   YLT  51Ahaziah son of Ahab hath reigned over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah and reigneth over Israel two years

Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah .... It is observed that Jehoshaphat began to reign in the fourth year of Ahab and Ahab reigned twenty two years see 1 Kings 22:41 and therefore Ahab's son must begin to reign in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat; but perhaps he was made king in his father's lifetime before he went on his expedition to Ramothgilead or Ahab's reign was not twenty two years complete:

and reigned two years over Israel; not complete as appears from 2 Kings 3:1.

 

1 Kings 22:52   52 He did evil in the sight of the Lord and walked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat who had made Israel sin;

   YLT  52and doth the evil thing in the eyes of Jehovah and walketh in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam son of Nebat who caused Israel to sin

Which evil was idolatry:

and walked in the way of his father; his father Ahab who worshipped Baal:

and in the way of his mother; his mother Jezebel who was still living and served Baal and Astarte the deities of her country:

and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat; who set up and worshipped the golden calves:

who made Israel to sin; by the worship of the same into which he drew them by his example and authority.

 

1 Kings 22:53   53 for he served Baal and worshiped him and provoked the Lord God of Israel to anger according to all that his father had done.

   YLT  53and serveth the Baal and boweth himself to it and provoketh Jehovah God of Israel according to all that his father had done.

For he served Baal and worshipped him .... That is Ahaziah served him as his father had done and his mother still did:

and provoked to anger the Lord God of Israel according to all that his father had done; of which there is an instance in the first chapter of the following book; for falling through a lattice and becoming sick upon it he quickly died having sent messengers to inquire of the god of Ekron whether he should die or not.

 

──John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible

 

New King James Version (NKJV)

Footnotes:

  1. 1 Kings 22:7 Or him
  2. 1 Kings 22:38 Syriac and Targum read they washed his armor.
  3. 1 Kings 22:46 Hebrew qadesh that is one practicing sodomy and prostitution in religious rituals
  4. 1 Kings 22:48 Or ships of Tarshish