1 Kings 22
BSA1 Then three [a period of completeness] years passed without [absence of, no] war [battle or conflict] between [in the midst of, among] Aram [Syria, the region] and Israel [God’s chosen people, the descendants of Jacob]. word study 2 However, in the third [in the course of three years, during the third year] year, Jehoshaphat [Jehovah has judged] king [royal ruler, monarch] of Judah [the tribe descended from Judah, son of Jacob] went down [to go down, descend] to visit [to see, to pay respects] the king [ruler, monarch] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants], word study 3 who said to his servants, “Do you not know [are you not aware, have you not learned] that Ramoth-gilead [a city in the region of Gilead, our rightful inheritance] is ours, but we have failed [been negligent, remained silent] to take [capture, reclaim] it from the hand [power, control] of the king of Aram [Syria, the Aramean kingdom]?” word study 4 So he asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you go [to battle, to war] with me to fight [to make war, to engage in combat] against Ramoth-gilead [a city in Gilead, a place of conflict]?” Jehoshaphat answered the king [the ruler, the sovereign] of Israel, “I am like you, my people [my nation, my community] are your people, and my horses [my cavalry, my chariots] are your horses.” word study 5 But Jehoshaphat [the Lord has judged] also said to the king [ruler, monarch] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, God’s chosen people], “Please [I pray, I beseech] inquire [seek, ask, consult] first [before proceeding, at the outset] for the word [message, command, counsel] of the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God].” word study 6 So the king [ruler, monarch] of Israel assembled [gathered, brought together] the prophets [spokesmen for God, messengers], about four hundred men, and asked them, “Should I go to war [battle, fight] against Ramoth-gilead [a city in Gilead, a region east of the Jordan], or should I refrain [cease, stop]?” “Go up [ascend, rise],” they replied, “and the Lord [Adonay, the supreme God] will deliver [give, hand over] it into the hand [power, control] of the king [ruler, monarch].” word study 7 But Jehoshaphat [the king of Judah, a righteous leader] asked, “Is there not [perhaps] still a prophet [one who speaks for God, a spokesperson] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] here [in this place, among us] of whom we can inquire [seek guidance, ask for counsel]?” word study 8 The king [ruler, monarch] of Israel answered, “There is still [yet, remaining] one man who can ask [seek, inquire of] the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], but I hate [detest, have hostility towards] him because he never prophesies [speaks by divine inspiration] anything good [beneficial, pleasant] for me, but only [exclusively] bad [evil, harmful]. He is Micaiah [who is like God] son of Imlah.” “The king should not [must not, ought not] say that!” Jehoshaphat [Jehovah has judged] replied. word study 9 So the king [ruler, monarch] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants] called [to summon, invoke] one [a single, unique] of his officials [eunuch, high-ranking officer] and said, “Bring [to fetch, hasten] Micaiah [who is like God] son [descendant, offspring] of Imlah [an Israelite who lived during the Divided Monarchy period] at once [quickly, without delay, to hasten].” word study 10 Dressed in royal attire [wearing their robes, clothed with garments], the king [a ruler] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob] and Jehoshaphat [a king of Judah] king of Judah [the tribe descended from Judah] were sitting [dwelling or remaining] on their thrones [a seat of power] at the threshing floor [an open area for separating grain] by the entrance [a doorway] of the gate [a city entrance] of Samaria [the capital city of Israel], with all [everything] the prophets [spokespersons for God] prophesying [speaking under divine influence] before them [in their presence]. word study 11 Now Zedekiah [son of a notable father, Chenaanah] son of Chenaanah had made for himself iron [a strong metal] horns and declared, “This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: ‘With these [instruments of war] you shall gore [push, thrust with force] the Arameans [Syrians, people of the region] until they are finished off [consumed, completely destroyed].’” word study 12 And all [every single one] the prophets [those who speak for God] were prophesying [speaking under the divine spirit] the same, saying [declaring, commanding], “Go up [ascend, rise] to Ramoth-gilead [a location east of the Jordan River] and prosper [succeed, be victorious], for the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] will deliver [give, hand over] it into the hand [power, control] of the king [the ruler, monarch].” word study 13 Then the messenger [an ambassador, an envoy] who had gone to call Micaiah instructed him, “Behold now [look, see, take notice], with one accord [united, in agreement] the words [prophetic declarations, divine messages] of the prophets [spokesmen for God, seers] are favorable [good, beneficial, pleasant] to the king [royal ruler, monarch]. So please [I pray, kindly] let your words [spoken messages, declarations] be like theirs [similar, in agreement], and speak [declare, proclaim] favorably [with a positive, uplifting message, good things].” word study 14 But Micaiah said, “As surely as the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] lives [is alive, has eternal life], I will speak [declare, proclaim] whatever the LORD [the supreme God] tells [speaks to, communicates with] me [as His prophet, messenger].” word study 15 When Micaiah [the prophet, having God’s message] arrived, the king [ruler, monarch] asked him, “Micaiah, should we go [march, proceed] to war [battle, conflict] against Ramoth-gilead [a city in Gilead], or should we refrain [cease, desist]?” “Go up [ascend, rise] and triumph [be victorious, prosper],” Micaiah replied, “for the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] will give [deliver, bestow] it into the hand [power, authority] of the king [ruler, monarch].” word study 16 But the king [ruler, monarch] said to him, “How many times [on how many occasions, repeatedly] must I make you swear [take an oath, vow] not to tell me anything but [except, only] the truth [faithfulness, stability] in the name [reputation, character] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God]?” word study 17 So Micaiah declared: “I saw [in a vision, perceived] all Israel [the descendants of Jacob] scattered [dispersed, broken apart] on the hills [mountains, high places] like sheep [a flock, the people of God] without [lacking, having no] a shepherd [leader, guide]. And the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] said, ‘These people [this nation, Israel] have no [lack, are without] master [lord, ruler]; let each one [every individual, each person] return [turn back, go back] home [to their house, their place] in peace [shalom, completeness and wellness].’” word study 18 Then the king [ruler, monarch] of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he never prophesies [speaks under divine influence, foretells] good [pleasant, beneficial] for me, but only [exclusively, solely] bad [evil, morally wrong, harmful]?” word study 19 Micaiah continued, “Therefore [in light of this] hear [listen and obey] the word [message, decree] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]: I saw [perceived, had a vision of] the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] sitting [dwelling, enthroned] on His throne [seat of power, authority], and all [the entire host] the host [army, heavenly beings] of heaven [the spiritual realm, the sky] standing [arrayed, positioned] by Him on His right [side of honor, south] and on His left [side of lesser honor, north]. word study 20 And the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said, ‘Who [what person, which one] will entice [deceive, persuade] Ahab [the king of Israel, a wicked ruler] to march up [to ascend, go up] and fall [be defeated, die] at Ramoth-gilead [a location east of the Jordan River, a place of battle]?’ And one suggested [said, spoke] this [in this manner], and another that [in that way, thus]. word study 21 Then a spirit [a supernatural being, the breath of life] came forward, stood before the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], and said, ‘I will entice [deceive, persuade] him.’ ‘By what means [what, how, or why]?’ asked the LORD. word study 22 And he replied, ‘I will go out [as a spirit of deception] and be a lying spirit [of falsehood, a deceiving influence] in the mouths [lips, words] of all his prophets [spokespersons, messengers].’ ‘You will surely entice [deceive, persuade] him and prevail [be able, overcome],’ said the LORD [the supreme God, Yehovah]. ‘Go [come out, depart] and do [accomplish, make] it.’ word study 23 So you see, the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has put a lying [deceptive, false] spirit [breath of life, mind and emotions] in the mouths [lips, edge of something] of all [everything, every single one] these prophets [spokespersons for God, true and false] of yours, and the LORD has pronounced [spoken, communicated] disaster [evil, bad, adversity] against you [upon, above, with respect to].” word study 24 Then Zedekiah [son of a noble father, Chenaanah] son of Chenaanah went up, struck Micaiah in the face [on the cheek, a sign of contempt], and demanded, “Which way did the Spirit [the divine breath] of the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] go when He departed from me [left my presence, ceased to guide me] to speak with you [to communicate, to reveal His will to you]?” word study 25 Micaiah replied, “You will soon see [on that day of reckoning], on that day [of judgment] when you go [to flee, to escape] and hide [to conceal yourself, to be in secret] in an inner room [a private chamber, a secret place].” word study 26 And the king [ruler, monarch] of Israel [God’s chosen people] declared, “Take [seize, apprehend] Micaiah [who is like God, a prophet] and return [send back, turn back] him to Amon [a leader, governor] the governor [ruler, leader] of the city [town, urban area] and to Joash [given by the Lord, a king’s son] the king’s [royal, monarch’s] son, word study 27 and tell them that this is what the king [ruler, monarch] says: ‘Put this man in [the place of confinement, prison house] prison and feed him only bread [with bread of affliction, food of oppression] and water [water of distress, water of oppression] until I return [in peace, safely, without harm] safely.’” word study 28 But Micaiah replied, “If [on the condition that] you ever return [turn back, come again] safely [in peace, unharmed], the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] has not spoken [communicated, uttered] through me.” Then he added, “Take heed [listen, pay attention], all [every one of] you people [nations, assemblies]!” word study 29 So the king [ruler, monarch] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants] and Jehoshaphat [Jehova has judged, a king of Judah] king [royal person, monarch] of Judah [the tribe descended from Judah, son of Jacob] went up [to ascend, rise] to Ramoth-gilead [a location east of the Jordan River, a significant place]. word study 30 And the king [ruler, monarch] of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise [hide, conceal] myself and go into battle [war, conflict], but you wear [put on, clothe yourself with] your royal robes [garments, attire].” So the king of Israel disguised [changed his appearance, hid] himself and went into battle [the fight, the war]. word study 31 Now the king [ruler, monarch] of Aram [also known as Syria] had ordered [commanded, given charge to] his thirty-two [two and thirty] chariot commanders [captains, leaders], “Do not fight [engage in battle, wage war] with anyone [regardless of size or importance], small or great, except [save only, unless it is] the king [monarch, ruler] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants].” word study 32 When the chariot [war vehicle, cavalry] commanders [leaders, captains] saw Jehoshaphat [Jehovah has judged], they said, “Surely [certainly, indeed] this is the king [ruler, monarch] of Israel [God’s chosen people]!” So they turned [to depart, to remove] to fight [to battle, to war] against him, but Jehoshaphat [having God’s judgment] cried out [to shout, to call for help]. word study 33 And when the [captains, rulers] chariot [vehicle, team of horses] commanders saw [perceived, looked after] that he was not [lacking, absent] the king [royal person, monarch] of Israel [Jacob’s descendants, God’s people], they turned back [returned, reversed direction] from pursuing [chasing, following after] him. word study 34 However, a certain [random, without special aim] man drew his bow [at a venture] without taking special aim, and he struck the king [ruler, monarch] of Israel [God’s chosen people] between the joints [connections, links] of his armor [breastplate, protective gear]. So the king said to his charioteer [driver, horseman], “Turn around [reverse direction, go back] and take me out of the battle [war, fight], for I am badly [severely, grievously] wounded [hurt, injured]!” word study 35 The battle raged [increased, became more violent] throughout that day, and the king [of Israel] was propped up [stood, stayed] in his chariot [vehicle, war-carriage] facing [before, against] the Arameans [Syrians, people of Aram]. And the blood [life-giving fluid, symbol of life] from his wound [injury, blow] ran out [poured, flowed] onto the floor [bosom, bottom] of the chariot, and that evening [at sunset, in the late afternoon] he died [passed away, met his end]. word study 36 As the sun [the sun; the east or the west] was setting, the cry [a loud, ringing cry, often used to express joy, praise, or triumph] rang out in the army [camp, a group of people]: “Every man [a male person or individual] to his own city [a place with a wall or a watchman], and every man to his own land [the soil or ground, a country, territory, or region]!” word study 37 So the king [Ahab, the ruler of Israel] died [passed away, came to an end] and was brought [taken, carried back] to Samaria [the capital city, watch mountain], where they buried [laid to rest, interred] him [the king, the monarch]. word study 38 And the chariot [vehicle of war, royal carriage] was washed [cleaned, purified] at the pool [reservoir, bathing place] of Samaria [watch mountain, capital city] where the prostitutes [immoral women, idolatrous ones] bathed [washed themselves, practiced ritual cleansing], and the dogs [despised animals, scavengers] licked up Ahab’s blood [life force], according to the word [divine message, prophecy] that the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] had spoken [declared, commanded]. word study 39 As for the rest [remainder, excess] of the acts [deeds, accomplishments] of Ahab [a king of Israel who lived a long time ago], along with all [everything, the entirety] his accomplishments [achievements, feats] and the ivory [from the tooth, a valuable material] palace [house, dwelling place] and all [every] the cities [towns, settlements] he built [constructed, established], are they not written [recorded, inscribed] in the Book [scroll, written document] of the Chronicles [events, history] of the Kings [rulers, monarchs] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people]? word study 40 And Ahab [the king of Israel, son of Omri] rested [slept, died, lay down] with his fathers [ancestors, forefathers], and his son [descendant, offspring] Ahaziah [Jehovah holds or sustains] reigned [ruled, governed, was in power] in his place [stead, position, as his successor]. word study 41 In the fourth [specific, appointed] year of Ahab’s [a king of Israel, married to Jezebel] reign [to rule, have dominion] over Israel, Jehoshaphat [Jehova is judge] son [descendant, offspring] of Asa became [to begin, start] king [monarch, ruler] of Judah [the tribe descended from Judah, the son of Jacob]. word study 42 Jehoshaphat [son of thirty and five years, a mature leader] was thirty-five years old [at the prime of his life] when he became king, and he reigned [ruled with authority, exercised sovereign power] in Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital of Judah] twenty-five years [a quarter of a century, a significant period of time]. His mother’s name [identity, character] was Azubah [forsaken, abandoned, yet redeemed] daughter [female child, descendant] of Shilhi [an Israelite, a member of God’s people]. word study 43 And Jehoshaphat walked [in all the ways of his life] in all the ways of his father Asa; he did not turn away from them, but did what was right [just, straight, and pleasing to God] in the eyes [the gaze, the judgment] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God]. The high places [pagan altars, idolatrous shrines], however, were not removed [taken away, eliminated]; the people still sacrificed [offered, made offerings] and burned incense [made perfume, offered fragrant smoke] on the high places. word study 44 Jehoshaphat [in addition] also made peace [a covenant of friendship, harmony] with the king [ruler, sovereign] of Israel [the nation, God’s people]. word study 45 As for the rest [remainder, what is left] of the acts [deeds, accomplishments] of Jehoshaphat [Jehova-judged, God has judged], along with the might [power, strength] he exercised [demonstrated, showed] and how he waged [fought, conducted] war [battles, conflicts], are they not written [recorded, documented] in the Book [scroll, chronicle] of the Chronicles [history, accounts] of the Kings [rulers, monarchs] of Judah [praise, worship]? word study 46 He banished [expelled, removed completely] from the land the male shrine prostitutes [cult prostitutes, sodomites] who remained [were left, still present] from the days of his father Asa [his predecessor, the former king]. word study 47 And there was no king [ruler, sovereign] in Edom; a deputy [appointed ruler] served as king [governed, ruled]. word study 48 Jehoshaphat [the king of Judah] built ships [seagoing vessels, Tarshish-ship] of Tarshish [a distant port, Tharshish] to go [sail, travel] to Ophir [a region of gold, a place of wealth] for gold [precious metal, treasure], but they never set sail [went not, didn’t go], because they were wrecked [broken, shattered] at Ezion-geber [a port city]. word study 49 At that time [during this period, in those days] Ahaziah [king of Israel] son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat [the king of Judah, a righteous leader], “Let my servants [my men, my crew] sail [go, travel] with your servants [your men, your fleet],” but Jehoshaphat [the king, a wise leader] refused [would not, was unwilling, declined]. word study 50 And Jehoshaphat [slept with his ancestors, died] rested with his fathers [ancestors, predecessors] and was buried [laid to rest, entombed] with them in the city [town, metropolis] of his father David [the king of Israel, his ancestor]. And his son [offspring, descendant] Jehoram [Jehovah exalted, son of Jehoshaphat] reigned [ruled, governed] in his place [stead, position]. word study 51 In the seventeenth year [seventeenth anniversary, after sixteen years] of Jehoshaphat’s [Jehova-judged, God has judged] reign [rule, kingdom] over Judah, Ahaziah [God holds, my God sustains] son of Ahab became king [ruler, monarch] of Israel, and he reigned [ruled, exercised authority] in Samaria [watch mountain, capital city] two years [a short period, twenty-four months]. word study 52 And he did evil [wickedly, sinful acts] in the sight [presence, before] of the LORD [Yehovah, the one true God] and walked [followed, conformed to] in the ways [paths, customs] of his father [Ahab, a wicked king] and mother [Jezebel, an idolatrous queen] and of Jeroboam [the son of Nebat, a rebellious leader] son of Nebat, who had caused [led, seduced] Israel [God’s chosen people] to sin [disobey, rebel against God]. word study 53 Ahaziah served [as a worshipper, in obedience] and worshiped [with reverence, in devotion] Baal [a false god, an idol], provoking [to anger, offending] the LORD [Yehovah, the one true God], the God [Elohim, the supreme Deity] of Israel [the chosen people, the nation], to anger [wrath, indignation], just as his father [his ancestor, his predecessor] had done [committed, practiced]. word study