2 Chronicles 18:5
2 Chronicles 18:5 in Multiple Translations
So the king of Israel assembled the prophets, four hundred men, and asked them, “Should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should we refrain?” “Go up,” they replied, “and God will deliver it into the hand of the king.”
Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the king’s hand.
Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the hand of the king.
So the king of Israel got together all the prophets, four hundred men, and said to them, Am I to go to Ramoth-gilead to make war or not? And they said, Go up: for God will give it into the hands of the king.
So the king of Israel brought out the prophets—four hundred of them—and he asked them, “Should we go up and attack Ramoth-gilead, or should I not?” “Yes, go ahead,” they replied, “for God will hand it over to the king.”
Therefore the King of Israel gathered of Prophets foure hundreth men, and sayde vnto them, Shall we goe to Ramoth Gilead to battel, or shall I cease? And they sayd, Go vp: for God shall deliuer it into the Kings hand.
And the king of Israel gathereth the prophets, four hundred men, and saith unto them, 'Do we go unto Ramoth-Gilead to battle, or do I forbear?' And they say, 'Go up, and God doth give [it] into the hand of the king.'
Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?” They said, “Go up, for God will deliver it into the hand of the king.”
Therefore the king of Israel collected of prophets four hundred men, and said to them, Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the king's hand.
So the king of Israel gathered together of the prophets four hundred men, and he said to them: Shall we go to Ramoth Galaad to fight, or shall we forbear? But they said: Go up, and God will deliver it into the king’s hand.
So the king of Israel gathered all his 400 prophets and asked them, “Should we go to attack the people of Ramoth city, or should we not do that?” They replied, “Yes, go and attack them because God will enable your army to defeat them.”
Berean Amplified Bible — 2 Chronicles 18:5
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2 Chronicles 18:5 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — 2 Chronicles 18:5
Study Notes — 2 Chronicles 18:5
- Context
- Cross References
- 2 Chronicles 18:5 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 2 Chronicles 18:5
- Trapp's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 18:5
- Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 18:5
- Cambridge Bible on 2 Chronicles 18:5
- Whedon's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 18:5
- Sermons on 2 Chronicles 18:5
Context — Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahab
5So the king of Israel assembled the prophets, four hundred men, and asked them, “Should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should we refrain?” “Go up,” they replied, “and God will deliver it into the hand of the king.”
6But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not still a prophet of the LORD here of whom we can inquire?” 7The king of Israel answered, “There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me, but only bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” “The king should not say that!” Jehoshaphat replied.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 Timothy 4:3 | For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. |
| 2 | Micah 3:11 | Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster can come upon us.” |
| 3 | Jeremiah 28:1–17 | In the fifth month of that same year, the fourth year, near the beginning of the reign of King Zedekiah of Judah, the prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, who was from Gibeon, said to me in the house of the LORD in the presence of the priests and all the people: “This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. Within two years I will restore to this place all the articles of the house of the LORD that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon removed from here and carried to Babylon. And I will restore to this place Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, along with all the exiles from Judah who went to Babylon,’ declares the LORD, ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’” Then the prophet Jeremiah replied to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the LORD. “Amen!” Jeremiah said. “May the LORD do so! May the LORD fulfill the words you have prophesied, and may He restore the articles of His house and all the exiles back to this place from Babylon. Nevertheless, listen now to this message I am speaking in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people. The prophets of old who preceded you and me prophesied war, disaster, and plague against many lands and great kingdoms. As for the prophet who prophesies peace, only if the word of the prophet comes true will the prophet be recognized as one the LORD has truly sent.” Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke off the neck of Jeremiah the prophet and broke it. And in the presence of all the people Hananiah proclaimed, “This is what the LORD says: ‘In this way, within two years I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon off the neck of all the nations.’” At this, Jeremiah the prophet went on his way. But shortly after Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke off his neck, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: “Go and tell Hananiah that this is what the LORD says: ‘You have broken a yoke of wood, but in its place you have fashioned a yoke of iron.’ For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations to make them serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and they will serve him. I have even given him control of the beasts of the field.’” Then the prophet Jeremiah said to the prophet Hananiah, “Listen, Hananiah! The LORD did not send you, but you have persuaded this people to trust in a lie. Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. You will die this year because you have preached rebellion against the LORD.’” And in the seventh month of that very year, the prophet Hananiah died. |
| 4 | Jeremiah 23:17 | They keep saying to those who despise Me, ‘The LORD says that you will have peace,’ and to everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart, ‘No harm will come to you.’ |
| 5 | Micah 2:11 | If a man of wind were to come and say falsely, “I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,” he would be just the preacher for this people! |
| 6 | Jeremiah 38:14–28 | Then King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah the prophet and received him at the third entrance to the house of the LORD. “I am going to ask you something,” said the king to Jeremiah. “Do not hide anything from me.” “If I tell you,” Jeremiah replied, “you will surely put me to death. And even if I give you advice, you will not listen to me.” But King Zedekiah swore secretly to Jeremiah, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has given us this life, I will not kill you, nor will I deliver you into the hands of these men who are seeking your life.” Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “This is what the LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you indeed surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, then you will live, this city will not be burned down, and you and your household will survive. But if you do not surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, then this city will be delivered into the hands of the Chaldeans. They will burn it down, and you yourself will not escape their grasp.’” But King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “I am afraid of the Jews who have deserted to the Chaldeans, for the Chaldeans may deliver me into their hands to abuse me.” “They will not hand you over,” Jeremiah replied. “Obey the voice of the LORD in what I am telling you, that it may go well with you and you may live. But if you refuse to surrender, this is the word that the LORD has shown me: All the women who remain in the palace of the king of Judah will be brought out to the officials of the king of Babylon, and those women will say: ‘They misled you and overcame you— those trusted friends of yours. Your feet sank into the mire, and they deserted you.’ All your wives and children will be brought out to the Chaldeans. And you yourself will not escape their grasp, for you will be seized by the king of Babylon, and this city will be burned down.” Then Zedekiah warned Jeremiah, “Do not let anyone know about this conversation, or you will die. If the officials hear that I have spoken with you, and they come and demand of you, ‘Tell us what you said to the king and what he said to you; do not hide it from us, or we will kill you,’ then tell them, ‘I was presenting to the king my petition that he not return me to the house of Jonathan to die there.’” When all the officials came to Jeremiah and questioned him, he relayed to them the exact words the king had commanded him to say. So they said no more to him, for no one had overheard the conversation. And Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard until the day Jerusalem was captured. |
| 7 | Ezekiel 13:3–16 | This is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, yet have seen nothing. Your prophets, O Israel, are like foxes among the ruins. You did not go up to the gaps or restore the wall around the house of Israel so that it would stand in the battle on the Day of the LORD. They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ when the LORD did not send them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message. Haven’t you seen a false vision and spoken a lying divination when you proclaim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ even though I have not spoken? Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Because you have uttered vain words and seen false visions, I am against you, declares the Lord GOD. My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and speak lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of My people or be recorded in the register of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD. Because they have led My people astray, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and whitewashing any flimsy wall that is built, tell those whitewashing the wall that it will fall. Rain will come in torrents, I will send hailstones plunging down, and a windstorm will burst forth. Surely when the wall has fallen, you will not be asked, ‘Where is the whitewash with which you covered it?’ Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: In My wrath I will release a windstorm, and in My anger torrents of rain and hail will fall with destructive fury. I will tear down the wall you whitewashed and level it to the ground, so that its foundation is exposed. The city will fall, and you will be destroyed within it. Then you will know that I am the LORD. And after I have vented My wrath against the wall and against those who whitewashed it, I will say to you: ‘The wall is gone, and so are those who whitewashed it— those prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw a vision of peace for her when there was no peace, declares the Lord GOD.’ |
| 8 | 2 Chronicles 18:20–21 | Then a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ ‘By what means?’ asked the LORD. And he replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ ‘You will surely entice him and prevail,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’ |
| 9 | 1 Kings 18:19 | Now summon all Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel, along with the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel’s table.” |
| 10 | Jeremiah 23:14 | And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: They commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns his back on wickedness. They are all like Sodom to Me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.” |
2 Chronicles 18:5 Summary
[This verse shows how the king of Israel asked four hundred prophets if he should go to war against Ramoth-gilead, and they all told him to go, saying God would give him the victory, as seen in 2 Chronicles 18:5. However, this unanimous advice may not have been from God, as warned against in Jeremiah 23:16. The king's decision to follow their advice, without seeking God's will through prayer and His Word, can serve as a reminder to us to seek God's guidance in our own decisions, as encouraged in Proverbs 3:5-6. By comparing the prophets' words to Scripture, as advised in Acts 17:11, we can discern if their message is from God or not.]
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the king of Israel assemble four hundred prophets to ask for their advice?
The king of Israel assembled the prophets to seek their counsel and guidance before going to war against Ramoth-gilead, as seen in 2 Chronicles 18:5, likely seeking a unified voice to support his decision, similar to how King Saul sought the counsel of the prophet Samuel in 1 Samuel 28:6.
What was the response of the four hundred prophets to the king's question?
The prophets told the king to 'go up' to war against Ramoth-gilead, assuring him that 'God will deliver it into the hand of the king', as stated in 2 Chronicles 18:5, which may have been a message the king wanted to hear, but not necessarily a message from God, as warned against in Jeremiah 23:16.
Is it always wise to follow the advice of a large group of spiritual leaders?
No, it is not always wise to follow the advice of a large group of spiritual leaders, as seen in 2 Chronicles 18:5, where the four hundred prophets gave unanimous but potentially misguided advice, highlighting the importance of seeking God's will through prayer and His Word, as encouraged in Psalm 119:105 and Proverbs 3:5-6.
How can we discern if a prophet or spiritual leader is speaking God's truth or their own opinion?
We can discern if a prophet or spiritual leader is speaking God's truth by comparing their words to Scripture, as advised in Acts 17:11, and looking for a consistent message of repentance, faith, and obedience to God's commands, as seen in Deuteronomy 13:1-5 and Isaiah 8:20.
Reflection Questions
- What are some times in my life when I have sought the counsel of many people, and how did that turn out?
- How can I balance the desire for unified advice from spiritual leaders with the need to seek God's will through personal prayer and Bible study?
- In what ways can I be more discerning when listening to spiritual leaders, and how can I ensure that I am following God's truth rather than human opinion?
- What are some potential dangers of following a large group of spiritual leaders without questioning their advice, and how can I avoid these pitfalls in my own life?
Gill's Exposition on 2 Chronicles 18:5
Trapp's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 18:5
Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 18:5
Cambridge Bible on 2 Chronicles 18:5
Whedon's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 18:5
Sermons on 2 Chronicles 18:5
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Spirit of a True Prophet - Part 2 by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon transcript, the preacher discusses a sermon given by P. Nicholson, who emphasized the theme of repentance. The preacher describes how Nicholson's preaching had a pow |
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(Men Who Met God): Elijah - "The Lord Leviticus Before Whom I Stand" by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the concept of finding reality and how sin often prevents us from experiencing it. He explores the inner conflict within humans, where the di |
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(Clip) the Gospel Will Soon Be Hate Speech by Francis Chan | This sermon discusses the potential future challenges Christians may face in a changing world where public forums could be restricted and labeled as hate speech. Drawing parallels |
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Audio Sermon: Last Days Deception by David Wilkerson | This sermon emphasizes the dangers of the gospel of accommodation, which adapts and adjusts the message of the Gospel to suit the desires and weaknesses of sinful men. It warns aga |
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Survive the Great Depression by Andrew Strom | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the stark contrast between two gospels, one aligned with Jesus' teachings and the other preaching unscriptural and opposite beliefs. The spe |
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(Exodus) Exodus 32:26-28 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the speaker addresses the issue of liberalism infiltrating the church and causing a decline in its influence. He recalls a personal experience of witnessing a young |
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Apostasy/healing/prosperity? by Zac Poonen | This sermon delves into 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, emphasizing the warning about the last days and the deception that will lead many Christians astray. It highlights the danger of |







