2 Chronicles 18
HAWEIS2 Chronicles 18:1-3
Here is, 1. The alliance ‘Jehoshaphat controlled with Ahab, ver. 1, 2. An expedition against Ramoth-gilead prophets, ver. 3. That imploring with the prophets, Jaffa and true, before they went, ver. 4—27. 4. Their defeat, ‘Jehoshaphat’s danger, and Ahab’s death, ver. 28—34.
- NOW ‘Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab. 2. And after certain years, he went down to Ahab to the murals: and Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth-gilead. 3. And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth-gilead? And he answered him, “I am as thou art, and my people as thy people, and we will be with thee in the war.”
Jehoshaphat’s growing greatness made the king of Israel probably desirous of his alliance, and Jehoshaphat too readily consented. An Israelitish princess seemed an eligible match for his son, and he might hope to make some advantage of it, by recovering the house of Israel to the service of God, or the kingdom to his publicity. The connection, however, proved dangerous to himself, and ruinous to his family. The first had effect produced by it, was his involving himself in a war with the Syrians, in complaisance to Ahab, who, having nobly constrained him at Samaria, drew him in to be his auxiliary for the recovery of Ramoth-gilead. Note, (1.) Marriages founded on pride and worldly mind-stones cannot fail of bringing misery along with them. (2.) The strongest expressions of friendship from a wicked man, are to be suspected; at bottom he means to serve only himself.
- ¶ And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, ‘Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day. 5. 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. 6. But Jehoshaphat said, ‘Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him? 7. And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man by whom we may enquire of the LORD: ‘but I hear him, for he never prophesieth good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so. 8. And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla. 9. And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah, far either of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat in a 2 void place at the entring in of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets prophesied before them. 10. And Zechakah the son of Cheesamah, had made him horns of iron, and said, Thus faith the LORD, With these thou shalt puth Syria, until they be consumed. 11. And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and proper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king. 12. And the messenger that went to call Micaiah, spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent: let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good. 13. And Micaiah said, As the LORD loveth, even what my God faith, that will I speak. 14. And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, ‘Go ye up, and proper, and they shall be delivered into your hand. 15. And the king said to him, How many times shall I assure thee that thou lay nothing but the truth to me, in the name of the LORD? 16. Then he said, ‘I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as there that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, ‘Thee have no matter; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace. 17. (And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?) 18. Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the
host
The first of heaven standing on his right hand, and on his left. 19. And the Lord said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner. 20. Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? 21. And he said, I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the LORD said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so. 22. Now therefore behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit into the mouth of the thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee. 23. Then Zechekiah the son of Chemanah came near, and ‘smore Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me, to speak unto thee? 24. And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt be on that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself. 25. Then the king of Israel said, ‘Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joath the king’s son: 26. And say, Thus saith the king, ‘Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction, and with water of affliction, until I return in peace. 27. And Micaiah said, ‘If thou certainly return in peace, then hath not the LORD spoken by me. And he said, ‘Hearken all ye people.
2 Chronicles 18:4-27
For this, see 1 Kings xxii. We may only farther remark, (1.) How needful it is to consult God in all our ways. (2.) When for worldly ends we maintain fellowship with those who are enemies to God, for fear of offending, we shall hear often what we dare not rebuke, and countenance by our pretence what we were bound to condemn. (3.) Faithful prophets are few, false prophets numerous. It becomes us to beware of following the multitude, and attach ourselves to the faithful few. (4.) They who love prophets that properly smooth things, and hate plain dealing, are justly given up to their own divisions. (5.) Suffering for the truth’s sake, is the hereditary portion of God’s ministers. (6.) The day is coming, when the dequised word of God’s prophets shall be fulfilled, and their enemies too late will wonder and perish.
- So the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, went up to Ramoth-gilead. 29. And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, ‘I will disguise myself, and will go to the battle, but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disquised himself, and they went to the battle. 30. Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that were with him, laying, Fight ye not with small or great, save only with the king of Israel. 31. And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel: therefore they compelled about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him, and God moved them to depart from him. 32. For it came to pass, that when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel: they turned back again from this part of the king of Israel: they turned back again from this part of the king of Israel: they turned back again from this part of the king of Israel: they turned back again from this part of the king of Israel: they turned back again from this part of the king of Israel: they turned back again from this part of the king of Israel: they turned back again from this part of the king of Israel: they turned back again from this part of the king of Israel: they turned back again from this part of the king of Israel: they turned back again from this part of the king of Israel: they turned back again from this part of the king of Israel: they turned back
2 Chronicles 18:28-34
Ahab pretends to honour Jehoshaphat, but in fact to expose him; so deceitful are the kisses of an enemy: but God turns his wicked devices on his own head. Jehoshaphat by divine interposition escapes, whilst Ahab falls in his disguised, and his armour is no protection from the arrow God shoots against the perlocutors. Man in vain contrives to escape, when God hath determined his fall. There is neither careful nor might against the Lord.