1 Kings 22

1 Kings 22:1

jCjlND they continued three years. Not complete, but part of three years. (See 2 Chron. xviii. 2.) Without war between Syria and Israel.] Though God was very angry with Israel, and intended to plague them by the Syrians; yet his anger being deferred for some time upon Ahab’s humiliation, Elijah did not cause Hazael to be anointed king of Syria, who was to be the executioner of God’s wrath, because it was prolonged for the reason now named. Thus Abarbinel.

1 Kings 22:2

And it came to pass that, in the third year, Jehoshaphat king qf Judah came down to the king of Israel. For there was an affinity made between him and Ahab, (2 Chron. xviii. 1.) Jehoshaphat’s son having married Ahab’s daughter, (2 Kings viii. 18.)

1 Kings 22:3

(And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that Ramoth-Gilead is ours, and we be still, and take it qot out of the hand of the king of Syria)?. Som§ think Ben-badad had not made good his covenant to restore all the cities the Syrians had taken from Israel, (xx, 34.) whereof this, it is likely, was one.

1 Kings 22:4

And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to’ Ramoth-Gilead?. He acted now like a prudent man; t who, before he resolved upon a war; desired to know whether he might depend upon Jehoshaphat for his assistance in it: for his forces, in comparison with the Syrians, were very small, (xx. 27.) And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.] He professes himself entirely at his service; as if they were but one person and people,

1 Kings 22:5

And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Inquire, I pray thee, at the word of the Lord to-day. But he desired first, that the prophets who were in Israel might be forthwith consulted, whether God approved of their design, and would give them success in it. So good men were wont to do, (Judg. i, 1. 1 Sam. xxiii. 2.)

1 Kings 22:6

Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men. Some think these were the prophets of the groves, who were not slain with the prophets of Baal, because they are just the same number, (xviii. 19.) But perhaps there were schools of the prophets kept up still in Israel, in imitation of those in Judah, whcre T in men were bTed up, who pretended to have this gift. But it is plain they were false prophets; for Micaiah calls them Ahab’s prophets. (See ver. 23.) And said unto them, Shall I go up against Ramoth-Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.] They speak, as if they were inspired by the Lord, and in his namo promise’good success; for they knew Jehoshaphat regarded not Baal, nor Astarte, but only the Lord.

1 Kings 22:7

And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides, that we might inquire of him?. He