1 Kings 22

1 Kings 22:1

THree yeers] From the covenant made betwixt Ahab and Benhadad (chap. 20. 34.) which was in the ninteenth yeer of Ahabs reign, chap. 16. 29.

1 Kings 22:2

third yeer] After Jehoshaphat had made peace (v. 44.) and affinity with Ahab, 2 Chron. 18. 1. 2 Kings 8:18. This was in the seventh yeer of Jehoshaphat, v. 51.

Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel] 2 Chronicles 18:1, &c.

1 Kings 22:3

servants] Counsellours who attended on him.

Ramoth-Gilead] See chap. 4. 13.

is ours] It was a part of Israels inheritance, even one of their cities of refuge, Joshua 20:8. And though it were taken away by Benhadads father, yet it was promised to be restored again, chap. 20. 34.

still] Heb. silent from taking it.

1 Kings 22:4

I as thou, &c.] 2 Kings 3. 7. I and mine are ready to go, and do as thou wilt. See v. 44.

1 Kings 22:5

Enquire, &c.] By some prophet, whether God will prosper our design, or no.

1 Kings 22:6

four hundred men] Those prophets of the groves which are mentioned, chap. 18. 19. as is probable.

1 Kings 22:7

besides] These that are prophets of the groves. Jehoshaphat suspected that their word was not from the LORD.

1 Kings 22:8

yet one man] Notwithstanding many of them have been slain (chap. 18. 4. and 19. 10.) and some sled, so as I know not where to finde them. It may be gathered from this phrase (carry him back again, v. 26.) that Micaiah was in prison when Ahab sent for him.

son of Imlah] To distinguish him from the other Micaiah, Micah 1:1

good] That which is pleasing, Jeremiah 38:4. or that which may tend to my honour or profit.

evil] Terrible things, which tend to my shame, damage and undoing.

Let not the king] A modest check, implying, That sound counsell, though unsavoury, is to be hearkned unto.

1 Kings 22:9

officer] Or, eunuch. The Hebrew word signifieth one that is gelded, Isaiah 56:3. So the Greek, Matthew 19:12. The Persians, Babylonians and other heathen, were wont to appoint such to be chief attendants upon queens and great ladies, for the surer confidence of their continence: such also were attendants upon kings, and other great persons; whence, it became to be a title given to such great officers and attendants, whether they were gelt or no, Genesis 39:1. See the Notes on Genesis 33:36.

1 Kings 22:10

robes] Royall robes, to set out their majestie, as Acts 12:21.

void place] Heb. floor. A spacious place, where multitudes of people might stand together, Genesis 50:10. The Hebrew word is used to signifie a barn or a floor where corn is threshed, as Rth 3:3. 2 Samuel 24:18.

prophesied] See Chrp. 18. 29.

1 Kings 22:11

Zedekiah] The chief of the false prophets.

son of Chenaanah] To distinguish him from Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, Jeremiah 29:21.

made him horns] As a signe of the truth of his prophecie, in imitation of true prophets. See Jeremiah 27:2. and Jeremiah 28:13. Zechariah 1:18-19.

the Lord] They used the Name Jehovah, to please Jehoshaphat.

With these, &c.] As horned beasts with their horns push and wound other beasts, till they have destroyed them: so shall thine army dal with the Syrians.

1 Kings 22:12

so] To the same purpose that Zedekiah had done.

1 Kings 22:13

good] See v. 8.

with one mouth] With one consent.

1 Kings 22:14

As the Lord, &c.] This was an usuall concise form of oath. See Chap. 1. v. 29.

1 Kings 22:15

Go, and prosper] This was spoken ironically, in the words of the false prophets (v. 12.) to discover their falshood more evidently: in such a manner were these words uttered, as Ahab discerned them to be a meer mock. This kinde and way of discovering the folly of men, is frequent, as Chap. 18. 27. Genesis 3:22. Judg. 10. 14. 2 Chron. 25. 8. Ecclesiastes 11. 9. Lamentations 4:21. Am. 4. 4, 5.

1 Kings 22:16

How many times] The interrogation implies a vehement asseveration, thus, Again and again, as by a solemn oath, I charge thee, &c.

in the Name of the Lord] Received from the LORD; for Micaiah, in his answer (v. 15.) no way implied that he spake it in the Name of the LORD. The king falsly imagined that it was the will of the LORD that he should recover Ramothgilead.

1 Kings 22:17

I saw] In a vision, as Ezek. 1. 4, &c. Act. 10. 11, 17. A vision was a representation of things to a mans imagination while he wa awake: wherein it differed from a dream.

all Israel] All that were drawn forth to warre, put to flight.

as sheep] Pursued by wolves, without a shepherd, Zach 13. 7.

no master] Their king being slain.

1 Kings 22:18

no good] See v. 8.

1 Kings 22:19

therefore] Because thou didst adjure me to tell the truth in the name of the LORD.

I saw] As v. 17.

sitting] As a Judge, Isaiah 6:1. Daniel 7:9.

the host] Angels, who as an host, or army of souldiers attend the LORD, Psal. 103. 20, 21.

on his right, &c.] Round about him.

1 Kings 22:20

the Lord said] All this discourse is by way of resemblance, and that after the manner of man applied to God: For who is his counsellour? Isaiah 40:13.

perswade] Or, deceive.

one] Spirit.

1 Kings 22:21

a spirit] An evill spirit: for evill spirits can for their advantage, thrust into the company of good spirits, Job 1:6. He calls himself a lying spirit in the next verse.

1 Kings 22:22

I will be a lying spirit] I will so work on them, as they shall declare false things, John 8:44. Thus he is called, a spirit of whoredom, Hosea 4:13. meaning spirituall whoredom, which is idolatry: and an unclean spirit, Zac. 13. 2. and a spirit of errour, 1 John 4:6. because he allures men to those sins.

he said] The LORD. Because Ahab hated Gods true prophets, God in justice gave him over to believe lies. See on 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12.

1 Kings 22:23

the Lord hath put] As a just Judge, making an evil spirit his executioner, to punish Ahab. So 2 Samuel 16:10. Job 12:16. Ezekiel 14:9.

spoken evil] Denounced judgement, Amos 3:6.

1 Kings 22:24

smote] Impudently, before the kings and whole assembly.

on the check] Reproachfully, Job 16:10. Acts 23:2.

Which way went the Spirit of the Lord from me, to speak to thee?] 2 Chronicles 18:23. Zedekiah pretends that he himself had the Spirit of the LORD, and thereupon inferres, that Micaiah had it not, because it could not be shewed how it should passe from the one to the other.

1 Kings 22:25

thou shalt see] By wofull experience thou shalt finde, that I, by the Spirit of the LORD, have declared a truth. To see, is oft put for an experimentall proof, as Genesis 26:28. Matthew 2:16.

go into an inner chamber] Or, from chamber to chamber; As Benhadad did, Chap. 20. 30.

an inner chamber] Heb. a chamber in a chamber.

to hide thy self] From Ahabs friends, who will revenge this thy falshood in deceiving the king.

1 Kings 22:26

carry him back] To the prison where he was before. See v. 8.

the kings son] Appointed governour of the kingdom while the king went to war; as Jotham, when his father was a leper, 2 Chronicles 26:21.

1 Kings 22:27

bread of affliction] With no more then may sustain life, that he may be preserved, but in affliction through want.

1 Kings 22:28

thou return] Heb. returning thou return. Herein he hath reference to the evidence of a true or false prophet, Deut. 18. 21, 22. See Numbers 16:29.

Hearken] I take you all to witnesse.

1 Kings 22:29

and Jehoshaphat] Though in sundry other things he gave good evidence of a true fear of God, yet here he shewed great failing, 2 Chron. 19. 1.

1 Kings 22:30

I will disguise my self, and enter into the battell] Or, when he was to disguise himself and enter into the battell: By changing my habit, that I may not be known to be whom I am. See Chap. 14. 2. and 20. 38.

thy robes] As v. 10. Hereby he pretends honour to Jehoshaphat, but he was afraid of the issue of Micaiah’s prophecie.

1 Kings 22:31

with small nor great] A proverbiall speech, whereby he doth not forbid his servants to slay any other then the king; but that they should observe the king, and bend their main force against him, and not suffer themselves, by fighting with others, to be kept from setting upon the king.

1 Kings 22:32

turned aside] From all others (as they were commanded, v. 31.) and compassed about Jehoshaphat, 2 Chron. 18. 31.

cried out] Earnestly prayed to the LORD, as Chap. 17. 20. 2 King. 2 12. Exodus 14:15.

1 Kings 22:33

perceived] By some speciall work of the LORD, whereby the LORD is said to help him, 2 Chron. 18. 31.

1 Kings 22:34

at a venture] Heb. in his simplicity; Not purposely aiming at Ahab, nor knowing Gods purpose, 2 Samuel 15:11.

joynts of the harnesse] Heb. joynts and the brest-plate.

I am wounded] Heb. made sick. Or, being wounded, I am ready to faint. See 2 Kings 1:2.

1 Kings 22:35

encreased] Heb. ascended; Grew more and more fierce.

was stayed up] Or, stayed himself up, 2 Chron. 28. 34. to keep his army together from fleeing away: for though he were carried aside out of the host (v. 34.) to binde up his wound, yet did he not clean leave the army.

chariot] Some put it in the plurall number, thus, or, his chariots; and apply it to the chariots of his captains, that by the kings abiding in the field, they might be kept from flight.

midst] Heb. bosome.

1 Kings 22:36

a proclamation] By reason of the kings death, 2 Chro. 18. 34. and this was according to the prophets word, v. 17.

Every man to his city] A phrase of retreat, and giving over the battell. See a like phrase, but in another sense, Chap. 12. 16.

1 Kings 22:37

died] In the field, 2 Chron. 18. 34.

was brought] Heb. came, Dead.

Samaria] See Chap. 16. 24, 29.

1 Kings 22:38

pool of Samaria] Which reached to Jezreel, where was the kings armoury, and where his chariots stood. Thus, though it were stiled, the pool of Samaria, yet the chariot and armour might be washed in Jezreel, where Naboth was stoned, as Chap. 21. 19.

unto the word of the Lord which he spake] Chap. 21. 19.

1 Kings 22:39

ivory house which he made] Chap. 10. 18.

chronicles] See Chap. 11. 41.

1 Kings 22:40

slept] See Chap. 2. 10.

1 Kings 22:41

Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah] 2 Chron. 20. 31.

1 Kings 22:42

thirty and five yeers old] Heb. a son of thirty five yeers.

twenty and five yeers] To the end of his life, all which time he was the true king. See 2 Kings 1:17.

mothers name] See Chap. 14. 21. and 15. 10.

1 Kings 22:43

in all the ways] First ways, as 2 Chron. 17. 3. See Chap. 15. 10.

high places] See Chap. 15. v. 14.

1 Kings 22:44

peace] Which brought the wrath of God upon him, 2 Chron. 19. 2.

king of Israel] Both with Ahab (v. 4.) and also with Jehoram Ahabs Song of Solomon , 2 Kings 3:7.

1 Kings 22:45

chronicles] As Chap. 14. v. 29.

sodomites] See Chap. 15. 12.

1 Kings 22:47

then] From the time that David subdued Edom, (2 Samuel 8:14.) till Jorams time (2 Kings 8:20.) Then was Jacobs prophecy (Genesis 27:40.) accomplished. See the Notes on Genesis 25:23.

a deputy] Put in by the king of Judah.

1 Kings 22:48

made ships] Or, had ten ships.

ships of Tharshish] See Chap. 10. v. 22.

Ophir] See Chap. 9. v. 28.

Ezion-geber] See Chap. 9. v. 26.

1 Kings 22:49

would not] After he had been reproved and punished for joyning with him, 2 Chron. 20. 37.

1 Kings 22:50

slept, &c.] See Chap. 2. 10.

1 Kings 22:51

two yeers] Currant (as Chap. 15. 2.) His first yeer was in common with Ahab his father: his second, with Jehoram his brother, 2 Kings 1:17.

1 Kings 22:52

father] Ahab.

mother] Jezebel.

1 Kings 22:53

served and worshipped] Ascribed Deity, and yeelded divine honour to Baal, as to a true God. See Chap. 16. 21.