1 Reis 22
Albert Barnes · Citado em PreceptAustin
1 Reis 22
Barnes: “In this story we see just how recalcitrant human beings can be. Here is Ahab, a man who has personally witnessed the manifestation of God’s power, who has heard the word of the Lord through several prophets, and, despite his sins, has experienced the grace of God when he expresses penitence. Still, he does not seem to understand what it is that God demands. He has little understanding of the nature of God. He has a personal agenda that he is determined to carry out. So he musters all his resources. He gets his subordinates and allies to do his bidding and does not hesitate to manipulate the religious establishment to support his questionable goals. He ignores what he knows to be the truth and suppresses any voice of dissent. He even tries to thwart God’s will by deceit in order to achieve his goal. Ahab is a model of what we can become when we are not attentive to the will of God.” (Seow 1999:166) (See 1-2 Kings - Page 187) QUESTION - What does the Bible say about false prophets? ANSWER - A false prophet is a person who spreads false teachings or messages while claiming to speak the Word of God. In the Bible, false prophets also spoke on behalf of false gods. False prophets functioned in their prophetic role illegitimately or for the purpose of deception. The Bible denounces false prophets for leading people astray. In the Old Testament, the actual term false prophet does not occur, but references to false prophets are evident and abundant. In the book of Jeremiah, we encounter a clear description of false prophets: “Then the LORD said to me, ‘The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds’” (Jeremiah 14:14; see also Jer 23:21–33; Zechariah 10:2). The primary difference between men like Jeremiah—a true prophet of God—and false prophets was their source of information. Rather than speak the Word of the Lord, false prophets delivered messages that originated in their own hearts and minds: “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD’” (Jeremiah 23:16; see also Jer 14:14; Jer 23:25–32; Ezekiel 13:1–7). God distances Himself from all false prophets: “I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied” (Jeremiah 23:21). Another difference between true prophets and false prophets in the Bible is motivation. True prophets are motivated by loyalty to God above all else, whereas false prophets are motivated by self-interest and a desire to be popular among the people (1 Kings 22:13–14). While Jeremiah foretold the grim truth of coming desolation upon Jerusalem (Jeremiah 4), the false prophets promised peace (Jeremiah 6:14; 8:11). Naturally, the people of Judah preferred the pleasant messages of the false prophets: “Don’t tell us what is right. Tell us nice things. Tell us lies” (Isaiah 30:10, NLT). Often false prophets were hired for payment or spoke their messages for financial gain: “Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they look for the LORD’s support and say, ‘Is not the LORD among us? No disaster will come upon us’” (Micah 3:11; see also Nehemiah 6:12–13; Jeremiah 6:13–14; Ezekiel 13:19; 2 Peter 2:1–3). Israel could not always discern the difference between a true and false prophet. In 1 Kings 22, King Jehoshaphat of Judah sought counsel from the Lord before he and King Ahab of Israel embarked on their mission to retake the city of Ramoth in Gilead. Jehoshaphat heard the predictions of victory from Ahab’s 400 counselors but suspected that these men were false prophets who did not have the mind of the Lord. Jehoshaphat’s suspicions were correct: they were Ahab’s “yes men,” false prophets who had no concern for relating the true Word of God. They merely said what the king wanted to hear and collected their salary from the royal treasury. Jehoshaphat asked if there was another prophet who could give a second opinion. Ahab called for the prophet Micaiah, albeit reluctantly: “I hate him,” Ahab complained, “because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad” (1 Kings 22:8). True to form, Micaiah prophesied that Ahab would be killed in the battle and Israel would be “scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd” (verse 17). Micaiah, whose words came to pass, proved to be the true prophet of God. None of the false prophets in Ahab’s court could keep the king alive. The punishment specified for false prophets in the Old Testament was severe: “If any prophet dares to speak a message in My name that I have not commanded him to speak, or to speak in the name of other gods, that prophet must be put to death” (Deuteronomy 18:20). In the New Testament, Jesus taught about false prophets in His Sermon on the Mount: “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit” (Matthew 7:15–18). Jesus went on to explain the grave consequences of being a false prophet: “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:19–23). The Bible describes false prophets as adulterous (Jeremiah 23:14), treacherous (Zephaniah 3:4), drunkards (Isaiah 28:7), wicked (Jeremiah 23:11), liars (Jeremiah 14:14; 23:14), and associated with divination and witchcraft (Jeremiah 14:14; Ezekiel 22:28; Acts 13:6). Scripture teaches believers to be diligent in faith and devotion to Christ’s teachings so that they will be able to spot false prophets and false teachers quickly (2 Peter 1:10; 1:19—2:1; 1 John 4:1). Thankfully, the Bible outlines foolproof tests for recognizing a false prophet. The key is to know what a true prophet is like: • A true prophet’s words will be fulfilled (Deuteronomy 18:21–22; Jeremiah 28:8–9). • A true prophet’s teachings are consistent with Scripture (2 Peter 1:20–21; Revelation 22:18–19). • A true prophet’s teachings will encourage righteous behavior and provide spiritual benefit (Deuteronomy 13:1–4; Jeremiah 23:13–14, 32; Ezekiel 13:17–23; 14:4–8; Lamentations 2:14). • A true prophet’s life will reflect a divine call (Isaiah 28:7; Jeremiah 23:10–11, 14; 29:9; Zephaniah 3:4; Matthew 7:15–20). • A true prophet will acknowledge Jesus Christ as divine (1 John 4:1–6). 1 Kings 22:7 But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not yet a prophet of the LORD here that we may inquire of him?” Is there not: 2Ki 3:11-13 2Ch 18:6,7 1 Kings 22 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: 2 Chronicles 18:6+ But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not yet a prophet of the LORD here that we may inquire of him?” JEHOSHAPHAT NOT DECEIVED BY DECEIVING PROPHETS! But - Term of contrast. Hold on! What does this contrast demonstrate about Jehoshaphat? Clearly this shows he had spiritual discernment. Why did Jehoshaphat have this spiritual discernment? He clearly revered the Word of the LORD. In 2 Chronicles 17:9+ he instructed the Levites to go and teach "in Judah, having the book of the law of the LORD with them; and they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught among the people." Jehoshaphat was like the man in Hebrews 5:14+ which says "solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil." Jehoshaphat did not just personally follow God's Word (for the most part), but he organized a national Bible teaching mission, which was a rare and remarkable act among kings of his time which demonstrated he wanted every citizen to know and understand God’s Word. 🙏 THOUGHT - Jehoshaphat discerned good from evil, like the mature person in Hebrews 5:14+. Perhaps he knew the principle of Psalm 119:25+ "My soul cleaves to the dust; Revive me according to Your word." The principle is that personal and national revival comes from intake (and living out) of God's Word. Psalm 19:7a+ agrees, David writing "The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul (PERSONAL REVIVAL!)." Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not yet a prophet of the LORD here that we may inquire of him - Jehoshaphat discerned Ahab's prophets were "no profit" prophets! Note how these false prophets were facile with the word "Lord" (1Ki 22:6). Not everyone who says "Lord, Lord" is of the kingdom of light (Mt 7:21+) So out of 400 prophets in 1Ki 22:6, Jehoshaphat determined that not one was a prophet of Yahweh! A plethora of prophets is not always profitable! And this was a bold statement for him to make! Raymond Dillard makes an interesting point - One criterion by which the true prophet was recognized in the OT was that he in his preaching often stood alone, running against the tide of popular expectation; his opposition to the vox populi (Crenshaw, Conflict, 24–36) became a hallmark of the true prophet (36:16; 2 Kgs 17:13–15; Neh 9:26; Jer 25:4; 26:4–5; 28; 29:24–32; Matt 23:33–37). The vox populi and the vox pseudoprophetae were all but identical, so that agreement with the popular consensus made the prophetic message suspicious at the outset. Such suspicion appears to underlie Jehoshaphat’s awareness that he was yet to hear the word of Yahweh. (See 2 Chronicles, Volume 15 - Page 141) I tend to agree with Rod Mattoon regarding the origin of the 400 false prophets - Who were these 400 guys? These were the Asherah prophets that Jezebel cared for. They were absent at Mt. Carmel. Elijah asked that they be at Carmel, but they were absent. Our nation is filled with preachers who talk "God talk" but don't know the Lord. (2Ti 3:5, Mt 7:21-23) Mattoon gets practical writing "I believe there are people who are asking today, "Is there a genuine Christian around here? One who can tell me about God and pray for me? Is the real McCoy around anywhere?" Beloved, people are reading our lives just like Jehoshaphat was reading the lives of the 400 prophets. God help us to be consistent in our walk with Him. 2 Corinthians 3:2+ You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; The Gospel According to You • If none but you in the world today had tried to live the Christlike way. Could the rest of the world look close at you and find the path that is straight and true? • If none but you in the world so wide had found the Christ for his daily guide, Would the things you do and the things you say lead others to live in His blessed way? • You are writing each day a letter to men, take care that the writing is true; 'Tis the only gospel that some men will read, of the gospel according to you. -Author Unknown- Vance Havner - The Four-Hundred-and-First Prophet Is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides, that we might enquire of him? (1 Kings 22:7) There is no period of Bible history more dramatic than the life and times of Ahab. Some of the worst and some of the best Old Testament characters were his contemporaries. There was Jezebel, one of the wickedest women who ever lived, and there was Elijah, who lived in a tempest and went to heaven in a whirlwind. The times were evil but they were not dull. Something was happening every minute. On one occasion, Ahab planned a campaign against Ramothgilead. It was a case of a bad man doing a good thing in the wrong way. He had Scripture for the undertaking (Deuteronomy 4:43), but it takes more than a verse to justify such a venture. Ahab inveigled King Jehoshaphat of Judah into joining him in the enterprise. Jehoshaphat was a good man but easily influenced. Ahab put on a banquet—a kick-off supper is usually all it takes to line up a Jehoshaphat. The King of Judah had no business in such a project, and the prophet Jehu asked him, "Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord?" (II Chronicles 19:2). That text ought to be brought out of the moth balls and put into circulation! Jehoshaphat asked that the Israelites enquire of the Lord. It was a little late, since they had already made up their minds, but four hundred false prophets were called in and they were unanimous in their opinion. When four hundred preachers agree, there may be grounds for suspicion. Jehoshaphat asked, "Is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides, that we may enquire of him?" Give him credit at least for raising the issue: "Isn't there somebody around who speaks for God?" Ahab replied, "There is yet one man..." (I Kings 19:8). Thank God, there usually is! Ahab added, "... but I hate him"—which is to the eternal credit of that one man—"because he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil" (v. 8). Does that not remind us of the Greatest Prophet of all, who said, "... me it [the world] hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil" (John While a messenger went to bring Micaiah, one of the false prophets put a theatrical touch on his prophecy and added a dash of Hollywood. Zedekiah waved horns and dramatized the success of the forthcoming venture. It is bad enough to be a false prophet, but to be a ham actor besides is too much. It was a day of unification, with Ahab and Jehoshaphat uniting; it was a day of unanimity, with four hundred prophets in unison; it was a day of uniformity. The messenger advised Micaiah that the clergy had agreed and that he should go along with them. But Micaiah had not been regimented, standardized, collectivized, or brainwashed. He had no axe to grind. He was not riding the bandwagon. He was not on his way up. The grass did not look greener in the next pasture and he craved no man's bishopric. He was not a link in anybody's chain. Joseph Parker said, "The world hates the four-hundred-and-first prophet." Micaiah was Number 401. He broke the monotony when he said, "As the Lord liveth, what the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak" (I Kings 22:14). He was put on a diet of bread and water, but better a prophet on bread and water than a politician at the feasts of Ahab. With his immortal words Micaiah answered the question of Jehoshaphat: he was the prophet of the Lord besides. We live in days not unlike the times of Micaiah. It is a time of unification. Ahab and Jehoshaphat are still going up against Ramothgilead. The world is being unified into the world state, the churches into the world church. It is a time of unanimity, of yes-men and rubber stamps. Adlai Stevenson is reported to have said that he had devised a new word, "yo," which can mean either "yes" or "no"! It is a time of uniformity. We are like eggs in a crate. We talk about being "different" but never have we been more alike. Teen-agers boast of being different but they dress alike, talk alike, look alike. The human race is gradually being homogenized into one faceless, monolithic mass. It is the day of the lowest common denominator, the happy medium, the middle of the road. A pleasant "get-alongism," a "togetherness," has so paralyzed us into moral inertia that it is almost impossible to arouse us from our amiable stupor. The steamroller is flattening all the mountains into one level plain. Such a time does not breed prophets. Men who speak for God never merge into the fog around them. Noah stood alone in a civilization of culture and progress. His contemporaries must have laughed at him as an eccentric who was building an oversized houseboat and looking for the world to end. Elijah stood alone among the priests of Baal and the stooges who ate at Jezebel's table. When he challenged the multitude, that fifth-amendment crowd "answered not a word." Amos stood alone in the religio-political system of his day. Dr. Kyle Yates wrote, "His time had not been spent in a divinity school. He was unwilling to be classed as a member of the guilds who made their living by bowing to the wishes of the people and preaching a pleasing message that would guarantee a return engagement." Jeremiah stood alone among the tranquilizers of his day who were preaching peace when there was no peace; but we are still reading Jeremiah while the happiness boys of his day have been forgotten. Daniel spoke for God in the midst of a pagan empire and it was worth a night in a lion's den to be able to read God's handwriting on the wall. Paul conferred not with flesh and blood but got his orders direct from Headquarters. He was not the product of any assembly line. Dr. Mordecai Ham said, "Paul was a strategist who thought out his strategy on the field of war, not in some Jerusalem war office where parchment and sealing wax were more plentiful than experience and foresight." True prophets are solitary people; eagles do not fly in flocks. It is not easy to be a Lone Dissenter. When the messenger was sent for Micaiah he must have said, in effect, "The clergy have agreed, and you had better make it unanimous. It is quite an honor to speak before two kings and four hundred prophets. What is it getting you to be an odd number? This is a good gravy train and you had better ride it. This is the mood of the hour and you had better get with it." The same subtle pressure today would persuade preachers to get in step with the times and ride the wave of the future. What we need are more preachers out of step with the times, more odd prophets like Micaiah. We are told that we must adjust. Adjust to what? What is there in this world set-up to adjust to? God's man needs to adjust only to God's Word and God's will. It is not the business of the prophet to harmonize with the times. "... what concord hath Christ with Belial?" (2 Corinthians 6:15). The preacher is a soloist; he was never meant to play the accompaniment to anything. The pulpit is not a platform from which to boost the projects of men to bring in a false millennium, the Kingdom without the King. No matter how much Scripture may be quoted or how many false prophets bid Ahab go up against Ramothgilead, Micaiah will stand his ground and refuse to be swept off his feet by popular movements. The greatest need of the hour is a four-hundred-and-first prophet of the Lord besides, that we may enquire of him. There are several ways of silencing a prophet. Persecution will do it. John the Baptist's head is not always brought in on a charger; there are newer ways of decapitating the prophet with more finesse. Promotion sometimes does it. The prophet is given a high seat in the synagogue and is never heard from again. The pressure of the times and discouragement can do it. Jeremiah wanted to quit preaching, get out in the wilderness, and run a motel. Another prophet can sometimes do it, as when the prophet at Bethel backslid in his own revival, and he who could turn down a king was deceived by another prophet. Prophets are not popular at home; they are without honor in their own countries. They are not popular with politicians. Ahab hated Micaiah—but he feared him enough to disguise himself when he went to battle, lest Micaiah's predictions came true. There was another prophet by the name of Obadiah who was out with Ahab looking for grass when he should have been with Elijah praying for rain. The true prophet does not know how to work both sides of the street. He refuses to dine with Jeroboam and does not let his hair down with the priests of Bethel. Prophets are not popular with Pharisees. Our Lord asked, "Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted?" (Acts 7:52), and He said, "... ye are the children of them that killed the prophets" (Matthew 23:31). One generation stones prophets and the next builds sepulchers in their honor. Seven wealthy towns contend for Homer dead, Through which the living Homer begged his bread. Joseph Parker said, "There are those today who would clap their hands at the name of Bunyan who would not admit a living Bunyan to fellowship." Organized religion hates the preacher whose headquarters is heaven, whose Superintendent is God. They are enraged when they cannot control him. The times are never propitious for the Lone Dissenter. Naturally, one can hardly expect a sermon on Micaiah to be any more popular than its subject. But it is worth preaching if in the congregation one man will hear and heed the call to be a New Testament prophet. If such a prospect is reading this, God bless you. The odds will be four hundred to one, the diet may be bread and water, and the orders are: "... what the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak." If you are interested in the prophetic ministry, get ready for trouble! You will be despised by Amaziah and all who want to preserve the status quo at Bethel. You will be hated by Jezebel and all who would set up the worship of Baal alongside the altar of Jehovah. You will be too angular to fit the Procrustean beds of the religious world. You will not be able to feather your nest in this world; scant provision is made for prophets down here. You will report to Heavenly Headquarters and get your orders from the Main Office. If you are a prospect, think it over. You had better mean business, else your ministry will be pathetic instead of prophetic. And remember that prophets are needed but not wanted. It is time for another four-hundred-and-first prophet of the Lord besides, that we might enquire of him. 1 Kings 22:8 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” But Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.” one man: 1Ki 18:4, 19:10,14, 20:41,42 but I hate him: 1Ki 22:27 20:43 21:20 Ge 37:8 2Ch 36:16 Ps 34:21 Pr 9:8 15:12 Isa 49:7 Jer 18:18 20:10 43:3,4 Am 5:10 Zec 11:8 Mt 10:22 Joh 3:19-21 7:7 15:18,19 17:14 Ga 4:16 Rev 11:7-10 good: 1Ki 22:13 Isa 30:10 Jer 38:4 Mic 2:11 concerning me: 1Ki 20:35-42 2Ki 9:22 Isa 3:11 57:19-21 Let not the: 1Ki 21:27-29 Pr 5:12-14 Mic 2:7 1 Kings 22 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: 2 Chronicles 18:7+ The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me but always evil. He is Micaiah, son of Imla.” But Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.” AHAB HATES TRUE PROPHETS The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, but I hate him - Isn't it interesting that Ahab has a prophet of the LORD in his midst working in the palace (Obadiah and why not call for Elijah), but for some reason does not call on him. Note that Ahab has clearly heard from Micaiah before and did not like what he had to say because each time Micaiah had reproved him and each time Ahab refuse to accept the reproof (cf Pr 6:23). One has to wonder how many times Yahweh had tried to get Ahab's attention with prophets (like Elijah, Micaiah) and with miraculous events (fire from heaven, rain, Elijah outrunning Ahab's chariot)? 🙏 THOUGHT - While Jehoshaphat asked for a prophet of the Lord, he still went to war despite Micaiah’s warning. It's possible to seek God's voice, but still go with human loyalties when our hearts are divided. Or just as bad to hear God's clear words of warning in our morning quiet time and go out into the world and completely disregard what His Spirit taught us in our quiet time. Woe! Because - Term of explanation. What's the writer explaining? Ahab hated the messenger because of the message. -- David Guzik He does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil - This description would support Micaiah's resume as a true prophet of Yahweh because Yahweh could not speak good of evil Ahab. The implication is that Ahab had repeatedly rejected Micaiah's message and thus repeatedly rejected Jehovah! I am reminded of God's words in Ge 6:3+ “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever." The sands of the hour glass of opportunity were quickly running out for stiff-necked Ahab! He is Micaiah son of Imlah - Another reason Ahab may have hated him is because every time he heard the name Micaiah he was confronted with the question "Who is like Yahweh?" because that was the meaning of the prophet's name. His very name begged an answer to this most important question! But Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so - Jehoshaphat defends one of Yahweh's prophets and gives Ahab a slight rebuke, as if to say "The king should not say such things." (NET) QUESTION - Who was Micaiah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org ANSWER - Micaiah was a common Hebrew name in the Bible. It means “Who is Like Yahweh?” Several people in the Old Testament bore the name Micaiah, the most prominent being Micaiah the prophet and son of Imlah. The account of Micaiah the prophet in 1 Kings 22:1–38 (and in the parallel passage, 2 Chronicles 18:1–27) calls attention to the conflict surrounding prophecy in ancient Israel. When Ahab ruled over Israel and Jehoshaphat over Judah, the two kings decided to come together to attack the city of Ramoth-Gilead to retake it from the Arameans. Before going to battle, they consulted with more than 400 royally appointed counselors of Israel. These were apostate prophets who had no regard for correctly delivering the word of the Lord. To please King Ahab and obtain his favor, these prophets only served to tell the king what he wanted to hear. The counselors brought before Ahab all prophesied victory in battle, but King Jehoshaphat remained suspicious. He wanted to hear from an independent prophet who would be faithful to the word of the Lord. Ahab offered to seek the counsel of Micaiah but warned Jehoshaphat that he hated this prophet. The reason? Micaiah always predicted evil for Ahab. An evil king is bound to receive bad news from God, so, if Micaiah was true to his calling, he could do nothing but deliver “evil” messages to Ahab. So Ahab hated him. At Jehoshaphat’s insistence, Micaiah was summoned, and the messenger sent to bring the prophet pleaded with Micaiah to fit in with the crowd for once: “Look, the other prophets without exception are predicting success for the king. Let your word agree with theirs, and speak favorably,” he said (1 Kings 22:13). The honorable Micaiah said in reply, “As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what the Lord tells me” (verse 14). Standing before the two kings, Micaiah at first mockingly told Ahab what he wanted to hear, forecasting good news of victory over the Arameans. But Ahab, knowing Micaiah’s sarcasm, made him swear to tell the truth, and Micaiah told the wicked king what God really had to say. The prophet’s report was devastating: “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd, and the LORD said, ‘These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace’” (1 Kings 22:17). Micaiah went on to tell King Ahab that a deceiving spirit had misled the other prophets to predict victory so that Ahab would die in the battle. So angry was Zedekiah, the leader of the royal prophets, that he struck Micaiah on the cheek and publicly mocked his prophecy. In response, Micaiah prophesied Zedekiah’s eventual destruction (2 Chronicles 18:24). King Ahab had Micaiah put in prison until he returned from battle. As he was being led away, Micaiah issued a final, urgent warning: “If you ever return safely, the Lord has not spoken through me. . . . Mark my words, all you people!” (1 Kings 22:28). The kings did not believe him, but Micaiah had spoken the truth of God. King Ahab was killed in the fighting, just as Micaiah had predicted. Nothing more is said of the prophet Micaiah in the Bible. His courage in the face of intense political and professional pressure stands as a model for us. His truth-telling led to persecution, but his words came to pass, being as they were a message from God. Micaiah, a man of integrity, is surely one of the prophets spoken of in the Bible’s “Hall of Faith”: “Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. . . . They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them” (Hebrews 11:36–38). F B
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Barnes: Both names are otherwise unknown. “Amon” probably means “master workman” (BDB 54c), but it could refer to the famous Egyptian deity of that name. “Joash” (“Yahweh has given” [HALOT 393]) is probably literally a descendant from the royal family (Cogan 2001:492–493), (See 1-2 Kings - Page 187) August Konkel - “Amon the ruler of the city” and “Joash the king’s son” represent civil and regal authority. They are jointly responsible for sustaining Micaiah with sufficient physical provision until the king returns safely from battle. Restraint imposed on the prophet will prevent him from disseminating his pernicious views among the people. Micaiah for his part simply responds according to the prophetic test of truth as found in Deuteronomy 18:21–22. If Zedekiah and Ahab are vindicated, death is his well-deserved fate. (See The NIV Application Commentary) 1 Kings 22:27 and say, ‘Thus says the king, “Put this man in prison and feed him sparingly with bread and water until I return safely.”’” Put this fellow: 2Ch 16:10 18:25-27 Jer 20:2 29:26 37:15 38:6 La 3:53-55 Mk 6:17-28 Lu 3:20 Ac 5:18 16:23,24 24:25-27 26:10 Eph 3:1 Rev 2:10 feed him sparingly: De 16:3 Ps 80:5 102:9 127:2 Isa 30:20 until I return safely: Lu 12:45,46 1Th 5:2,3 Jas 4:13,14 1 Kings 22 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: 2 Chronicles 18:26+ and say, ‘Thus says the king, “Put this man in prison and feed him sparingly with bread and water until I return safely.”’” THE PRICE OF PRISON FOR TRUE PROPHECY and say, ‘Thus says the king, “Put this man in prison and feed him sparingly with bread and water until I return safely (cf Isa 30:20; Jer 38:9; Matt 25:43) - More literally “Feed him the bread of affliction and the water of affliction” suggesting Ahab sent him back to prison with even worse treatment! This is an amazing verse because Ahab will never return safely. The question arises as to what happened to Micaiah? One might propose he was released because he was there on the order of Ahab and a dead Ahab no longer had authority. Ultimately Micaiah's fate is left open but we will find out in heaven. It is possible, but by no means certain (given that Jehu was a Baal worshiper) that when Jehu seized control from Ahab, he released Micaiah (read 2Ki 10:17-27). 1 Kings 22:28 Micaiah said, “If you indeed return safely the LORD has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Listen, all you people.” NET 1 Kings 22:28 Micaiah said, "If you really do safely return, then the LORD has not spoken through me." Then he added, "Take note, all you people." CSB 1 Kings 22:28 But Micaiah said, "If you ever return safely, the LORD has not spoken through me." Then he said, "Listen, all you people!" ESV 1 Kings 22:28 And Micaiah said, "If you return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me." And he said, "Hear, all you peoples!" NIV 1 Kings 22:28 Micaiah declared, "If you ever return safely, the LORD has not spoken through me." Then he added, "Mark my words, all you people!" NLT 1 Kings 22:28 But Micaiah replied, "If you return safely, it will mean that the LORD has not spoken through me!" Then he added to those standing around, "Everyone mark my words!" If you indeed return Nu 16:29 De 18:20-22 2Ki 1:10,12 Isa 44:26 Jer 28:8,9 Ac 13:10,11 Listen, all you people: 1Ki 18:21-24,36,37 2Ch 18:27 Am 3:1 Mic 1:2 Mk 7:14-16 12:37 1 Kings 22 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: 2 Chronicles 18:27+ Micaiah said, “If you indeed return safely, the LORD has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Listen, all you people.” HISTORY WOULD VINDICATE MICAIAH! Micaiah said, “If you indeed return safely the LORD has not spoken by me.” - He is saying if Ahab returns alive, then the LORD did not speak a true prophecy through him and he was by definition a false prophet (Dt 18:21,22+). And he said, “Listen, all you people - NLT = "Everyone mark my words!" You can picture Micaiah turning from speaking to Ahab and now addressing all the people, including all the false prophets, warning them to take note of and remember what he had prophesied. Geoffrey Kirkland: The Portrait of Micaiah, the true man of God, the spokesman for God (chap. 18). WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A FAITHFUL PROPHET/PREACHER OF GOD’S TRUTH?? a prophet of the LORD (2Ch 18:6) hated by wicked men (2Ch 18:7b) preaches evil (hard truths) to unbelievers (2Ch 18:7b) unknown, unpopular, undesired man (2Ch 18:8b) he was available and ready to preach (2Ch 18:12) he would speak exactly what GOD SAYS (2Ch 18:13) he courageously, unflinching spoke Truth (2Ch 18:15-16) he used biblical phraseology and metaphors (shepherd) (2Ch 18:16) he ignored trivial arguments and didn’t self-defenses but only spoke GOd’s Word (2Ch 18:18) saw God as the Sovereign one on his heavenly throne — a big view of God (2Ch 18:18) he exposed and unmasked the hypocritical false prophets (2Ch 18:22) he said the LORD proclaims disaster for evildoers (2Ch 18:22b) he received opposition and persecution (beating) from a fellow ‘prophet’ (2Ch 18:23a) he was locked up in prison and fed sparingly by the king for his faithful message (2Ch 18:26) he provided one final word of GOD’s truth that came from his mouth (2Ch 18:27) he called ALL PEOPLE to listen to him (2Ch 18:27b) 1 Kings 22:29 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up against Ramoth-gilead. 1Ki 22:2-9 2Ch 18:28 1 Kings 22 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: 2 Chronicles 18:28+ So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up against Ramoth-gilead. EVEN KING JEHOSHAPHAT GOES KNOWING THIS IS A NO WIN SITUATION So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up against Ramoth-gilead - Went up is probably literal because as noted earlier, Ramoth-Gilead is an elevated fortified city. One king disguised, the other king a glaring target for the Arameans, but both with one sovereign God in full control of the playing out of this drama! David