1 Kings Chapter 22

At a Glance

  • Israel and Judah are at a precarious peace with Syria, but the alliance is strained by politics and prophecy.
  • Historical & Literary Context.
  • This chapter sits in the late 9th century BCE, during a period of prophetic activity in Israel and Judah.
  • - Prophetic integrity vs.
  • - The danger of flattering prophets: Ahab’s dislike for Micaiah reveals how flattery undermines truth and judgment.

Chapter Overview

Israel and Judah are at a precarious peace with Syria, but the alliance is strained by politics and prophecy. Jehoshaphat of Judah joins Ahab to reclaim Ramoth-Gilead, and they seek guidance from the prophets. One hundred eighty prophets urge going to battle, delivering a uniform, favorable message: the Lord will prosper the king. Yet Jehoshaphat asks for a second opinion and challenges the unanimity, demanding a true word from a prophet of the Lord. Ahab reluctantly reveals Micaiah the son of Imlah, a dissenting voice whom he hates because he prophesies ill for him. Micaiah predicts disaster, while the official and popular prophets double down on the positive forecast. The tension grows as Micaiah’s blunt refusal to flatter the king is tested by false bravado—horns of iron that symbolize aggressive conquest. The chapter ends with the king’s anger at Micaiah’s honest word and a setup for betrayal as Ahab’s plan to test the prophet’s spirit is manipulated. The scene foregrounds the clash between political survival and faithful prophetic integrity.

Historical & Literary Context

This chapter sits in the late 9th century BCE, during a period of prophetic activity in Israel and Judah. It demonstrates the recurring pattern where kings seek prophetic endorsement for military ventures, often at odds with the prophetic voice that challenges their self-serving plans. The narrative underscores the Deuteronomistic aim: divine sovereignty is tested through human ambition and political calculation, and true prophecy will confront corruption and pride.

Key Themes

- Prophetic integrity vs. political expediency: The need for honest, hard words from God, even when they threaten a king’s plans.

- The danger of flattering prophets: Ahab’s dislike for Micaiah reveals how flattery undermines truth and judgment.

- Divine sovereignty amid human plans: God’s will is not bound to political calculations, even when the prophets seem to align with power.

- Courage under pressure: Micaiah’s risk in delivering a counter-narrative to the king.

Modern Application

The chapter invites contemporary readers to consider the cost of truth-telling in leadership and institutions. It speaks to the temptation to surround leaders with yes-men and to value appearances over truth. In today’s public life—political, corporate, or church contexts—the call remains to pursue honest appraisals of risk, seek genuine discernment from God, and resist pressure to conform to expedient narratives. It also highlights the importance of diverse voices and checks in decision-making to prevent complicit compromise.

Cross-References

- 1 Kings 20 (the war context and negotiations)

- 2 Chronicles 18 (parallel account with emphasis on prophecy)

- Deuteronomy 18:20–22 (test of prophecy)

- Jeremiah 23 (false prophets contrasted with true prophecy)

Recommended Personas

- Micaiah the prophet (for prophetic courage and integrity)

- Jehoshaphat (for seeking true discernment)

- Ahab (as a study in political self-interest and susceptibility to flattery)

Chapter Text

1

And they continued three years without war between Syria and Israel.

2

And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel.

3

And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we be still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria?

4

And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramothgilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.

5

And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.

6

Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.

7

And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?

8

And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

9

Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah.

10

And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.

11

And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them.

12

And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the king’s hand.

13

And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good.

14

And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak.

15

So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.

16

And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD?

17

And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.

18

And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?

19

And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.

20

And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.

21

And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.

22

And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.

23

Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.

24

But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?

25

And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.

26

And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son;

27

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 come in peace.

28

And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, the LORD hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you.

29

So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.

30

And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle.

31

But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel.

32

And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it is the king of Israel. And they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out.

33

And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.

34

And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.

35

And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot.

36

And there went a proclamation throughout the host about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his own country.

37

So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria.

38

And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the word of the LORD which he spake.

39

Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

40

So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.

41

And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.

42

Jehoshaphat was thirty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.

43

And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the LORD: nevertheless the high places were not taken away; for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places.

44

And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.

45

Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he shewed, and how he warred, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

46

And the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land.

47

There was then no king in Edom: a deputy was king.

48

Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber.

49

Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not.

50

And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.

51

Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel.

52

And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin:

53

For he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the LORD God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.

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