1 Kings 22
22
Ahab Dies in Battle
1 There was no war between Syria and Israel for three years.#tn Heb “and they lived three years without war between Aram and Israel.” 2 In the third year King Jehoshaphat of Judah came down to visit#tn The word “visit” is supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons. the king of Israel. 3 The king of Israel said to his servants, “Surely you recognize that Ramoth Gilead belongs to us, though we are hesitant to reclaim it from the king of Syria.”#tn Heb “Do you know that Ramoth Gilead belongs to us, and we hesitate to take it from the hand of the king of Aram?” The rhetorical question expects the answer, “Of course, you must know!” 4 Then he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to attack Ramoth Gilead?” Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “I will support you; my army and horses are at your disposal.”#tn Heb “Like me, like you; like my people, like your people; like my horses; like your horses.” 5 Then Jehoshaphat added,#tn Heb “and Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel.” “First seek an oracle from the Lord.”#tn Heb “the word of the Lord.” Jehoshaphat is requesting a prophetic oracle revealing the Lord’s will in the matter and their prospects for success. For examples of such oracles, see 2 Sam 5:19, 23-24. 6 So the king of Israel assembled about four hundred prophets and asked them, “Should I attack Ramoth Gilead or not?”#tn Heb “Should I go against Ramoth Gilead for war or should I refrain?” They said, “Attack! The sovereign one#tn Though Jehoshaphat requested an oracle from “the Lord” (יְהוָה, Yahweh), they stop short of actually using this name and substitute the title אֲדֹנָי (’adonai, “lord; master”). This ambiguity may explain in part Jehoshaphat’s hesitancy and caution (vv. 7-8). He seems to doubt that the four hundred are genuine prophets of the Lord. will hand it over to the king.” 7 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not a prophet of the Lord still here, that we may ask him?” 8 The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man through whom we can seek the Lord’s will.#tn Heb “to seek the Lord from him.” But I despise#tn Or “hate.” him because he does not prophesy prosperity for me, but disaster. His name is Micaiah son of Imlah.#tn The words “his name is” are supplied for stylistic reasons. Jehoshaphat said, “The king should not say such things.” 9 The king of Israel summoned an official and said, “Quickly bring Micaiah son of Imlah.”
10 Now the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah were sitting on their respective thrones,#tn Heb “were sitting, a man on his throne.” dressed in their robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria.#map For location see Map2-B1; Map4-D3; Map5-E2; Map6-A4; Map7-C1. All the prophets were prophesying before them. 11 Zedekiah son of Kenaanah made iron horns and said, “This is what the Lord says, ‘With these you will gore Syria until they are destroyed.’” 12 All the prophets were prophesying the same, saying, “Attack Ramoth Gilead! You will succeed; the Lord will hand it over to the king.” 13 Now the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, “Look, the prophets are in complete agreement that the king will succeed.#tn Heb “the words of the prophets are [with] one mouth good for the king.” Your words must agree with theirs; you must predict success.”#tn Heb “let your words be like the word of each of them and speak good.” 14 But Micaiah said, “As certainly as the Lord lives, I will say what the Lord tells me to say.”
15 When he came before the king, the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we attack Ramoth Gilead or not?” He answered him, “Attack! You will succeed; the Lord will hand it over to the king.”#sn “Attack! You will succeed; the Lord will hand it over to the king.” One does not expect Micaiah, having just vowed to speak only what the Lord tells him, to agree with the other prophets and give the king an inaccurate prophecy. Micaiah’s actions became understandable later, when it is revealed that the Lord desires to deceive the king and lead him to his demise. The Lord even dispatches a lying spirit to deceive Ahab’s prophets. Micaiah can lie to the king because he realizes this lie is from the Lord. It is important to note that in v. 14 Micaiah only vows to speak the word of the Lord; he does not necessarily say he will tell the truth. In this case the Lord’s word itself is deceptive. Only when the king adjures him to tell the truth (v. 16), does Micaiah do so. 16 The king said to him, “How many times must I make you solemnly promise in#tn Or “swear an oath by.” the name of the Lord to tell me only the truth?” 17 Micaiah#tn Heb “he”; the referent (Micaiah) has been specified in the translation for clarity. said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains like sheep that have no shepherd. Then the Lord said, ‘They have no master. They should go home in peace.’” 18 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you he does not prophesy prosperity for me, but disaster?” 19 Micaiah#tn Heb “he”; the referent (Micaiah) has been specified in the translation for clarity. said, “That being the case, hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, with all the heavenly assembly standing on his right and on his left. 20 The Lord said, ‘Who will deceive Ahab, so he will attack Ramoth Gilead and die#tn Heb “and fall.” there?’ One said this and another that. 21 Then a spirit#tn Heb “the spirit.” The significance of the article prefixed to רוּחַ (ruakh) is uncertain, but it could contain a clue as to this spirit’s identity, especially when interpreted in light of v. 24. It is certainly possible, and probably even likely, that the article is used in a generic or dramatic sense and should be translated, “a spirit.” In the latter case it would show that this spirit was vivid and definite in the mind of Micaiah the storyteller. However, if one insists that the article indicates a well-known or universally known spirit, the following context provides a likely referent. Verse 24 tells how Zedekiah slapped Micaiah in the face and then asked sarcastically, “Which way did the spirit from the Lord (רוּחַ־יְהוָה, [ruakh-Yahweh], Heb “the spirit of the Lord”) go when he went from me to speak to you?” When the phrase “the spirit of the Lord” refers to the divine spirit (rather than the divine breath or mind, Isa 40:7, 13) elsewhere, the spirit energizes an individual or group for special tasks or moves one to prophesy. This raises the possibility that the deceiving spirit of vv. 20-23 is the same as the divine spirit mentioned by Zedekiah in v. 24. This would explain why the article is used on רוּחַ; he can be called “the spirit” because he is the well-known spirit who energizes the prophets. stepped forward and stood before the Lord. He said, ‘I will deceive him.’ The Lord asked him, ‘How?’ 22 He replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ The Lord#tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity. said, ‘Deceive and overpower him.#tn The Hebrew text has two imperfects connected by וְגַם (vÿgam). These verbs could be translated as specific futures, “you will deceive and also you will prevail,” in which case the Lord is assuring the spirit of success on his mission. However, in a commissioning context (note the following imperatives) such as this, it is more likely that the imperfects are injunctive, in which case one could translate, “Deceive, and also overpower.” Go out and do as you have proposed.’ 23 So now, look, the Lord has placed a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours; but the Lord has decreed disaster for you.” 24 Zedekiah son of Kenaanah approached, hit Micaiah on the jaw, and said, “Which way did the Lord’s spirit go when he went from me to speak to you?” 25 Micaiah replied, “Look, you will see in the day when you go into an inner room to hide.” 26 Then the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the city official and Joash the king’s son. 27 Say, ‘This is what the king says, “Put this man in prison. Give him only a little bread and water#tn Heb “the bread of affliction and the water of affliction.” until I safely return.”’”#tn Heb “come in peace.” So also in v. 28. 28 Micaiah said, “If you really do safely return, then the Lord has not spoken through me.” Then he added, “Take note,#tn Heb “Listen.” all you people.”
29 The king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah attacked Ramoth Gilead. 30 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and then enter#tn The Hebrew verbal forms could be imperatives (“Disguise yourself and enter”), but this would make no sense in light of the immediately following context. The forms are better interpreted as infinitives absolute functioning as cohortatives. See IBHS 594 §35.5.2a. Some prefer to emend the forms to imperfects. into the battle; but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and then entered into the battle. 31 Now the king of Syria had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, “Do not fight common soldiers or high-ranking officers;#tn Heb “small or great.” fight only the king of Israel.” 32 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “He must be the king of Israel.” So they turned and attacked him, but Jehoshaphat cried out. 33 When the chariot commanders realized he was not the king of Israel, they turned away from him. 34 Now an archer shot an arrow at random,#tn Heb “now a man drew a bow in his innocence” (i.e., with no specific target in mind, or at least without realizing his target was the king of Israel). and it struck the king of Israel between the plates of his armor. The king#tn Heb “he”; the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity. ordered his charioteer, “Turn around and take me from the battle line,#tn Heb “camp.” because I’m wounded.” 35 While the battle raged throughout the day, the king stood propped up in his chariot opposite the Syrians. He died in the evening; the blood from the wound ran down into the bottom of the chariot. 36 As the sun was setting, a cry went through the camp, “Each one should return to his city and to his homeland.” 37 So the king died and was taken to Samaria, where they buried him.#tn Heb “and the king died and he came to Samaria, and they buried the king in Samaria.” 38 They washed off the chariot at the pool of Samaria (this was where the prostitutes bathed);#tn Heb “now the prostitutes bathed.” dogs licked his blood, just as the Lord had said would happen.#tn Heb “according to the word of the Lord which he spoke.”
39 The rest of the events of Ahab’s reign, including a record of his accomplishments and how he built a luxurious palace and various cities, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.#tn Heb “As for the rest of the acts of Ahab and all that he did, and the house of ivory which he built and all the cities which he built, are they not written on the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Israel?” 40 Ahab passed away.#tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.” His son Ahaziah replaced him as king.
Jehoshaphat’s Reign over Judah
41 In the fourth year of King Ahab’s reign over Israel, Asa’s son Jehoshaphat became king over Judah. 42 Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king and he reigned for twenty-five years in Jerusalem.#map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4. His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi. 43 He followed in his father Asa’s footsteps and was careful to do what the Lord approved.#tn Heb “he walked in all the way of Asa his father and did not turn from it, doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord.” (22:44)#sn Beginning with 22:43b, the verse numbers through 22:53 in the English Bible differ from the verse numbers in the Hebrew text (BHS), because 22:43b in the English Bible = 22:44 in the Hebrew text. The remaining verses in the chapter differ by one, with 22:44-53 ET = 22:45-54 HT. However, the high places were not eliminated; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places. 44 (22:45) Jehoshaphat was also at peace with the king of Israel.
45 The rest of the events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, including his successes and military exploits, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.#tn Heb “As for the rest of the events of Jehoshaphat, and his strength that he demonstrated and how he fought, are they not written on the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Judah?” 46 He removed from the land any male cultic prostitutes who had managed to survive the reign of his father Asa.#tn Heb “and the rest of the male cultic prostitutes who were left in the days of Asa his father, he burned from the land.” Some understand the verb בִּעֵר (bi’er) to mean “sweep away” here rather than “burn.” See the note at 1 Kgs 14:10.sn Despite Asa’s opposition to these male cultic prostitutes (see 1 Kgs 15:12) some of them had managed to remain in the land. Jehoshaphat finished what his father had started. 47 There was no king in Edom at this time; a governor ruled. 48 Jehoshaphat built a fleet of large merchant ships#tn Heb “a fleet of Tarshish [ships].” This probably refers to large ships either made in or capable of traveling to the distant western port of Tarshish. to travel to Ophir for gold, but they never made the voyage because they were shipwrecked in Ezion Geber. 49 Then Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my sailors join yours in the fleet,”#tn Heb “Let my servants go with your servants in the fleet.” but Jehoshaphat refused.
50 Jehoshaphat passed away#tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.” and was buried with his ancestors in the city of his ancestor#tn Heb “with his fathers in the city of his father.” David. His son Jehoram replaced him as king.
Ahaziah’s Reign over Israel
51 In the seventeenth year of King Jehoshaphat’s reign over Judah, Ahab’s son Ahaziah became king over Israel in Samaria.#map For location see Map2-B1; Map4-D3; Map5-E2; Map6-A4; Map7-C1. He ruled for two years over Israel. 52 He did evil in the sight of#tn Heb “in the eyes of.” the Lord and followed in the footsteps#tn Or “way.” of his father and mother; like Jeroboam son of Nebat, he encouraged Israel to sin.#tn Heb “and walked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam son of Nebat who made Israel sin.” 53 He worshiped and bowed down to Baal,#tn Heb “he served Baal and bowed down to him.” angering the Lord God of Israel just as his father had done.#tn Heb “according to all which his father had done.”
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1 Kings 22
22
Jehoshaphat of Judah Allies with Ahab of Israel
1They lived three years, and there was no war between Aram and Israel. 2It happened in the third year, Jehoshaphat king of Judah went down to the king of Israel, 3and the king of Israel said to his servants, “Do you know Ramoth-Gilead belongs to us, and we are doing nothing about taking it from the hand of the king of Aram?” 4Then he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to the battle for Ramoth-Gilead?” Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “I am like you;#Literally “Like I am, like you are” my people are like your people;#Literally “like my people, like your people” my horses are like your horses.”#Literally “like my horses, like your horses”
5Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire for the word of Yahweh today.” 6Then the king of Israel assembled the prophets, about four hundred men, and he said to them, “Shall I go against Ramoth-Gilead for the battle, or should I refrain?” Then they said, “Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.” 7So Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of Yahweh here that we might still inquire from him?” 8Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man to inquire from Yahweh, but I despise him, for he never prophesies anything good concerning me, but only bad: Micaiah the son of Imlah.” Then Jehoshaphat said, “The king should not say so.” 9The king of Israel summoned a certain court official, and he said, “Quickly fetch Micaiah son of Imlah.” 10The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were each sitting on his throne, dressed in their robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying before them. 11Zedekiah son of Kenaanah made horns of iron for himself and said, “Thus says Yahweh: ‘With these you shall gore the Arameans until finishing them.’ ” 12All of the prophets were likewise prophesying, saying, “Go up to Ramoth-Gilead and triumph, and Yahweh will give it into the hand of the king.”
13Then the messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, “Please now, the words of the prophet are unanimously#Literally “one mouth” favorable to the king. Please let your words be as one word with them, and speak favorably.” 14Then Micaiah said, “As Yahweh lives,#Literally “The life of Yahweh” surely only as Yahweh speaks to me, that will I speak.” 15When he came to the king, the king asked him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-Gilead to the battle, or shall we refrain?” He said to him, “Go up and triumph, and Yahweh will give it into the hand of the king.” 16Then the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear that you shall not tell me anything but truth in the name of Yahweh?” 17So he said, “I saw all of Israel scattering to the mountains, like the sheep without a shepherd. Yahweh also said, ‘There are no masters for these, let them return in peace, each to his house.’ ” 18Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not say to you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but disaster?”
19And he#That is, Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of Yahweh. I saw Yahweh sitting on his throne with all the hosts of heaven standing beside him from his right hand and from his left hand. 20And Yahweh said, ‘Who will entice Ahab so that he will go up and fall at Ramoth-Gilead?’ Then this one was saying one thing and the other one was saying another.#Literally “this one said in thus and this one was saying in thus” 21Then a spirit came out and stood before Yahweh and said, ‘I will entice him,’ and Yahweh said to him, ‘How?’ 22He said, ‘I will go out and I will be a false spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And he#That is, Yahweh said, ‘You shall entice and succeed, go out and do so.’ 23So then, see that Yahweh has placed a false spirit in the mouth of all of these your prophets, and Yahweh has spoken disaster concerning you.”
24Then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah came near and slapped Micaiah on the cheek and said, “When did the Spirit of Yahweh pass from me to speak with you?” 25Then Micaiah said, “Behold, you are about to see on that day when you go from room to room#Literally “private room in private room” to hide.” 26The king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the commander of the city and to Jehoash the son of the king; 27and say, ‘Thus says the king: “Put this fellow in the house of imprisonment and feed him reduced rations of food and water until I come in peace.” ’ ” 28Then Micaiah said, “If you indeed return in peace, then Yahweh has not spoken with me.” Then he said, “Let all the peoples hear!”
29Then the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth-Gilead. 30Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into the battle, but you wear your robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and he went into the battle. 31The king of Aram commanded his thirty-two chariot commanders, saying, “You shall not fight with small or great, but only against the king of Israel, him alone!” 32When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “Surely he is the king of Israel,” and they turned to fight against him, so Jehoshaphat called out. 33When the chariot commanders saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned away from him. 34But another man drew his bow fully and struck the king of Israel between the armor scales and the breastplate; so he said to his chariot driver, “Turn the chariot#Literally “your hand” and bring me out from the camp, for I am wounded.”
35The battle intensified on that day, and the king was being propped up in the chariot opposite Aram, but he died in the evening, and the blood of the wound ran out to the floor of the chariot. 36Then the shout passed through the camp about sunset, saying, “Each man to his city and each to his land!” 37So the king died, and they brought him#Literally “and he went” to Samaria, and they buried the king in Samaria. 38They washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked his blood (now, the prostitutes washed themselves there) according to the word of Yahweh which he had spoken. 39The remainder of the acts of Ahab and all that he did, and the ivory palace and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Israel? 40So Ahab slept with his ancestors,#Or “fathers” and Ahaziah his son became king in his place.
King Jehoshaphat of Judah
41Jehoshaphat the son of Asa became king over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. 42Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. The name of his mother was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. 43He walked in all of the way of Asa his father, and he did not turn aside from it, doing right in the eyes of Yahweh.#1 Kings 22:44 begins here in the Hebrew Bible Only he did not remove the high places; the people were still sacrificing and burning incense on the high places. 44#1 Kings 22:44– 53 in the English Bible is 22:45–54 in the Hebrew Bible But, Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel. 45The remainder of the acts of Jehoshaphat, his powerful deeds he did, and how he fought, are they not written in the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Judah? 46The remainder of the male shrine prostitutes who were left over in the days of Asa his father he exterminated from the land. 47There was not a king in Edom; a governor served as king. 48Jehoshaphat built#According to the reading tradition(Qere); what is written (Kethib) is “ten” ships of the Tarshish type to go to Ophir for the gold; but he did not go because the ships were destroyed at Ezion-Geber. 49Then Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants go with your servants in the ships,” but Jehoshaphat was not willing. 50And Jehoshaphat slept with his ancestors#Or “fathers” and was buried with his ancestors#Or “fathers” in the city of David his ancestor,#Or “father” and Joram his son became king in his place.
King Ahaziah of Israel
51Ahaziah son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. 52He did evil in the eyes of Yahweh, and he went in the way of his father and his mother and in the way of Jeroboam son of Nebat who caused Israel to sin. 53He served Baal and bowed down to him; and he provoked Yahweh the God of Israel according to all that his father did.
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