The Book of first kings

Chapter 22

[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 Ramoth-gilead? 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, Inquire, 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 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.
[7] And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might inquire 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 inquire 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.

1) Proposals (Vs 1-9)

Wicked King Ahab was to be judged but humbled himself at the end of Chap 21 & God delayed the sentence

A. King of Israel (Ahab) 1-4

A peaceful time continued for 3 years from a war between Israel & Syria

(Ahab) made a covenant w/ Syria (1K20:34)& spared Benhadad’s life, but Benhadad broke the treaty

So (Ahab) asks the King of Judah, as Israel was a divided nation, to join forces and take Syria

B. King of Judah (Jehoshaphat) 5-9

Jehoshaphat wants Ahab to enquire of the prophet of the Lord about this pending war (we should pray)

Ahab gathers 400 prophets & they all say “go and the Lord will give victory”

It was if the prophets told Ahab what he wanted to hear or were on the payroll (Jer 6:14, 8:11)

Jehoshaphat advises that we had better hear from a real true prophet of the Lord

Ahab says there is one named Michaiah (but he is hated) because he told the true message of God

Jehoshaphat advises that Ahab should listen to the man of God

[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 Ramoth-gilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the king's hand.

2) Presentations (Vs 10-23)

A. Zedekiah 10-12

Each of the kings set upon a throne and the false prophets continued to minister unto them

Zedekiah used horns of iron to illustrate the thrust of 2 powerful forces wiping Syria out (entertainment)

[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 Ramoth-gilead 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?

B. Michiah 13-18

Michaiah I brought out, but not before they tried to persuade him what to say

“Prophesy unto us smooth things” Is 30:10

Saracastically, Michaiah says “Go up and the Lord will deliver into the kings hands”

Meaning that Israel would be delivered into Syria’s hands (opposite what was said by 400 others)

Ahab recognized the mockery of Michaiahs voice and demands the truth

Michaiah says that he saw in a vision Israel scattered as sheep w/o a shepherd

Meaning Israel will be defeated & their leader will perish

Ahab could not handle the truth and complained about the message

[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 Ramoth-gilead? 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.

C. Michaiah 19-23

Michaiah reveals that he also saw the host heaven stand by him on the right hand and the left hand

The Lord said who will go and persuade Ahab to fall? (The faithful & the fallen sprits stand)

A spirit stood and said I will go (and the lying spirit was allowed to do so)

Satan (Job 1:6 & Rev 12:10) (John 8:44 the devil is the father of lies)

Why? This was what Ahab wanted, a lying prophet to agree with him

[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.

3) Persecutions (Vs 24-28)

A. Zedekiah 24

Zedekiah, the false prophet, went and violently slapped Michaiah in the face for Zedekiah was offended

B. King Ahab 25-27

The king sentenced Michaiah back to the prison

C. Michaiah 28

The man of God said “all are witness, if King Ahab returns in peace, then God hath not spoken”

[29] So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.
[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.

4) Proclamations (Vs 29-36)

A. Ahab 29-30

Jehoshaphat & Ahab enter into battle (Jehoshaphat should have known better)

Ahab, wanting to prove Michaiah wrong, disguised himself, not wanting to be a prime target in battle

B. King of Syria 31-33

Benhadad said “fight one and all but make sure to kill the king of Israel named Ahab”

When the armies saw Jehoshaphat, they turned to kill him as they thought he was Ahab

Jehoshaphat cried out (2Chr 18:31) & the armies turned away for they knew it was not Ahab

C. Ahab 34-35

A certain man drew a bow at random and let fly an arrow that like a sin seeking missile hit Ahab

Ahab told his driver to get him away from the battle for “he was wounded”

But the battle increased and there was no escape

D. Armies 36

Upon the discovery of Ahabs death, a proclamation was made and the war was over

[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.

5) Prophecies Fulfilled (37-38)

A. Michaiah 37

Michaiah said Ahab would not return in peace...........Ahab died and they buried him

Michaiah was true to the Word of God

B. Anonymous Prophet 37

1 K 20:42 anonymous prophet said Ahab would die because he compromised and covenanted w/ Syria

C. Elijah 38

As one washed the blood of the king out of the chariot, the dogs licked his blood

Elijah had said in 1 Ki 21:19 that the dogs would lick Ahabs blood

Num 32:23 if ye will not do so (serve the Lord), ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out

[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?

6) Proceedings (39-53)

A. Defeat of Ahab

The 7^th king of Israel, listened to false prophets (vs 6-8), Rejected the warning of God (17,18,24-28)

B. Death of Ahab

At random, in the midst of battle, (34) a warrior shot an arrow and it hit King Ahab wounding him fatally

* That arrow was the worlds first sin guided missile* (Ps 64:7 But God shall shoot at them)

Mortally wounded & bleeding profusely, the king dies in the midst of his chariot

They wash the chariot out and dogs lick the blood off the ground

1. Michaiah the prophet foretold it (1 Kings 22:28)

2. Anonymous prophet foretold it (1 Kings 20:42) when Ahab spared Benhadads life

3. Elijah the prophet foretold it (1 Kings 21:19) when Ahab murdered Naboth

Gal 6:7Be not deceived God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth,that shall he also reap

C. Deeds of Ahab (39)

His works, the palace he built, the cities he built are all recorded in the chronicles of the kings of Israel

Ahab ruled for 22 yrs (1 Kings 16:29)

In fact all his deeds, not forgiven, are recorded in the book of works by the Lord

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

D. Dynasty of Ahab (40, 51-53)

God said that evil will brought in his sons’ days and the dynasty of Ahab will end (1 Kings 21:29,21)

The sons’ name is Ahaziah and according to Vs 51-53, he ruled for 2 years

Ahaziah was evil, leading the nation to serve the false god Baal and provoking the Lord to anger

[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 Ezion-geber.
[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.

E. Direct Contrast to Ahab (41-43a,45,46)

Judah’s King, Jehoshaphat, began to reign in Judah at the age of 35 and reigned 25 yrs

He did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord........... Projects He directed

According to 2 Chr 17:1,2

[1] And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel.
[2] And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.

He established, trained and equipped a great army to defend his people Ps33:12

2 Chr 17:3-6

[3] And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;
[4] But sought to the LORD God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.
[5] Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance.
[6] And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.

Jehoshaphat Sought the Lord (which brought reform to a nation) Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord

2 Chr 17:7-9

[7] Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Ben-hail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.
[8] And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests.
[9] And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the LORD with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people. He sent people to teach the Word of God in the land

Jehoshaphat sent people to teach the Word of God in the land

2 Chr 17:10-12

[10] And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.
[11] Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats.
[12] And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles, and cities of store.

God blessed Jehoshaphat w/ peace and allowed him prosperity (castles & cities)

Jehoshaphat, rid the land of the sodomites, homosexuals and perverted people (vs 46)

How Jehoshaphat honored God and how God honored Jehoshaphat (Ml 3:16 book of remembrance

F. Dishonor of Ahab (43b,44 & 47-49)

(44) Jehoshaphat made peace w/ king of Israel (flesh, evil) COMPROMISE allied, yoked, united, merged

2 Chr 18:1 Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance and joined affinity with Ahab

(43b)He did not do all that should be done, He did not take away the high places

(2 Chr 17:6 & 20:33) He tore down some of the idolatous altars but not all (half hearted)

(44)Alliance w/Ahab

In battle they joined, Jehoshphat nearly died but cried unto the Lord (2Chr 18:31) and was spared

Jehoshaphat was personally warned of God (2 Chr 19:1-3) and heeded for a while

(2 Chr 20:35-37) Yet once more allied w/ Ahabs’ son for a shipping venture for wealth

2 Cor6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:

He spent great money and time but God broke those ships and his plans up (God will sink your battleship

(49)Later,Ahaziah would ask to go w/Jehoshphat on a venture but Jehoshaphat has learned better

The righteous king of Judah will no longer associate himself with the works of darkness

Jehoshaphat would die and his son would reign ...but the seed of compromise was planted

His son Jehoram would reign in wickedness. Jehoram married Ahabs daughter (2 Chr 21:6)