UNROLL
Dawn on the high wheat plateau of Gilead: a small walled stone town on a low rise, wheat fields and dark basalt boulders around it, a dusty road leading toward it, under a wide pale sky.

The Book of

1 Kings 22

Four hundred prophets tell the king what he wants to hear. One man will speak only what the LORD tells him.

53 verses≈ 11 min5 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–2Solomon's throneThe kingdom made secure
  2. 3–4WisdomA discerning heart
  3. 5–8The templeA house for the LORD's Name
  4. 9–11Glory and fallSolomon's heart turns
  5. 12–16Two kingdomsThe kingdom torn
  6. 17–19ElijahThe LORD, He is God
  7. 20–22AhabNaboth and MicaiahChapter 22

Ahab and the False Prophets

Then three years passed without war between Aram and Israel.

However, in the third year, Jehoshaphat king of Judah went down to visit the king of Israel,

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Ahab

who said to his servants, “Do you not know that Ramoth-gilead is ours, but we have failed to take it from the hand of the king of Aram?”

So he asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight against Ramoth-gilead?”

Jehoshaphat

Jehoshaphat answered the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people are your people, and my horses are your horses.”

But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire first for the word of the LORD.”

Jordan RiverJerusalemSamariaRamoth in Gilead (site uncertain)

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

Ramoth-gilead

Jehoshaphat came north from Jerusalem to Samaria. Ramoth in Gilead stood east of the Jordan on the high plateau, on the road north toward Damascus, and it was still held by “the king of Aram.” Its exact site is uncertain.

Ahab

So the king of Israel assembled the prophets, about four hundred men, and asked them, “Should I go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I refrain?”

Ahab’s prophets

“Go up,” they replied, “and the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.”

Jehoshaphat

But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not still a prophet of the LORD here of whom we can inquire?”

Ahab

The king of Israel answered, “There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me, but only bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”

Jehoshaphat

“The king should not say that!” Jehoshaphat replied.

Ahab

So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, “Bring Micaiah son of Imlah at once.”

Question

Quick question

One prophet acted out his message in front of both kings.

What did Zedekiah son of Chenaanah make for himself?

Micaiah Prophesies against Ahab

On a narrow stone street climbing toward the city gate, a court messenger leans in to speak urgently to an older prophet in a plain wool cloak, who walks on steadily, looking ahead.

Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah instructed him, “Behold now, with one accord the words of the prophets are favorable to the king. So please let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.”

But Micaiah said, “As surely as the LORD lives, I will speak whatever the LORD tells me.”

1 Kings 22:14

Ahab

When Micaiah arrived, the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should we refrain?”

Micaiah

“Go up and triumph,” Micaiah replied, “for the LORD will deliver it into the hand of the king.”

Ahab

But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear not to tell me anything but the truth in the name of the LORD?”

Evening on bare hills: sheep scattered across the slopes in small groups with no shepherd anywhere, an empty stone sheepfold below with its gate open, long shadows.

So Micaiah declared:

“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 return home in peace.’”

Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he never prophesies good for me, but only bad?”

Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear 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 and on His left.

And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one suggested this, and another that.

Then a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ ‘By what means?’ asked the LORD.

And he replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ ‘You will surely entice him and prevail,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’

So you see, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours, and the LORD has pronounced disaster against you.”

Zedekiah son of Chenaanah

Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah went up, struck Micaiah in the face, and demanded, “Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go when He departed from me to speak with you?”

Micaiah

Micaiah replied, “You will soon see, on that day when you go and hide in an inner room.”

Ahab

And the king of Israel declared, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son, and tell them that this is what the king says: ‘Put this man in prison and feed him only bread and water until I return safely.’”

Micaiah

But Micaiah replied, “If you ever return safely, the LORD has not spoken through me.” Then he added, “Take heed, all you people!”

Two kings and the prophets

what he wantsthe truthAhabwants to hear ‘Go up’Jehoshaphat‘Inquire first’400 prophets‘Go up andtriumph’Zedekiahiron hornsMicaiahonly what the LORDtells himRamoth-gileadwhere the word will betested

Whiteboard

Ahab gathered about four hundred prophets, and all of them said “Go up.” Jehoshaphat asked for “a prophet of the LORD,” and Ahab admitted, “I hate him.” Micaiah said the LORD had “pronounced disaster against you,” and staked his word on Ramoth-gilead: “If you ever return safely, the LORD has not spoken through me.”

Reflect

The voice we avoid

Ahab had four hundred prophets who agreed with him, and he said of the one who told the truth, “I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me.” Whose voice do you avoid because it might say what you don’t want to hear? Write down one way you can make room for God’s word to correct you this week.

Ahab’s Defeat and Death

Dawn at the edge of a camp: a king in plain scale armor and helmet steps up into a light two-wheeled chariot, while beside him another king stands in full royal robes and a gold circlet; a walled town small on a rise far off.

So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

Now the king of Aram had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.”

When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “Surely this is the king of Israel!” So they turned to fight against him, but Jehoshaphat cried out. And when the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

0:38

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

However, a certain man drew his bow without taking special aim, and he struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So the king said to his charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded!”

The battle raged throughout that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. And the blood from his wound ran out onto the floor of the chariot, and that evening he died.

Every man to his own city, and every man to his own land!

1 Kings 22:36

So the king died and was brought to Samaria, where they buried him. And the chariot was washed at the pool of Samaria where the prostitutes bathed, and the dogs licked up Ahab’s blood, according to the word that the LORD had spoken.

A quiet lamplit palace room: cedar wall panels and a cedar couch inlaid with small carved ivory plaques of lotus flowers and palmettes, a bronze lamp stand, a woven rug, no people.

As for the rest of the acts of Ahab, along with all his accomplishments and the ivory palace and all the cities he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

And Ahab rested with his fathers, and his son Ahaziah reigned in his place.

Jehoshaphat Reigns in Judah

Judah

Jehoshaphat of Judah · 25 years

  1. Ahab’s 4th year

    Jehoshaphat son of Asa becomes king

    In the fourth year of Ahab’s reign over Israel, Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king of Judah.

  2. Twenty-five years in Jerusalem

    Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years.

  3. His mother Azubah daughter of Shilhi

    His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.

  4. did right

    In all the ways of his father Asa

    And Jehoshaphat walked in all the ways of his father Asa; he did not turn away from them, but did what was right in the eyes of the LORD.

  5. The high places not removed

    The high places, however, were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

  6. Peace with the king of Israel

    Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel.

  7. The rest of his acts

    As for the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, along with the might he exercised and how he waged war, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

  8. Male shrine prostitutes banished

    He banished from the land the male shrine prostitutes who remained from the days of his father Asa.

  9. No king in Edom, only a deputy

    And there was no king in Edom; a deputy served as king.

Morning after a storm at a small port at the head of a gulf: wooden trading ships with single masts lie broken on the rocks and stony beach, red and gray granite mountains behind.

Jehoshaphat built ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they never set sail, because they were wrecked at Ezion-geber.

At that time Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants sail with your servants,” but Jehoshaphat refused.

And Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the city of his father David. And his son Jehoram reigned in his place.

Ahaziah Reigns in Israel

Israel

Ahaziah of Israel · 2 years

  1. Jehoshaphat’s 17th

    Ahaziah son of Ahab becomes king

    In the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat’s reign over Judah, Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria two years.

  2. did evil

    In the ways of his father and mother

    And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the ways of his father and mother and of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin.

  3. Served and worshiped Baal

    Ahaziah served and worshiped Baal, provoking the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger, just as his father had done.

Pray

Whatever the LORD tells me

Ahab died “according to the word that the LORD had spoken.” Thank God that every word He speaks comes true, in judgment and in mercy. Ask Him for Micaiah’s courage, to speak only what He says, and for a heart that wants His truth more than pleasant words. Thank Him that His story does not end where this book does.

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1 Kings 22

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A verse to carry with you

As surely as the LORD lives, I will speak whatever the LORD tells me.

1 Kings 22:14

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