First light before the gate of Samaria: two plain empty wooden thrones with footstools stand side by side on an open threshing floor before a plain stone gate in a wall of fine ashlar, Samaria's round hill behind, under a calm pale dawn sky.

The Book of

2 Chronicles 18

Two kings, four hundred prophets saying yes, and one man who will say only what God tells him.

34 verses≈ 7 min4 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

1SolomonWisdom asked at Gibeon
2–5The templeBuilt on Mount Moriah
6–7DedicationIf My people humble themselves
8–9Solomon's gloryThe queen of Sheba
10–16DivisionRehoboam to Asa
17–20JehoshaphatThe battle is God'sChapter 18
21–24Dark yearsJehoram to Joash
25–28Proud kingsAmaziah to Ahaz
29–32HezekiahDoors opened, Passover kept
33–35Manasseh to JosiahMercy and the Book found
36Exile and returnMay he go up

Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahab

Now Jehoshaphat had an abundance of riches and honor, and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage. And some years later he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria, where Ahab sacrificed many sheep and cattle for him and the people with him and urged him to march up to Ramoth-gilead.

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Ahab

Ahab king of Israel asked Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth-gilead?”

Jehoshaphat

And Jehoshaphat replied, “I am as you are, and my people are your people; we will join you in the war.”

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

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

Ramoth-gilead

Jehoshaphat “went down to visit Ahab in Samaria,” from Jerusalem in the south. Ramoth in Gilead stood east of the Jordan on the high plateau, on the road north toward Damascus, and Aram held it. Its exact site is uncertain.

Ahab

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

Ahab’s prophets

“Go up,” they replied, “and God 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

Four hundred prophets told the kings, “Go up.”

What did Jehoshaphat ask next?

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, with one accord the words of the prophets are favorable to the king. So please let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.”

2 Chronicles 18:13

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 they will be delivered into your hand.”

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 on His right and on His left.

And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel 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 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.”

A bare prison room of rock and plain stone under Samaria: a thin shaft of daylight from one high slit falls on a stone ledge with a flat round loaf and a small clay cup of water; an older prophet sits calmly against the wall, eyes open and steady.

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.’”

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

Reflect

Whatever my God tells me

The messenger asked Micaiah to make his words “like theirs.” Micaiah answered, “I will speak whatever my God tells me,” and it cost him a blow and a prison cell. Where are you under pressure to say only what others want to hear? Write down one true thing from God’s word you need the courage to say, kindly and plainly.

Ahab’s Defeat and Death

Dawn at the edge of a camp on the wheat plateau: a king in a plain bronze scale coat and rounded helmet steps up into a light two-wheeled chariot, while beside him another king stands in full blue-and-white royal robes and a gold circlet; a small walled town 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.

0:15

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Midmorning on the wheat plateau of Gilead, from a little distance: a king in a blue-and-white royal robe stands in a light chariot with one arm lifted high and his face turned up, crying out, while far off in a haze of dust three small enemy chariots wheel away from him.

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

When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “This is the king of Israel!” So they turned to fight against him, but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him. God drew them away from him. And when the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

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 of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans until evening. And at sunset he died.

Pray

The LORD helped him

Thank the LORD that He helps those who cry out to Him, even when they have walked into danger by their own choices. Ask for courage like Micaiah’s to speak only what God says, and for wisdom in your friendships and partnerships. Rest in His rule: no disguise hides anyone from His word, and no arrow flies outside His hand.

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2 Chronicles 18

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A verse to carry with you

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

2 Chronicles 18:13

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