1 Kings 22

V 1–5: TOGETHER Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, is at peace with Israel during his reign. He joins with Ahab, king of Israel, to fight against the Syrians. Jehoshaphat, a godly king, suggests that the Lord should be consulted first. V 6–14: TEMPTING Ahab obliges with 400 prophets, all encouraging him to go and fight against Syria. The prominent false prophet, Zedekiah, endorses and confirms this by an enacted prophecy. Jehoshaphat seems to discern that none of them are ‘prophets of the Lord’ and asks if there is one. Micaiah is brought forward with the tempting suggestion that he must agree with all the other prophets. He declares, to the man who suggests this to him, that he must give the Lord’s message. The temptation for him to compromise must be strong. V 15–25: TRUTHFUL Micaiah then seems to ‘parrot’ the same advice given by the others, but in such a way that it is obvious to Ahab that he does not really believe what he is saying. Probably he is using heavy sarcasm. Ahab asks him for his honest view, and Micaiah responds by predicting an overwhelming defeat for Ahab. Micaiah says that a lying spirit is guiding the other prophets. Zedekiah strikes him on the cheek. Micaiah predicts that Zedekiah will know that Micaiah is guided by God’s Spirit when he seeks to hide himself in the inner chamber. V 26–37: TRAGEDY Sent to prison on minimum rations, Micaiah also predicts Ahab’s death. This duly occurs as a result of the battle, despite an attempt to disguise himself. V 38: TRUTH Just as God said through His word, the dogs lick Ahab’s blood as his chariot is washed in the pool where prostitutes bathe. God’s word is true and accurate. V 39–40: TRIVIAL In describing the succession from Ahab to his son Ahaziah, as king of Israel, some of Ahab’s building exploits are mentioned. How trivial they seem in this context. V 41–50: TRANSFER The crown of Judah was transferred from Asa to Jehoshaphat in the fourth year of Ahab, king of Israel, when Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old. He reigns for thirty-five years in Jerusalem. He walks righteously, as Asa did, except that he does not remove the high places of sacrifice. A peacemaker with Israel, he banishes perverted persons from the land, and also unsuccessfully tries to operate merchant ships to trade with gold. When he dies, his throne transfers to his son, Jehoram, who succeeds him as king of Judah. V 51–53: TAINTED For two years, Ahaziah follows his father, Ahab, as king of Israel in Samaria. This is in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. It is hardly surprising that he follows his father’s sinful example of following on in the wicked ways of Jeroboam, in Baal-worship and in provoking God to anger. Ungodly parents often cause their children to fall.