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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 22:1-14

Though Ahab continued under guilt and wrath, and the dominion of the lusts to which he had sold himself, yet, as a reward for his professions of repentance and humiliation, though the time drew near when he should descend into battle and perish, yet we have him blessed with a three years? peace (1 Kgs. 22:1) and an honourable visit made him by Jehoshaphat king of Judah, 1 Kgs. 22:2. The Jews have a fabulous conceit, that when Ahab humbled himself for his sin, and lay in sackcloth, he sent for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 22:4

This affair being lately canvassed at the council board, and very much on Ahab's mind, he puts this question to Jehoshaphat, his visitor, relation, and ally; wisely considering that his own forces were small, and that to have such an auxiliary might be of great advantage to him: and Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses ; meaning, that he and his soldiers, foot and horse, were at his service. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 22:5

And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, inquire, I pray thee, at the word of the Lord today. Being a pious and religious prince, he did not choose to go into a war at once, without consulting the Lord by his prophets, whether it was his will and pleasure they should engage in it, and should prosper; and he was desirous of having this done immediately, before they proceeded any further. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 22:6

Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men ,.... False prophets, as the Targum and Arabic version; and they are called Ahab's prophets, and not the Lord's, 1 Kings 22:23 perhaps these were the prophets of the groves, that ate at Jezebel's table, and were preserved when the prophets of Baal were destroyed, since the number agrees with them, see 1 Kings 18:19 . and said unto them, shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear ? which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 22:7

And Jehoshaphat said, is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides, that we might inquire of him? He suspected these to be false prophets, though he would not call them so; nor suggest that they were not the prophets of the Lord, because he would not affront Ahab, who had an opinion of them; and therefore asks, if there were no other that went under the character of a prophet of the Lord, that he might inquire of him for his further satisfaction. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 22:8

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 ,.... And but one in Samaria; Elijah and Elisha were elsewhere: but I hate him, for he doth not prophesy of good concerning me, but evil ; who is thought to be the same that was several times with him when engaged in the war with the king of Syria, 1 Kings 20:13 and each time, excepting the last, he brought him good tidings; but because, in his last message,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 22:9

Then the king of Israel called an officer ,.... An eunuch, as the word is sometimes used, one of pages: and said, hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah ; who, as it seems from 1 Kings 22:26 was in prison, where perhaps Ahab had cast him for his last prophecy to him, and where he had lain ever since; and this gives a reason why he could so readily send for him, knowing where he was. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 22:4

Wilt thou go with me - We find that there was a good understanding between Jehoshaphat and Ahab, which no doubt was the consequence of a matrimonial alliance between the son of the former, Jehoram, and the daughter of the latter, Athaliah; see 2 Chronicles 18:1 ; 2 Kings 8:18 . This coalition did not please God, and Jehoshaphat is severely reproved for it by Jehu the seer, 2 Chronicles 19:1-3 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 22:6

About four hundred men - These were probably the prophets of Asherah or Venus, maintained by Jezebel, who were not present at the contention on Mount Carmel. See 1 Kings 18:19 , etc. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 22:8

Micaiah the son of Imlah - The Jews suppose that it was this prophet who reproved Ahab for dismissing Ben-hadad, 1 Kings 20:35 , etc. And that it was because of the judgments with which he had threatened him, that Ahab hated him: I hate him, for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. read more

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