1 Kings 22:6-13

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 22:6

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 22:10

And the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, sat each on his throne ,.... In great state and majesty: having put on their robes ; their royal robes, which they wore when they appeared in pomp and grandeur: in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria ; where courts of judicature were held, and there was an open void space for the people to assemble in to hear; the word has the signification of a corn floor, and the Jews suppose they and their attendants sat in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 22:11

And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron ,.... Horns are emblems of power and might, and iron ones of greater strength still; the prophets sometimes made use of visible signs, to represent the things they prophesied of should come to pass, see Isaiah 20:2 , and the same method this prophet took: and he saith, thus saith the Lord; imitating the true prophets: with these shall thou push the Syrians until thou hast consumed them : Abarbinel thinks he had in view the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 22:12

And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper ,.... All encouraged the king to go up against this place, and prophesied of victory, as Zedekiah did: for the Lord shall deliver it into the king's hand ; see Gill on 1 Kings 22:6 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 22:13

And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him ,.... By the way, as they came along together, as Josephus F16 Antiqu. l. 8. c. 15. sect. 4. observes: behold, now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth ; they are unanimous that he shall prosper in his undertaking against the Syrians: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good ; which, as an ignorant man, he might advise to from good will... 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

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