1 Kings 22:17

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 22:15-28

Here Micaiah does well, but, as is common, suffers ill for so doing. I. We are told how faithfully he delivered his message, as one that was more solicitous to please God than to humour either the great or the many. In three ways he delivers his message, and all displeasing to Ahab:? 1. He spoke as the rest of the prophets had spoken, but ironically: Go, and prosper, 1 Kgs. 22:15. Ahab put the same question to him that he had put to his own prophets (Shall we go, or shall we forbear?) seeming... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 22:17

And he said ,.... The prophet, in a serious and solemn manner, being adjured by the king: I saw all Israel scattered on the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd ; the armies of Israel routed, dispersed, and fleeing, some one way and some another, on the mountains of Gilead near Ramoth, weak and helpless, not knowing where to go for safety, having none to direct them; and this was either now instantly represented to his mind, or what had been before in a dream or vision: and the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 22:17

These have no master - Here the prophet foretells the defeat of Israel, and the death of the king; they were as sheep that had not a shepherd, people that had no master, the political shepherd and master (Ahab) shall fall in battle. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 22:1-28

Crime brings its own punishment. I. THE WICKED RUSH UPON DESTRUCTION . 1 . Ahab provokes the war in which he himself will perish . The peace which had lasted so long might have continued. Every day it was prolonged was a day placed between him and death; and yet with his own hand he brings to an end the period of grace. How often are the calamities of the wicked invoked by themselves, and are the fruit of their own rashness! 2 . It came as the prompting of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 22:1-40

The Death of Ahab and the Defeat of Israel. This chapter is almost entirely occupied with an account of the death of Ahab, and of the circumstances which preceded and attended it. The earlier portion of the chapter, which contains the prophesyings of the false prophets and the vision of Micaiah, is only recorded because of its bearing on the death of the king, and the dispersion of his army. And the prominence accorded to Ahab's end only corresponds with the space assigned to his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 22:15-23

Micaiah's Prophecy. It is evident from the text and from 1 Kings 22:8 that this was not the first time Ahab and Micaiah had met. The Jews suppose, apparently with reason, that Micaiah was that prophet who, when Ahab sent Ben-hadad away with a covenant, said to the king of Israel, "Thus saith the Lord: Because thou hast let go out of thine hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people" (see 1 Kings 20:35-43 ).... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 22:17

And he said [We may imagine how entire was the change of tone. He now speaks with profound seriousness. Thenius sees in the peculiarity and originality of this vision a proof of the historical truth of this history. "We feel that we are gradually drawing nearer to the times of the later prophets. It is a vision which might rank amongst those of Isaiah or Ezekiel" (Stanley)], I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the Lord said, These have no... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 22:17

Thus adjured, Micaiah wholly changes his tone. Ahab cannot possibly mistake the meaning of his vision, especially as the metaphor of “sheep and shepherd” for king and people was familiar to the Israelites from the prayer of Moses Numbers 27:17. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 22:17

1 Kings 22:17. And he said, I saw Namely, in the Spirit, or in a vision; all Israel scattered upon the hills Upon the mountains of Gilead, where they lay encamped by Ahab’s order, or to which they fled from the enemy. As sheep that have no shepherd As people that have lost their king. The Lord said, These have no master; let them return, &c. Discharged from the war. This was fulfilled, 1 Kings 22:36. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 22:1-40

Ahab and Jehoshaphat (22:1-40)Three years after making his peace agreement with King Ben-hadad of Syria, Ahab broke it. He saw the chance to retake the border town of Ramoth-gilead, and persuaded Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, to help him (22:1-4). (Jehoshaphat had previously made an alliance with Ahab by having his son Jehoram marry Ahab’s daughter Athaliah; 2 Kings 8:16-18,2 Kings 8:25-26; 2 Chronicles 18:1; 2 Chronicles 18:1.) The professional prophets in Ahab’s court were more concerned with... read more

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