1 Kings 22:20-24

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 22:20

And the Lord said, who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead ?.... Not that it can be supposed that the Lord entered into a consultation with the angels upon this subject; only that it was the decree of God that he should go thither, and fall by the hand of the man whom he had let go, as a just punishment of him: and one said on this manner, and another said on that manner ; not that there was such an altercation among them; it only signifies, that there are... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 22:21

And there came forth a spirit ,.... Not from the heavenly host on the right hand or the left, for they are pure and holy spirits, and impeccable, and cannot lie or deceive; but the evil spirit, Satan, the father of lies, the old deceiver, who came forth from his own place and his own company: and stood before the Lord presented himself before him, as Satan did, Job 1:6 , and said, l will persuade him ; or prevail upon him; evil spirits love to be employed in doing harm to men, they... read more

John Gill

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

And the Lord said unto him, wherewith ?.... What way and method did he propose, to persuade Ahab to go up to Ramoth? the Lord is introduced in this visionary narrative as asking this question, not as ignorant of the scheme of the evil spirit, but in order to bring it out, and lead on to the following account: and he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets ; put them on encouraging Ahab to go up, and promising him success, as he had in former... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 22:23

Now therefore behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these thy prophets ,.... That is, suffered the lying spirit to suggest a lie to them, and sent them strong delusions to believe that lie, whose minds were disposed at any rate to flatter Ahab, to whom they told it; which was the way designed to bring him to the ruin appointed for him: and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee : he had decreed it in himself, declared it by Micaiah his prophet, and suffered all... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 22:24

But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near ,.... Stepped in haste and passion from the place where he was: and smote Micaiah on the cheek ; in contempt of him, and to show his indignation at what he said; this he did in open court, before two kings; one he believed would favour and screen him in this lawless action, and the other, out of his own jurisdiction, had not courage and presence of mind to resent it: and said, which way went the Spirit of the Lord from me to speak unto thee?... read more

Adam Clarke

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

Go forth , and do so - This is no more than, "God has permitted the spirit of lying to influence the whole of thy prophets; and he now, by my mouth, apprises thee of this, that thou mayest not go and fall at Ramoth-gilead." Never was a man more circumstantially and fairly warned; he had counsels from the God of truth, and counsels from the spirit of falsity; he obstinately forsook the former and followed the latter. He was shown by this parable how every thing was going on, and that... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 22:23

The Lord hath put a lying spirit - He hath permitted or suffered a lying spirit to influence thy prophets. Is it requisite again to remind the reader that the Scriptures repeatedly represent God as doing what, in the course of his providence, he only permits or suffers to be done? Nothing can be done in heaven, in earth, or hell, but either by his immediate energy or permission. This is the reason why the Scripture speaks as above. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 22:24

Which way went the Spirit of the Lord from me - This is an expression of as great insolence as the act was of brutal aggression. "Did the Spirit of the Lord, who rests solely upon me, condescend to inspire thee? Was it at this ear [where he smote him] that it entered, in order to hold communion with thee?" Josephus tells an idle rabbinical tale about this business, which is as unworthy of repetition as it is of credit. See his Antiq. of the Jews, book viii., c. 10. 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

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