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Texts -- 2 Chronicles 18:1-33 (NET)

Context
Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahab
18:1 Jehoshaphat was very wealthy and greatly respected . He made an alliance by marriage with Ahab , 18:2 and after several years went down to visit Ahab in Samaria . Ahab slaughtered many sheep and cattle to honor Jehoshaphat and those who came with him. He persuaded him to join in an attack against Ramoth Gilead . 18:3 King Ahab of Israel said to Jehoshaphat , “Will you go with me to attack Ramoth Gilead ?” Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “I will support you; my army is at your disposal and will support you in battle .” 18:4 Then Jehoshaphat added , “First seek an oracle from the Lord .” 18:5 So the king of Israel assembled 400 prophets and asked them, “Should we attack Ramoth Gilead or not ?” They said , “Attack ! God will hand it over to the king .” 18:6 But Jehoshaphat asked , “Is there not a prophet of the Lord still here , that we may ask him?” 18:7 The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat , “There is still one man through whom we can seek the Lord’s will. But I despise him because he does not prophesy prosperity for me, but always disaster . His name is Micaiah son of Imlah . Jehoshaphat said , “The king should not say such things !” 18:8 The king of Israel summoned an officer and said , “Quickly bring Micaiah son of Imlah .” 18:9 Now the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah were sitting on their respective thrones , dressed in their royal robes , at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria . All the prophets were prophesying before them. 18:10 Zedekiah son of Kenaanah made iron horns and said , “This is what the Lord says , ‘With these you will gore Syria until they are destroyed !’” 18:11 All the prophets were prophesying the same , saying , “Attack Ramoth Gilead ! You will succeed ; the Lord will hand it over to the king !” 18:12 Now the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, “Look , the prophets are in complete agreement that the king will succeed . Your words must agree with theirs ; you must predict success !” 18:13 But Micaiah said , “As certainly as the Lord lives , I will say what my God tells me to say !” 18:14 Micaiah came before the king and the king asked him, “Micaiah , should we attack Ramoth Gilead or not ?” He answered him, “Attack ! You will succeed ; they will be handed over to you.” 18:15 The king said to him, “How many times must I make you solemnly promise in the name of the Lord to tell me only the truth ?” 18:16 Micaiah replied , “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains like sheep that have no shepherd . Then the Lord said , ‘They have no master . They should go home in peace .’” 18:17 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat , “Didn’t I tell you he does not prophesy prosperity for me, but disaster ?” 18:18 Micaiah said , “That being the case , hear the word of the Lord : I saw the Lord sitting on his throne , with all the heavenly assembly standing on his right and on his left . 18:19 The Lord said , ‘Who will deceive King Ahab of Israel , so he will attack Ramoth Gilead and die there?’ One said this and another that . 18:20 Then a spirit stepped forward and stood before the Lord . He said , ‘I will deceive him.’ The Lord asked him, ‘How ?’ 18:21 He replied , ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets .’ The Lord said , ‘Deceive and overpower him. Go out and do as you have proposed.’ 18:22 So now , look , the Lord has placed a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours; but the Lord has decreed disaster for you.” 18:23 Zedekiah son of Kenaanah approached , hit Micaiah on the jaw , and said , “Which way did the Lord’s spirit go when he went from me to speak to you?” 18:24 Micaiah replied , “Look , you will see in the day when you go into an inner room to hide .” 18:25 Then the king of Israel said , “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the city official and Joash the king’s son . 18:26 Say , ‘This is what the king says : “Put this man in prison . Give him only a little bread and water until I return safely .”’” 18:27 Micaiah said , “If you really do return safely , then the Lord has not spoken through me!” Then he added , “Take note , all you people .” 18:28 The king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah attacked Ramoth Gilead . 18:29 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat , “I will disguise myself and then enter the battle ; but you wear your royal attire .” So the king of Israel disguised himself and they entered the battle . 18:30 Now the king of Syria had ordered his chariot commanders , “Do not fight common soldiers or high ranking officers ; fight only the king of Israel !” 18:31 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat , they said , “He must be the king of Israel !” So they turned and attacked him, but Jehoshaphat cried out. The Lord helped him; God lured them away from him. 18:32 When the chariot commanders realized he was not the king of Israel , they turned away from him. 18:33 Now an archer shot an arrow at random and it struck the king of Israel between the plates of his armor . The king ordered his charioteer , “Turn around and take me from the battle line , for I am wounded .”

Pericope

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Bible Dictionary

  • Ramoth-gilead

    [isbe] RAMOTH-GILEAD - ra'-moth-gil'-e-ad (ramoth gil'adh; Codex Vaticanus Rhemmath Galadd; Codex Alexandrinus Rhammoth, and other forms): A great and strong city East of the Jordan in the territory of Gad, which played an importan...
    [nave] RAMOTH-GILEAD Called also Ramah, 2 Kin. 8:29; 2 Chr. 22:6. A city of Gad, and a city of refuge, Deut. 4:43; Josh. 20:8; 1 Chr. 6:80. One of Solomon's commissaries at, 1 Kin. 4:13. In the possession of the Syrians, 1 Kin. ...

  • Micaiah

    [isbe] MICAIAH - mi-ka'-ya, mi-ki'-a (mikhayahu, "who is like Yah?"; Meichaias): A frequently occurring Old Testament name occasionally contracted to MICA or MICAH (which see). In the King James Version it is usually spelled "Micha...
    [smith] (who is like God?). Micahiah, the son of Imlah, was a prophet of Samaria, who in the last year of the reign of Ahab king of Israel predicted his defeat and death, B.C. 897. (1 Kings 22:1-35; 2 Chronicles 18:1) ...
    [nave] MICAIAH, a prophet who reproved King Ahab, 1 Kin. 22:8-28; 2 Chr. 18:4-27.

  • Jehoshaphat

    [nave] JEHOSHAPHAT 1. David's recorder, 2 Sam. 8:16; 20:24; 1 Kin. 4:3; 1 Chr. 18:15. 2. One of Solomon's commissariat officers, 1 Kin. 4:17. 3. King of Judah. Succeeds Asa, 1 Kin. 15:24; 22:41; 1 Chr. 3:10; 2 Chr. 17:1; Matt. 1:...

  • Israel

    [nave] ISRAEL 1. A name given to Jacob, Gen. 32:24-32; 2 Kin. 17:34; Hos. 12:3, 4. 2. A name of the Christ in prophecy, Isa. 49:3. 3. A name given to the descendants of Jacob, a nation. Called also Israelites, and Hebrews, Gen. 4...

  • Ahab

    [nave] AHAB 1. King of Israel, 1 Kin. 16:29. Marries Jezebel, 1 Kin. 16:31. Idolatry of, 1 Kin. 16:30-33; 18:18, 19; 21:25, 26; other wickedness of, 2 Kin. 3:2; 2 Chr. 21:6; 22:3, 4; Mic. 6:16. Reproved by Elijah; assembles the ...

  • Preaching

    [nave] PREACHING, the act of exhorting, prophesying, reproving, teaching. Solomon called preacher, Eccl. 1:1, 12. Noah called preacher, 2 Pet. 2:5. Sitting while, Matt. 5:1; Luke 4:20; 5:3. Moses, slow of speech, Ex. 4:10-12. Re...

  • Vision

    [nave] VISION, a mode of revelation, Num. 12:6; 1 Sam. 3:1; 2 Chr. 26:5; Psa. 89:19; Prov. 29:18; Jer. 14:14; 23:16; Dan. 1:17; Hos. 12:10; Joel 2:28; Obad. 1; Hab. 2:2; Acts 2:17. Of Abraham, concerning his descendants, Gen. 15:1-...

  • Imla

    [ebd] replenisher, the father of Micaiah the prophet (2 Chr. 18:7,8).
    [smith] (whom God will fill up), father or progenitor of Micaiah the prophet. (2 Chronicles 18:7,8) The form IMLAH is employed in the parallel narrative. (1 Kings 12:8,9) (B.C. before 896.)
    [nave] IMLA, called also Imlah. Father of Michaiah the prophet, 2 Chr. 18:7, 8.

  • Chenaanah

    [isbe] CHENAANAH - ke-na'-a-na (kena`anah, feminine form of "Canaan," though others explain it as "toward Canaan"): The name of two men: (1) The fourth-named of the seven sons of Bilham, son of Jediael, of the tribe of Benjamin, a ...
    [smith] (merchant). Son of Bilhan, son of Jediael, son of Benjamin, head of a Benjamite house, (1 Chronicles 7:10) probably of the family of the Belaites. [BELA] Father or ancestor of Zedekiah the false prophet. (1 Kings 22:11...
    [nave] CHENAANAH 1. Father of the false prophet Zedekiah, 1 Kin. 22:11, 24; 2 Chr. 18:10, 23. 2. Brother of Ehud, 1 Chr. 7:10.

  • War

    [nave] WAR Divine approval of, 2 Sam. 22:35. Civil, Judg. 12:1-6; 20; 2 Sam. 2:12-31; 3:1; 20; 1 Kin. 14:30; 16:21; Isa. 19:2; forbidden, 2 Chr. 11:4; averted, Josh. 22:11-34. Enemy harangued by general of opposing side, 2 Kin. 1...

  • Zedekiah

    [ebd] righteousness of Jehovah. (1.) The last king of Judah. He was the third son of Josiah, and his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah, and hence he was the brother of Jehoahaz (2 Kings 23:31; 24:17, 18...
    [nave] ZEDEKIAH 1. Made king of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar, 2 Kin. 24:17, 18; 1 Chr. 3:15; 2 Chr. 36:10; Jer. 37:1. Throws off his allegiance to Nebuchadnezzar, 2 Kin. 24:20; 2 Chr. 36:13; Jer. 52:3; Ezek. 17:12-21. Forms an allianc...

  • JEHOSHAPHAT (2)

    [isbe] JEHOSHAPHAT (2) - je-hosh'-a-fat (yehoshaphaT, "Yahweh judges"): The 4th king of Judah, son of Asa. His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi, of whom nothing further is known. He was 35 years of age at his accession, an...

  • Amon

    [ebd] builder. (1.) The governor of Samaria in the time of Ahab. The prophet Micaiah was committed to his custody (1 Kings 22:26; 2 Chr. 18:25). (2.) The son of Manasseh, and fourteenth king of Judah. He restored idolatry, and set...
    [smith] (builder). One of Ahab?s governors. (1 Kings 22:26; 2 Chronicles 18:25) King of Judah, son and successor of Manasseh, reigned two years, from B.C. 642 to 640. Amon devoted himself wholly to the service of false gods, b...
    [nave] AMON 1. Governor of the city of Samaria, 1 Kin. 22:26; 2 Chr. 18:25. 2. King of Judah, 2 Kin. 21:18-26; 2 Chr. 33:21-25; Zeph. 1:1; Matt. 1:10. 3. Ancestor of one of the families of the Nethinim, Neh. 7:59. Called Ami, Ez...

  • Lying

    [nave] LYING, lying spirit from God, 1 Kin. 22:21-23; 2 Chr. 18:20-22. See: Hypocrisy; Lies and Deceits.

  • AFFINITY

    [ebd] relationship by alliance (2 Chr. 18:1) or by marriage (1 Kings 3:1). Marriages are prohibited within certain degrees of affinity, enumerated Lev. 18:6-17. Consanguinity is relationship by blood.
    [isbe] AFFINITY - a-fin'-i-ti (chathan "to join one-self"): This term is used three times in the Old Testament: (1) in 1 Ki 3:1, where we read that "Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh King of Egypt", (2) in 2 Ch 18:1, where it is s...

  • Joash

    [smith] (to whom Jehovah hastens, i.e. to help), contracted from JEHOASH. Son of Ahaziah king of Judah (B.C. 884), and the only one of his children who escaped the murderous hand of Athaliah. After his father?s sister Jehoshabeath, ...
    [nave] JOASH 1. Son of Becher, 1 Chr. 7:8. 2. Keeper of the stores of oil, 1 Chr. 27:28. 3. Father of Gideon, Judg. 6:11, 29, 31; 7:14; 8:13, 29-32. 4. Son of Ahab, king of Israel, 1 Kin. 22:26; 2 Chr. 18:25. 5. Called also Jeh...

  • Minister

    [nave] MINISTER, a sacred teacher. Index of Sub-topics Miscellany of Minor Sub-topics; Call of; Character and Qualifications of; Charge Delivered to; Courage of; Duties of; Duties of the Church to; Emoluments of; Faithful, Instanc...

  • Prophets

    [nave] PROPHETS Called Seers, 1 Sam. 9:19; 2 Sam. 15:27; 24:11; 2 Kin. 17:13; 1 Chr. 9:22; 29:29; 2 Chr. 9:29; 12:15; 29:30; Isa. 30:10; Mic. 3:7. Schools of, 1 Kin. 20:35; 2 Kin. 2:3-15; 4:1, 38; 9:1. Kept the chronicles, 1 Chr....

  • Throne

    [isbe] THRONE - thron. (kicce', a "seat" in 2 Ki 4:10; a "royal seat" in Jon 3:6; thronos): Usually the symbol of kingly power and dignity. Solomon's throne was noted for its splendor and magnificence (1 Ki 10:18-20; compare 2 Ch 9...
    [nave] THRONE Of Pharaoh, Gen. 41:40; Ex. 11:5. Of David, 1 Kin. 2:12, 24; Psa. 132:11, 12; Isa. 9:7; Jer. 13:13; 17:25; Luke 1:32. Of Solomon, 1 Kin. 2:19; 2 Chr. 9:17-19. Of ivory, 1 Kin. 10:18-20. Of Solomon, called The Thro...

  • Armies

    [nave] ARMIES Who of the Israelites were subject to service in, Num. 1:2, 3; 26:2; 2 Chr. 25:5; who were exempt from service in, Num. 1:47-50; 2:33; Deut. 20:5-9; Judg. 7:3. Enumeration of Israel's military forces, Num. 1:2, 3; 26...
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Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • The Book of Samuel covers the period of Israel's history bracketed by Samuel's conception and the end of David's reign. David turned the kingdom over to Solomon in 971 B.C.3David reigned for 40 and one-half years (2 Sam. 2:11...
  • King Jehoshaphat of Judah made peace with King Ahab of Israel (22:44). He did so by contracting a marriage between his son, Jehoram, and Ahab's daughter, Athaliah (2 Chron. 18:1). This ended the first period of antagonism bet...
  • Another significant battle occurred between the battle of Ramoth-gilead that the writer recorded in chapter 22 (853 B.C.) and the battles he recorded in chapter 20. Ahab and his Aramean ally Ben-Hadad II (860-841 B.C.) defeat...
  • Even though 1 and 2 Chronicles give one continuous story the emphasis in 2 Chronicles is different from that in 1 Chronicles. In 1 Chronicles the emphasis is the importance of the temple in national life. However in 2 Chronic...
  • (Continued from notes on 1 Chronicles)III. The reign of Solomon chs. 1-9A. Solomon's wisdom and prosperity ch. 1B. The building of the temple 2:1-5:11. Preparations for building the temple ch. 22. The temple proper 3:1-93. Th...
  • This account of Jehoshaphat's rule reveals that God was then actively leading His people. These were the years of alliance with Israel. Ahab was on the throne of the Northern Kingdom.The Chronicler deliberately presented Jeho...
  • This chapter is very similar to 1 Kings 22. Jehoshaphat's concern for God's will guided his actions (vv. 4, 6).44The Chronicler undoubtedly wanted to encourage his audience toward repentance and restoration by showing them fi...
  • Josiah died at Megiddo in 609 B.C. when he interrupted Pharaoh Neco's military advance against the Babylonians."Fearing the advance of the Babylonians, Pharaoh Neco and the Egyptian army were on their way to assist the Assyri...
  • This section summarizes the previous incidents that deal primarily with healing and prepares for Jesus' charge to His disciples. It is transitional providing a bridge from the condition of the people that chapter 9 revealed t...
  • Mark's account of this miracle plays an important role in his Gospel. The unusually long introduction provides the setting for this miracle. It stresses Jesus' humanity, and the miracle itself demonstrates His deity. Mark lat...
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