2 Chronicles 18:7

18:7 The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man through whom we can seek the Lord’s will.¹ But I despise² him because he does not prophesy prosperity for me, but always³ disaster. His name is Micaiah son of Imlah.⁴ Jehoshaphat said, “The king should not say such things!”

2 Chronicles 18:17

18:17 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you he does not prophesy prosperity for me, but disaster?”

2 Chronicles 25:18

25:18 King Joash of Israel sent this message back to King Amaziah of Judah, “A thorn bush in Lebanon sent this message to a cedar in Lebanon, ‘Give your daughter to my son as a wife.’ Then a wild animal of Lebanon came by and trampled down the thorn bush.⁵

Isaiah 3:11

3:11 Too bad for the wicked sinners!

For they will get exactly what they deserve.⁶

Jeremiah 18:11

18:11 So now, tell the people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem⁷ this: The Lord says, ‘I am preparing to bring disaster on you! I am making plans to punish you.⁸ So, every one of you, stop the evil things you have been doing.⁹ Correct the way you have been living and do what is right.’¹⁰

Micah 2:3

2:3 Therefore the Lord says this: “Look, I am devising disaster for this nation!¹¹

It will be like a yoke from which you cannot free your neck.¹²

You will no longer¹³ walk proudly,

for it will be a time of catastrophe.

Matthew 26:24-25

26:24 The Son of Man will go as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for him if he had never been born.” 26:25 Then¹⁴ Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus¹⁵ replied, “You have said it yourself.”

Mark 14:20-21

14:20 He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who dips his hand¹⁶ with me into the bowl.¹⁷ 14:21 For the Son of Man will go as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for him if he had never been born.”

¹tn Heb “to seek the Lord from him.”

²tn Or “hate.”

³tn Heb “all his days.”

⁴tn The words “his name is” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

⁵sn The thorn bush in the allegory is Judah. Amaziah’s success had deceived him into thinking he was on the same level as the major powers in the area (symbolized by the cedar). In reality he was not capable of withstanding an attack by a real military power such as Israel (symbolized by the wild animal).

⁶tn Heb “for the work of his hands will be done to him.”

⁷map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.

⁸sn Heb “I am forming disaster and making plans against you.” The word translated “forming” is the same as that for “potter,” so there is a wordplay taking the reader back to v. 5. They are in his hands like the clay in the hands of the potter. Since they have not been pliable he forms new plans. He still offers them opportunity to repent; but their response is predictable.

⁹tn Heb “Turn, each one from his wicked way.” See v. 8.

¹⁰tn Or “Make good your ways and your actions.” See the same expression in 7:3, 5.

¹¹tn Heb “clan” or “extended family.”

¹²tn Heb “from which you will not remove your neck.” The words “It will be like a yoke” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

¹³tn Or “you will not.”

¹⁴tn Grk “answering, Judas.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation. Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to reflect the sequence of events in the narrative.

¹⁵tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

¹⁶tn Grk “one who dips with me.” The phrase “his hand” has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

¹⁷sn One who dips with me in the bowl. The point of Jesus’ comment here is not to identify the specific individual per se, but to indicate that it is one who was close to him – somebody whom no one would suspect. His comment serves to heighten the treachery of Judas’ betrayal.