2 CHRONICLES LESSON 18
We will begin this lesson in II Chronicles 18:1 "Now Jehoshaphat
had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab."
This was a terrible mistake on the part of Jehoshaphat. Those of
God should never bind themselves together with the very worldly
people. Ahab and his wife, Jezebel, were very evil. They could,
possibly, be thought of as the most evil rule of the ten tribes of
Israel. God had blessed Jehoshaphat so greatly that he was very rich.
He had plenty of military men, himself, and they were well-equipped.
He did not need Ahab. The very worst thing that Jehoshaphat had done
was to allow Ahab and Jezebel's daughter, Athaliah, to marry his son,
Jehoram.
II Chronicles 18:2 "And after [certain] years he went down to
Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance,
and for the people that [he had] with him, and persuaded him to go up
[with him] to Ramoth-gilead."
This is actually many years after the marriage of Jehoshaphat's
son and Ahab's wicked daughter. This journey was believed to be in the
17th year of Jehoshaphat's reign. Ahab had, probably, invited
Jehoshaphat to come, so he could talk him into helping him. The
animals slaughtered were for a great feast for Jehoshaphat. Ramoth-
gilead was the place for the battle that Ahab had planned. This was a
city in the land of Gad.
II Chronicles 18:3 "And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat
king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth-gilead? And he answered
him, I [am] as thou [art], and my people as thy people; and [we will
be] with thee in the war."
They were in-laws, since their children had married. Jehoshaphat
would like to help him in his trouble.
II Chronicles 18:4 "And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel,
Inquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day."
Ahab was not a follower of the LORD. This request from
Jehoshaphat was so that he would not be in a battle that would
displease God. Since he was in the land of Ahab, it would have to be
Ahab who would inquire of the LORD.
II Chronicles 18:5 "Therefore the king of Israel gathered
together of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go
to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up;
for God will deliver [it] into the king's hand."
These 400 prophets were not of Baal or Ashteroth, but were the
prophets that had been chosen to serve in the calf worship. They were
not true prophets, however. They would say exactly what the king
wanted to hear. They were not true prophets of God.
II Chronicles 18:6 But Jehoshaphat said, [Is there] not here a
prophet of the LORD besides, that we might inquire of him?
Jehoshaphat was not impressed with these prophets, who had not
been ordained of God to be prophets. He wants to hear from a true
prophet of God.
II Chronicles 18:7 "And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat,
[There is] yet one man, by whom we may inquire of the LORD: but I hate
him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same
[is] Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king
say so."
Ahab did not like the prophet, Micaiah, because he prophesied the
truth about Ahab. Ahab did not want to hear the truth. He wanted the
prophet to agree with him. He is the only true prophet among them all.
There is little known about Micaiah, except what is here. He seemed to
be a prophet, who had warned Ahab in the past. Jehoshaphat seems to be
courteous to Ahab, here, but Ahab is aware that Jehoshaphat wants to
hear the prophet, so he sends for him.
II Chronicles 18:8 "And the king of Israel called for one [of
his] officers, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla."
He seems to be well-known. The officer knew where to find him.
He went and brought the prophet to speak to Ahab and Jehoshaphat.
II Chronicles 18:9 "And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king
of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in [their] robes,
and they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of
Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them."
The place, they were to accept the prophets, had to be a fairly
large flat area for 401 prophets to be there. The robes meant that
Jehoshaphat and Ahab were in their kingly robes. All of the prophets,
who had a message, would be heard.
II Chronicles 18:10 "And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made
him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the LORD, With these thou
shalt push Syria until they be consumed."
"Horns" symbolize strength, or power. These horns of iron would
show great strength. Zedekiah was saying, that the power of Ahab was
so great, he could not lose. Syria would be nothing more than a push-
over for him.
II Chronicles 18:11 "And all the prophets prophesied so, saying,
Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver [it]
into the hand of the king."
Of course, all of these false prophets would say the same thing,
because that was what Ahab wanted to hear. They were prophesying to
itching ears, not the truth.
II Chronicles 18:12 "And the messenger that went to call Micaiah
spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets [declare] good
to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be
like one of theirs, and speak thou good."
This messenger, that went to get Micaiah, did not want any
trouble. He asked Micaiah to say the same thing the 400 false
prophets had said. This would not be much of a prophet that would
allow a messenger from this evil king tell him what to prophesy.
II Chronicles 18:13 "And Micaiah said, [As] the LORD liveth, even
what my God saith, that will I speak."
This is spoken like a true prophet. He is a messenger from God.
II Chronicles 18:14 "And when he was come to the king, the king
said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or
shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be
delivered into your hand."
This was a true prophecy from God. They, probably, might win the
battle. Not all would come back alive though. He did not tell a lie,
he just did not tell all of the truth. This is really what he thought
they wanted from him.
II Chronicles 18:15 "And the king said to him, How many times
shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the
name of the LORD?"
King Ahab senses there was something wrong here. He usually
prophesied against Ahab.
II Chronicles 18:16 "Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered
upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said,
These have no master; let them return [therefore] every man to his
house in peace."
Now, we get a few more of the details of the prophecy. Their
leader, Ahab, would die. They would be sheep without a shepherd. The
battle would be over, and all would go home in peace. The only
difference was Ahab would die.
II Chronicles 18:17 "And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat,
Did I not tell thee [that] he would not prophesy good unto me, but
evil?"
Ahab did not take this as a warning, but as an affront from this
prophet of the LORD. He reminded Jehoshaphat, that he had said this
prophet would speak evil of him.
II Chronicles 18:18 "Again he said, Therefore hear the word of
the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of
heaven standing on his right hand and [on] his left."
Micaiah had a vision of heaven and the throne of God. Notice,
this prophet was telling Ahab that these words were from God. The
"host of heaven", here, would be angels that were there to do the
wishes of the LORD. "Angels" are ministering spirits.
II Chronicles 18:19 "And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab
king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one
spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner."
These angel spirits around the throne were included in the
actions of the LORD. It is interesting, that God would use these angel
spirits. He could have just as easily caused Ahab to believe the lie
without all of this. He had chosen to bring the lie to Ahab through
these 400 false prophets, however. He would die at Ramoth-gilead,
after they convinced him to go.
II Chronicles 18:20 "Then there came out a spirit, and stood
before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto
him, Wherewith?" II Chronicles 18:21 "And he said, I will go out, and
be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And [the LORD]
said, Thou shalt entice [him], and thou shalt also prevail: go out,
and do [even] so."
This lying spirit would enter into the 400 false prophets, and
they would prophesy a lie.
II Chronicles 18:22 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a
lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath
spoken evil against thee."
Michaiah was telling Ahab the truth, but he prefered to listen to
the lies of the false prophets, because they were telling him
something he wanted to hear.
II Chronicles 18:23 "Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came
near, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the
Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?"
We see that the slap of Micaiah by Zedekiah was a way of
insulting him. Zedekiah was saying, you were not hearing from God. We
do not have a lying spirit speaking through us.
II Chronicles 18:24 "And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on
that day when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself."
Micaiah told Zedekiah that time would settle this. A prophecy
that comes true is from God.
II Chronicles 18:25 "Then the king of Israel said, Take ye
Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to
Joash the king's son;" II Chronicles 18:26 "And say, Thus saith the
king, Put this [fellow] in the prison, and feed him with bread of
affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace."
It appears, they had already had Micaiah locked up, because the
king did not like his prophecies. This is, probably, speaking of the
person in charge of the prison, not actually Ahab's son. It would be
highly unlikely the king's son would be a jail-keeper.
II Chronicles 18:27 "And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return
in peace, [then] hath not the LORD spoken by me. And he said, Hearken,
all ye people."
If Ahab returned alive, it would mean that Micaiah was not a true
prophet. If Ahab died in the battle, Micaiah was the only true
prophet, of Ahab's prophets. Micaiah wanted all of the people to
remember this.
II Chronicles 18:28 "So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the
king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead." II Chronicles 18:29 "And the
king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and will
go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel
disguised himself; and they went to the battle."
Jehoshaphat, probably, believed Michaiah, but he realized the
harm would not come to him individually. In a sense Ahab believed him
too, because he disguised himself, thinking they would not kill him,
if they thought him to be a commoner.
II Chronicles 18:30 "Now the king of Syria had commanded the
captains of the chariots that [were] with him, saying, Fight ye not
with small or great, save only with the king of Israel."
The orders from the king of Syria to his men was that they were
not to kill anyone, except king Ahab. He had no quarrel with the men,
just Ahab.
II Chronicles 18:31 "And it came to pass, when the captains of
the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It [is] the king of
Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat
cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them [to depart]
from him."
Jehoshaphat had on the kingly robes, and the men of Syria thought
he was Ahab. The had encircled him to kill him, but he cried out that
he was Jehoshaphat, and they believed him. God had actually opened
their understanding that this truly was not Ahab.
II Chronicles 18:32 "For it came to pass, that, when the captains
of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they
turned back again from pursuing him."
The men of Syria moved away from Jehoshaphat, when they realized
he was not the king they were looking for.
II Chronicles 18:33 "And a [certain] man drew a bow at a venture,
and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness:
therefore he said to his chariot man, Turn thine hand, that thou
mayest carry me out of the host; for I am wounded."
The person who shot the arrow was not aiming at anything. He shot
an arrow in the air at random, not expecting to hit anyone. God guided
the arrow to the vital part of Ahab. He was shot in the area of his
heart. This was the area covered by the breastplate. Ahab was not
instantly killed, and requested his chariot man to turn the chariot
around, and take him out of the heat of the battle.
II Chronicles 18:34 "And the battle increased that day: howbeit
the king of Israel stayed [himself] up in [his] chariot against the
Syrians until the even: and about the time of the sun going down he
died."
One thing we would have to say for Ahab, he was a brave man. He
retired to the outer part of the battle, and fought all day even
wounded as he was, before he died. His blood collected in the bottom
of the chariot. His chariot was washed at the pool of Samaria and his
blood was licked up of the dogs, as was prophesied.
2 Chronicles 18 Questions
1. What terrible thing did Jehoshaphat do in verse 1?
2. Who was Ahab's evil wife?
3. What did Jehoshaphat do, that was even worse than joining affinity
with Ahab?
4. When did Jehoshaphat go to see Ahab in Samaria?
5. What did Ahab do in his honor?
6. Ramoth-gilead was the place of the __________.
7. It was in the land of ______.
8. What did Ahab ask Jehoshaphat to do?
9. How did Jehoshaphat answer him?
10. Who did Jehoshaphat want to consult before going to battle?
11. How many prophets came to speak?
12. Who were these prophets?
13. What would these prophets say?
14. Was Jehoshaphat satisfied with the 400 prophets?
15. Why had Ahab not called Micaiah already?
16. Where did Ahab receive the prophets?
17. Who seemed to be the leader of the 400 prophets?
18. What had he made of iron?
19. "Horns" symbolize _________, or __________.
20. What message did the prophets give Ahab?
21. What did the messenger, that went for Micaiah, try to get him to
say?
22. In verse 16, Micaiah saw what?
23. What did that mean?
24. What did Ahab do to Michaiah?
25. What are the "host of heaven" spoken of here?
26. What are "angels"?
27. Whose mouth will the lie come from?
28. What was meant by slapping Micaiah?
29. What will determine which prophecy is true?
30. What happens to Ahab?
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