27 And say, H559 Thus saith H559 the king, H4428 Put H7760 this fellow in the prison, H1004 H3608 and feed H398 him with bread H3899 of affliction H3906 and with water H4325 of affliction, H3906 until I come H935 in peace. H7965
Then Asa H609 was wroth H3707 with the seer, H7200 and put H5414 him in a prison H4115 house; H1004 for he was in a rage H2197 with him because of this thing. And Asa H609 oppressed H7533 some of the people H5971 the same time. H6256
Then the king H4428 of Israel H3478 said, H559 Take H3947 ye Micaiah, H4321 and carry him back H7725 to Amon H526 the governor H8269 of the city, H5892 and to Joash H3101 the king's H4428 son; H1121 And say, H559 Thus saith H559 the king, H4428 Put H7760 this fellow in the prison, H1004 H3608 and feed H398 him with bread H3899 of affliction H3906 and with water H4325 of affliction, H3906 until I return H7725 in peace. H7965 And Micaiah H4321 said, H559 If thou certainly H7725 return H7725 in peace, H7965 then hath not the LORD H3068 spoken H1696 by me. And he said, H559 Hearken, H8085 all ye people. H5971
Fear G5399 none G3367 of those things which G3739 thou shalt G3195 suffer: G3958 behold, G2400 the devil G1228 shall G3195 cast G906 some of G1537 you G5216 into G1519 prison, G5438 that G2443 ye may be tried; G3985 and G2532 ye shall have G2192 tribulation G2347 ten G1176 days: G2250 be thou G1096 faithful G4103 unto G891 death, G2288 and G2532 I will give G1325 thee G4671 a crown G4735 of life. G2222
Go to G33 now, G3568 ye that say, G3004 To day G4594 or G2532 to morrow G839 we will go G4198 into G1519 such G3592 a city, G4172 and G2532 continue G4160 G4160 there G1563 a G1520 year, G1763 and G2532 buy and sell, G1710 G1710 and G2532 get gain: G2770 G2770 Whereas G3748 ye know G1987 not G3756 what G3588 shall be on the morrow. G839 For G1063 what G4169 is your G5216 life? G2222 It is G2076 even G1063 a vapour, G822 that G4314 appeareth for G5316 a little time, G3641 and G1161 then G1899 vanisheth away. G853
For G1063 yourselves G846 know G1492 perfectly G199 that G3754 the day G2250 of the Lord G2962 so G3779 cometh G2064 as G5613 a thief G2812 in G1722 the night. G3571 For G1063 when G3752 they shall say, G3004 Peace G1515 and G2532 safety; G803 then G5119 sudden G160 destruction G3639 cometh upon G2186 them, G846 as G5618 travail G5604 upon G1722 a woman with child; G1064 G2192 and G2532 they shall G1628 not G3364 escape. G1628
For this G5127 cause G5484 I G1473 Paul, G3972 the prisoner G1198 of Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 for G5228 you G5216 Gentiles, G1484
Which thing G3739 I G4160 also G2532 did G4160 in G1722 Jerusalem: G2414 and G2532 many G4183 of the saints G40 did G2623 I G1473 shut up G2623 in prison, G5438 having received G2983 authority G1849 from G3844 the chief priests; G749 and G5037 when they G846 were put to death, G337 I gave G2702 my voice G5586 against them.
And G1161 as he G846 reasoned G1256 of G4012 righteousness, G1343 temperance, G2532 G1466 and G2532 judgment G2917 to come, G3195 G1510 Felix G5344 trembled, G1096 G1719 and answered, G611 Go thy way G4198 for this time; G3568 when G1161 I have G2192 G3335 a convenient season, G2540 I will call for G3333 thee. G4571 He hoped G1679 also G260 G1161 G2532 that G3754 money G5536 should have been given G1325 him G846 of G5259 Paul, G3972 that G3704 he might loose G3089 him: G846 wherefore G1352 he sent for G3343 him G846 the oftener, G4437 and G2532 communed with G3656 him. G846 But G1161 after G4137 two years G1333 Porcius G4201 Festus G5347 came G2983 into Felix' G5344 room: G1240 and G5037 Felix, G5344 willing G2309 to shew G2698 the Jews G2453 a pleasure, G5485 left G2641 Paul G3972 bound. G1210
And G5037 when they had laid G2007 many G4183 stripes G4127 upon them, G846 they cast G906 them into G1519 prison, G5438 charging G3853 the jailor G1200 to keep G5083 them G846 safely: G806 Who, G3739 having received G2983 such G5108 a charge, G3852 thrust G906 them G846 into G1519 the inner G2082 prison, G5438 and G2532 made G805 their G846 feet G4228 fast G805 in G1519 the stocks. G3586
And G2532 laid G1911 their G846 hands G5495 on G1909 the apostles, G652 and G2532 put G5087 them G846 in G1722 the common G1219 prison. G5084
But and G1161 if G1437 that G1565 servant G1401 say G2036 in G1722 his G846 heart, G2588 My G3450 lord G2962 delayeth G5549 his coming; G2064 and G2532 shall begin G756 to beat G5180 the menservants G3816 and G2532 maidens, G3814 and G5037 to eat G2068 and G2532 drink, G4095 and G2532 to be drunken; G3182 The lord G2962 of that G1565 servant G1401 will come G2240 in G1722 a day G2250 when G3739 he looketh G4328 not G3756 for G4328 him, and G2532 at G1722 an hour G5610 when G3739 he is G1097 not G3756 aware, G1097 and G2532 will cut G1371 him G846 in sunder, G1371 and G2532 will appoint G5087 him his G846 portion G3313 with G3326 the unbelievers. G571
Thou shalt eat H398 no leavened bread H2557 with it; seven H7651 days H3117 shalt thou eat H398 unleavened bread H4682 therewith, even the bread H3899 of affliction; H6040 for thou camest forth H3318 out of the land H776 of Egypt H4714 in haste: H2649 that thou mayest remember H2142 the day H3117 when thou camest forth H3318 out of the land H776 of Egypt H4714 all the days H3117 of thy life. H2416
For G1063 Herod G2264 himself G846 had sent forth G649 and laid hold G2902 upon John, G2491 and G2532 bound G1210 him G846 in G1722 prison G5438 for G1223 Herodias' G2266 sake, G1223 his G846 brother G80 Philip's G5376 wife: G1135 for G3754 he had married G1060 her. G846 For G1063 John G2491 had said G3004 unto Herod, G2264 G3754 It is G1832 not G3756 lawful G1832 for thee G4671 to have G2192 thy G4675 brother's G80 wife. G1135 Therefore G1161 Herodias G2266 had a quarrel G1758 against him, G846 and G2532 would G2309 have killed G615 him; G846 but G2532 she could G1410 not: G3756 For G1063 Herod G2264 feared G5399 John, G2491 knowing G1492 that he G846 was a just G1342 man G435 and G2532 an holy, G40 and G2532 observed G4933 him; G846 and G2532 when he heard G191 him, G846 he did G4160 many things, G4183 and G2532 heard G191 him G846 gladly. G2234 And G2532 when a convenient G2121 day G2250 was come, G1096 that G3753 Herod G2264 on his G846 birthday G1077 made G4160 a supper G1173 to his G846 lords, G3175 G2532 high captains, G5506 and G2532 chief G4413 estates of Galilee; G1056 And G2532 when the daughter G2364 of the said G846 Herodias G2266 came in, G1525 and G2532 danced, G3738 and G2532 pleased G700 Herod G2264 and G2532 them that sat with him, G4873 the king G935 said G2036 unto the damsel, G2877 Ask G154 of me G3165 whatsoever G3739 G1437 thou wilt, G2309 and G2532 I will give G1325 it thee. G4671 And G2532 he sware G3660 unto her, G846 Whatsoever G3754 G3739 G1437 thou shalt ask G154 of me, G3165 I will give G1325 it thee, G4671 unto G2193 the half G2255 of my G3450 kingdom. G932 And G1161 she went forth, G1831 and said G2036 unto her G846 mother, G3384 What G5101 shall I ask? G154 And G1161 she said, G2036 The head G2776 of John G2491 the Baptist. G910 And G2532 she came in G1525 straightway G2112 with G3326 haste G4710 unto G4314 the king, G935 and asked, G154 saying, G3004 I will G2309 that G2443 thou give G1325 me G3427 by and by G1824 in G1909 a charger G4094 the head G2776 of John G2491 the Baptist. G910 And G2532 the king G935 was G1096 exceeding sorry; G4036 yet for G1223 his oath's sake, G3727 and G2532 for their sakes which G3588 sat with him, G4873 he would G2309 not G3756 reject G114 her. G846 And G2532 immediately G2112 the king G935 sent G649 an executioner, G4688 and commanded G2004 his G846 head G2776 to be brought: G5342 and G1161 he went G565 and beheaded G607 him G846 in G1722 the prison, G5438 And G2532 brought G5342 his G846 head G2776 in G1909 a charger, G4094 and G2532 gave G1325 it G846 to the damsel: G2877 and G2532 the damsel G2877 gave G1325 it G846 to her G846 mother. G3384
Then took H3947 they Jeremiah, H3414 and cast H7993 him into the dungeon H953 of Malchiah H4441 the son H1121 of Hammelech, H4428 that was in the court H2691 of the prison: H4307 and they let down H7971 Jeremiah H3414 with cords. H2256 And in the dungeon H953 there was no water, H4325 but mire: H2916 so Jeremiah H3414 sunk H2883 in the mire. H2916
Wherefore the princes H8269 were wroth H7107 with Jeremiah, H3414 and smote H5221 him, and put H5414 him in prison H612 in the house H1004 of Jonathan H3083 the scribe: H5608 for they had made H6213 that the prison. H3608
The LORD H3068 hath made H5414 thee priest H3548 in the stead of Jehoiada H3077 the priest, H3548 that ye should be officers H6496 in the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 for every man H376 that is mad, H7696 and maketh himself a prophet, H5012 that thou shouldest put H5414 him in prison, H4115 and in the stocks. H6729
Then Pashur H6583 smote H5221 Jeremiah H3414 the prophet, H5030 and put H5414 him in the stocks H4115 that were in the high H5945 gate H8179 of Benjamin, H1144 which was by the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 1 Kings 22
Commentary on 1 Kings 22 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 22
1Ki 22:1-36. Ahab Slain at Ramoth-gilead.
1. continued three years without war between Syria and Israel—The disastrous defeat of Ben-hadad had so destroyed his army and exhausted the resources of his country, that, however eager, he was unable to recommence active hostilities against Israel. But that his hereditary enmity remained unsubdued, was manifest by his breach of faith concerning the treaty by which he had engaged to restore all the cities which his father had seized (1Ki 20:34).
2. Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel—It was singular that a friendly league between the sovereigns of Israel and Judah should, for the first time, have been formed by princes of such opposite characters—the one pious, the other wicked. Neither this league nor the matrimonial alliance by which the union of the royal families was more closely cemented, met the Lord's approval (2Ch 19:2). It led, however, to a visit by Jehoshaphat, whose reception in Samaria was distinguished by the most lavish hospitality (2Ch 18:2). The opportunity of this visit was taken advantage of, to push an object on which Ahab's heart was much set.
3-8. Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours—a Levitical and free town on the north border of Gad (De 4:43; Jos 21:38), on the site of the present Salt Lake, in the province of Belka. It lay within the territories of the Israelitish monarch, and was unjustly alienated; but whether it was one of the cities usurped by the first Ben-hadad, which his son had promised to restore, or was retained for some other reasons, the sacred historian has not mentioned. In the expedition which Ahab meditated for the recovery of this town, the aid of Jehoshaphat was asked and promised (see 2Ch 18:3). Previous to declaring hostilities, it was customary to consult the prophets (see on 1Sa 28:8); and Jehoshaphat having expressed a strong desire to know the Lord's will concerning this war, Ahab assembled four hundred of his prophets. These could not be either the prophets of Baal or of Ashteroth (1Ki 18:19), but seem (1Ki 22:12) to have been false prophets, who conformed to the symbolic calf-worship of Jehovah. Being the creatures of Ahab, they unanimously predicted a prosperous issue to the war. But dissatisfied with them, Jehoshaphat inquired if there was any true prophet of the Lord. Ahab agreed, with great reluctance, to allow Micaiah to be summoned. He was the only true prophet then to be found residing in Samaria, and he had to be brought out of prison (1Ki 22:26), into which, according to Josephus, he had been cast on account of his rebuke to Ahab for sparing the king of Syria.
10. a void place—literally, "a threshing-floor," formed at the gate of Samaria.
11. Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron—Small projections, of the size and form of our candle extinguishers (worn in many parts of the East as military ornaments), were worn by the Syrians of that time, and probably by the Israelite warriors also. Zedekiah, by assuming two horns, personated two heroes, and, pretending to be a prophet, wished in this manner to represent the kings of Israel and Judah in a military triumph. It was a symbolic action, to impart greater force to his language (see De 33:17); but it was little more than a flourish with a spontoon [Calmet, Fragments].
14-17. what the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak—On the way the messenger who conducted [Micaiah] to the royal presence informed him of the tenor of the prophecies already given and recommended him to agree with the rest, no doubt from the kindly motive of seeing him released from imprisonment. But Micaiah, inflexibly faithful to his divine mission as a prophet, announced his purpose to proclaim honestly whatever God should bid him. On being asked by the king, "Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I forbear?" the prophet gave precisely the same answer as the previous oracles that had been consulted; but it must have been given in a sarcastic tone and in ironical mockery of their way of speaking. Being solemnly urged to give a serious and truthful answer, Micaiah then declared the visionary scene the Spirit had revealed to him;—
17. I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd—The purport of this was that the army of Israel would be defeated and dispersed; that Ahab would fall in the battle, and the people return without either being pursued or destroyed by the enemy.
18-23. Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?—Since Ahab was disposed to trace this unwelcome truth to personal enmity, Micaiah proceeded fearlessly to tell the incensed monarch in full detail what had been revealed to him. The Hebrew prophets, borrowing their symbolic pictures from earthly scenes, described God in heaven as a king in His kingdom. And as earthly princes do nothing of importance without asking the advice of their counsellors, God is represented as consulting about the fate of Ahab. This prophetic language must not be interpreted literally, and the command must be viewed as only a permission to the lying spirit (Ro 11:34) [Calmet].
24, 25. Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek—The insolence of this man, the leader of the false prophets, seems to have been provoked by jealousy at Micaiah's assumed monopoly of the spirit of inspiration. This mode of smiting, usually with a shoe, is both severe and ignominious. The calm reply of the Lord's prophet consisted in announcing the fate of the false prophets who suffered as the advisers of the disastrous expedition.
26-28. Take Micaiah, … Put this fellow in prison—Ahab, under the impulse of vehement resentment, remands the prophet until his return.
27, 28. bread of affliction, water of affliction—that is, the poorest prison fare. Micaiah submitted, but reiterated aloud, in the presence of all, that the issue of the war would be fatal to Ahab.
29-38. went up to Ramoth-gilead—The king of Israel, bent on this expedition, marched, accompanied by his ally, with all his forces to the siege; but on approaching the scene of action, his courage failed, and, hoping to evade the force of Micaiah's prophecy by a secret stratagem, he assumed the uniform of a subaltern, while he advised Jehoshaphat to fight in his royal attire. The Syrian king, with a view either to put the speediest end to the war, or perhaps to wipe out the stain of his own humiliation (1Ki 20:31), had given special instructions to his generals to single out Ahab, and to take or kill him, as the author of the war. The officers at first directed their assault on Jehoshaphat, but, becoming aware of their mistake, desisted. Ahab was wounded by a random arrow, which, being probably poisoned, and the state of the weather increasing the virulence of the poison, he died at sunset. The corpse was conveyed to Samaria; and, as the chariot which brought it was being washed, in a pool near the city, from the blood that had profusely oozed from the wound, the dogs, in conformity with Elijah's prophecy, came and licked it [1Ki 21:19]. Ahab was succeeded by his son Ahaziah [1Ki 22:40].