2 Chronicles 18:1-34 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

¹ Now Jehoshaphat ^H3092 had riches ^H6239 and honour ^H3519 in abundance, ^H7230 and joined affinity ^H2859 with Ahab. ^H256

² And after ^H7093 certain years ^H8141 he went down ^H3381 to Ahab ^H256 to Samaria. ^H8111 And Ahab ^H256 killed ^H2076 sheep ^H6629 and oxen ^H1241 for him in abundance, ^H7230 and for the people ^H5971 that he had with him, and persuaded ^H5496 him to go up ^H5927 with him to Ramothgilead. ^H7433 ^H1568

³ And Ahab ^H256 king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 said ^H559 unto Jehoshaphat ^H3092 king ^H4428 of Judah, ^H3063 Wilt thou go ^H3212 with me to Ramothgilead? ^H7433 ^H1568 And he answered ^H559 him, I am as thou art, and my people ^H5971 as thy people; ^H5971 and we will be with thee in the war. ^H4421

⁴ And Jehoshaphat ^H3092 said ^H559 unto the king ^H4428 of Israel, ^H3478 Enquire, ^H1875 I pray thee, at the word ^H1697 of the LORD ^H3068 to day. ^H3117

⁵ Therefore the king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 gathered together ^H6908 of prophets ^H5030 four ^H702 hundred ^H3967 men, ^H376 and said ^H559 unto them, Shall we go ^H3212 to Ramothgilead ^H7433 ^H1568 to battle, ^H4421 or shall I forbear? ^H2308 And they said, ^H559 Go up; ^H5927 for God ^H430 will deliver ^H5414 it into the king's ^H4428 hand. ^H3027

⁶ But Jehoshaphat ^H3092 said, ^H559 Is there not here a prophet ^H5030 of the LORD ^H3068 besides, that we might enquire ^H1875 of him?

⁷ And the king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 said ^H559 unto Jehoshaphat, ^H3092 There is yet one ^H259 man, ^H376 by whom we may enquire ^H1875 of the LORD: ^H3068 but I hate ^H8130 him; for he never prophesied ^H5012 good ^H2896 unto me, but always ^H3117 evil: ^H7451 the same is Micaiah ^H4321 the son ^H1121 of Imla. ^H3229 And Jehoshaphat ^H3092 said, ^H559 Let not the king ^H4428 say ^H559 so.

⁸ And the king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 called ^H7121 for one ^H259 of his officers, ^H5631 and said, ^H559 Fetch quickly ^H4116 Micaiah ^H4319 the son ^H1121 of Imla. ^H3229

⁹ And the king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 and Jehoshaphat ^H3092 king ^H4428 of Judah ^H3063 sat ^H3427 either ^H376 of them on his throne, ^H3678 clothed ^H3847 in their robes, ^H899 and they sat ^H3427 in a void place ^H1637 at the entering in ^H6607 of the gate ^H8179 of Samaria; ^H8111 and all the prophets ^H5030 prophesied ^H5012 before ^H6440 them.

¹⁰ And Zedekiah ^H6667 the son ^H1121 of Chenaanah ^H3668 had made ^H6213 him horns ^H7161 of iron, ^H1270 and said, ^H559 Thus saith ^H559 the LORD, ^H3068 With these thou shalt push ^H5055 Syria ^H758 until they be consumed. ^H3615

¹¹ And all the prophets ^H5030 prophesied ^H5012 so, saying, ^H559 Go up ^H5927 to Ramothgilead, ^H7433 ^H1568 and prosper: ^H6743 for the LORD ^H3068 shall deliver ^H5414 it into the hand ^H3027 of the king. ^H4428

¹² And the messenger ^H4397 that went ^H1980 to call ^H7121 Micaiah ^H4321 spake ^H1696 to him, saying, ^H559 Behold, the words ^H1697 of the prophets ^H5030 declare good ^H2896 to the king ^H4428 with one ^H259 assent; ^H6310 let thy word ^H1697 therefore, I pray thee, be like one ^H259 of theirs, and speak ^H1696 thou good. ^H2896

¹³ And Micaiah ^H4321 said, ^H559 As the LORD ^H3068 liveth, ^H2416 even what my God ^H430 saith, ^H559 that will I speak. ^H1696

¹⁴ And when he was come ^H935 to the king, ^H4428 the king ^H4428 said ^H559 unto him, Micaiah, ^H4318 shall we go ^H3212 to Ramothgilead ^H7433 ^H1568 to battle, ^H4421 or shall I forbear? ^H2308 And he said, ^H559 Go ye up, ^H5927 and prosper, ^H6743 and they shall be delivered ^H5414 into your hand. ^H3027

¹⁵ And the king ^H4428 said ^H559 to him, How many times ^H6471 shall I adjure ^H7650 thee that thou say ^H1696 nothing but the truth ^H571 to me in the name ^H8034 of the LORD? ^H3068

¹⁶ Then he said, ^H559 I did see ^H7200 all Israel ^H3478 scattered ^H6327 upon the mountains, ^H2022 as sheep ^H6629 that have no shepherd: ^H7462 and the LORD ^H3068 said, ^H559 These have no master; ^H113 let them return ^H7725 therefore every man ^H376 to his house ^H1004 in peace. ^H7965

¹⁷ And the king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 said ^H559 to Jehoshaphat, ^H3092 Did I not tell ^H559 thee that he would not prophesy ^H5012 good ^H2896 unto me, but evil? ^H7451

¹⁸ Again he said, ^H559 Therefore hear ^H8085 the word ^H1697 of the LORD; ^H3068 I saw ^H7200 the LORD ^H3068 sitting ^H3427 upon his throne, ^H3678 and all the host ^H6635 of heaven ^H8064 standing ^H5975 on his right hand ^H3225 and on his left. ^H8040

¹⁹ And the LORD ^H3068 said, ^H559 Who shall entice ^H6601 Ahab ^H256 king ^H4428 of Israel, ^H3478 that he may go up ^H5927 and fall ^H5307 at Ramothgilead? ^H7433 ^H1568 And one spake ^H559 saying ^H559 after this manner, ^H3602 and another saying ^H559 after that manner. ^H3602

²⁰ Then there came out ^H3318 a spirit, ^H7307 and stood ^H5975 before ^H6440 the LORD, ^H3068 and said, ^H559 I will entice ^H6601 him. And the LORD ^H3068 said ^H559 unto him, Wherewith?

²¹ And he said, ^H559 I will go out, ^H3318 and be a lying ^H8267 spirit ^H7307 in the mouth ^H6310 of all his prophets. ^H5030 And the LORD said, ^H559 Thou shalt entice ^H6601 him, and thou shalt also prevail: ^H3201 go out, ^H3318 and do ^H6213 even so.

²² Now therefore, behold, the LORD ^H3068 hath put ^H5414 a lying ^H8267 spirit ^H7307 in the mouth ^H6310 of these thy prophets, ^H5030 and the LORD ^H3068 hath spoken ^H1696 evil ^H7451 against thee.

²³ Then Zedekiah ^H6667 the son ^H1121 of Chenaanah ^H3668 came near, ^H5066 and smote ^H5221 Micaiah ^H4321 upon the cheek, ^H3895 and said, ^H559 Which ^H335 way ^H1870 went ^H5674 the Spirit ^H7307 of the LORD ^H3068 from me to speak ^H1696 unto thee?

²⁴ And Micaiah ^H4321 said, ^H559 Behold, thou shalt see ^H7200 on that day ^H3117 when thou shalt go ^H935 into an inner ^H2315 chamber ^H2315 to hide ^H2244 thyself.

²⁵ 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

²⁶ 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

²⁷ 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

²⁸ So the king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 and Jehoshaphat ^H3092 the king ^H4428 of Judah ^H3063 went up ^H5927 to Ramothgilead. ^H7433 ^H1568

²⁹ And the king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 said ^H559 unto Jehoshaphat, ^H3092 I will disguise ^H2664 myself, and will go ^H935 to the battle; ^H4421 but put ^H3847 thou on thy robes. ^H899 So the king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 disguised ^H2664 himself; and they went ^H935 to the battle. ^H4421

³⁰ Now the king ^H4428 of Syria ^H758 had commanded ^H6680 the captains ^H8269 of the chariots ^H7393 that were with him, saying, ^H559 Fight ^H3898 ye not with small ^H6996 or great, ^H1419 save only with the king ^H4428 of Israel. ^H3478

³¹ And it came to pass, when the captains ^H8269 of the chariots ^H7393 saw ^H7200 Jehoshaphat, ^H3092 that they said, ^H559 It is the king ^H4428 of Israel. ^H3478 Therefore they compassed about ^H5437 him to fight: ^H3898 but Jehoshaphat ^H3092 cried out, ^H2199 and the LORD ^H3068 helped ^H5826 him; and God ^H430 moved ^H5496 them to depart from him.

³² For it came to pass, that, when the captains ^H8269 of the chariots ^H7393 perceived ^H7200 that it was not the king ^H4428 of Israel, ^H3478 they turned back again ^H7725 from pursuing ^H310 him.

³³ And a certain man drew ^H4900 a bow ^H7198 at a venture, ^H8537 and smote ^H5221 the king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 between the joints ^H1694 of the harness: ^H8302 therefore he said ^H559 to his chariot ^H7395 man, ^H376 Turn ^H2015 thine hand, ^H3027 that thou mayest carry me out ^H3318 of the host; ^H4264 for I am wounded. ^H2470

³⁴ And the battle ^H4421 increased ^H5927 that day: ^H3117 howbeit the king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 stayed himself up ^H5975 in his chariot ^H4818 against ^H5227 the Syrians ^H758 until the even: ^H6153 and about the time ^H6256 of the sun ^H8121 going down ^H935 he died. ^H4191

Commentary on 2 Chronicles 18 Matthew Henry Commentary

John Gill Keil & Delitzsch Robert Jamieson: Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Chapter 18

The story of this chapter we had just as it is here related in the story of the reign of Ahab king of Israel, 1 Ki. 22. There it looks more creditable to Ahab than any thing else recorded of him that he was in league with so good a man as Jehoshaphat; here it is a great blemish in the reign of Jehoshaphat that he thus connected himself with so bad a man as Ahab. Here is,

I. The alliance he contracted himself with Ahab (v. 1).
II. His consent to join with him in his expedition for the recovery of Remoth-Gilead out of the hands of the Syrians (v. 2, 3).
III. Their consulting with the prophets, false and true, before they went (v. 4-27).
IV. The success of their expedition. Jehoshaphat hardly escaped (v. 28-32) and Ahab received his death's wound (v. 33, 34).

2Ch 18:1-3

Here is,

I. Jehoshaphat growing greater. It was said before (ch. 17:5) that he had riches and honour in abundance; and here it is said again that his wealth and honour increased upon him by piety and good management.
II. Not growing wiser, else he would not have joined with Ahab, that degenerate Israelite, who had sold himself to work wickedness. What good could he get by a man that was so bad? What good could he do to a man that was so obstinately wicked-an idolater, a persecutor? With him he joined in affinity, that is, married his son Jehoram to Ahab's daughter Athaliah.
- 1. This was the worst match that ever was made by any of the house of David. I wonder what Jehoshaphat could promise himself by it.
  - (1.) Perhaps pride made the match, as it does many a one, which speeds accordingly. His religion forbade him to marry his son to a daughter of any of the heathen princes that were about him-Thou shalt not take their daughters to thy sons; and, having riches and honour in abundance, he thought it a disparagement to marry him to a subject. A king's daughter it must be, and therefore Ahab's, little considering that Jezebel was her mother.
  - (2.) Some think he did it in policy, hoping by this expedient to unite the kingdoms in his son, Ahab perhaps flattering him with hopes that he would make him his heir, when he intended no such thing.
- 2. This match drew Jehoshaphat,
  - (1.) Into an intimate familiarity with Ahab. He paid him a visit at Samaria, and Ahab, proud of the honour which Jehoshaphat did him, gave him a very splendid entertainment, according to the splendour of those times: He killed sheep and oxen for him, plain meat, in abundance, v. 2. In this Jehoshaphat did not walk so closely as he should have done in the ways of his father David, who hated the congregation of evil-doers and would not sit with the wicked (Ps. 26:5), nor desired to eat of their dainties, Ps. 141:4.
  - (2.) Into a league with Ahab against the Syrians. Ahab persuaded him to join forces with him in an expedition for the recovery of Ramoth-Gilead, a city in the tribe of Gad, on the other side Jordan. Did not Ahab know that that, and all the other cities of Israel, did of right belong to Jehoshaphat, as heir of the house of David? With what face then could he ask Jehoshaphat to assist him in recovering it for himself, whose title to the crown was usurped and precarious? Yet Jehoshaphat, an easy man, yields to go with him: I am as thou art, v. 3. Some men's kindnesses are dangerous, as well as their society infectious. The feast Ahab made for Jehoshaphat was designed only to wheedle him into the expedition. The kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

2Ch 18:4-27

This is almost word for word the same with what we had, 1 Ki. 22. We will not repeat what was there said, nor have we much to add, but may take occasion to think,

1. Of the great duty of acknowledging God in all our ways and enquiring at his word, whatever we undertake. Jehoshaphat was not willing to proceed till he had done this, v. 4. By particular believing prayer, by an unbiased consultation of the scripture and our own consciences, and by an observant regard to the hints of providence, we may make such enquiries and very much to our satisfaction.
2. Of the great danger of bad company even to good men. Those that have more wisdom, grace, and resolution, cannot be sure that they can converse familiarly with wicked people and get no hurt by them. Jehoshaphat here, in complaisance to Ahab, sits in his robes, patiently hearing the false prophets speaking lies in the name of the Lord (v. 9), can scarcely find in his heart to give him a too mild and gentle reproof for hating a prophet of the Lord (v. 7), and dares not rebuke that false prophet who basely abused the faithful seer nor oppose Ahab who committed him to prison. Those who venture among the seats of the scornful cannot come off without a great deal of the guilt attaching to at least the omission of their duty, unless they have such measures of wisdom and courage as few can pretend to.
3. Of the unhappiness of those who are surrounded with flatterers, especially flattering prophets, who cry peace to them and prophesy nothing but smooth things. Thus was Ahab cheated into his ruin, and justly; for he hearkened to such, and preferred those that humoured him before a good prophet that gave him fair warning of his danger. Those do best for themselves that give their friends leave, and particularly their ministers, to deal plainly and faithfully with them, and take their reproofs not only patiently, but kindly. That counsel is not always best for us that is most pleasing to us.
4. Of the power of Satan, by the divine permission, in the children of disobedience. One lying spirit can make 400 lying prophets and make use of them to deceive Ahab, v. 21. The devil becomes a murderer by being a liar and destroys men by deceiving them.
5. Of the justice of God in giving those up to strong delusions, to believe a lie, who will not receive the love of the truth, but rebel against it, v. 21. Let the lying spirit prevail to entice those to their ruin that will not be persuaded to their duty and happiness.
6. Of the hard case of faithful ministers, whose lot it has often been to be hated, and persecuted, and ill-treated, for being true to their God and just and kind to the souls of men. Micaiah, for discharging a good conscience, was buffeted, imprisoned, and condemned to the bread and water of affliction. But he could with assurance appeal to the issue, as all those may do who are persecuted for their faithfulness, v. 27. The day will declare who is in the right and who in the wrong, when Christ will appear, to the unspeakable consolation of his persecuted people and the everlasting confusion of their persecutors, who will be made to see in that day (v. 24) what they will not now believe.

2Ch 18:28-34

We have here,

1. Good Jehoshaphat exposing himself in his robes, thereby endangered, and yet delivered. We have reason to think that Ahab, while he pretended friendship, really aimed at Jehoshaphat's life, to take him off, that he might have the management of his successor, who was his son-in-law, else he would never have advised him to enter into the battle with his robes on, which was but to make himself an easy mark to the enemy: and, if really he intended that, it was as unprincipled a piece of treachery as ever man was guilty of, and justly was he himself taken in the pit he digged for his friend. The enemy had soon an eye upon the robes, and vigorously attacked the unwary prince who now, when it was too late, wished himself in the habit of the poorest soldier, rather than in his princely raiment. he cried out, either to his friends to relieve him (but Ahab took no care of that), or to his enemies, to rectify their mistake, and let them know that he was not the king of Israel. Or perhaps he cried to God for succour and deliverance (to whom else should he cry?) and he found it was not in vain: The Lord helped him out of his distress, by moving the captains to depart from him, v. 31. God has all men's hearts in his hand, and turns them as he pleases, contrary to their own first intentions, to serve his purposes. Many are moved unaccountably both to themselves and others, but an invisible power moves them.
2. Wicked Ahab disguising himself, arming himself thereby as he thought securing himself, and yet slain, v. 33. No art, no arms, can save those whom God has appointed to ruin. What can hurt those whom God will protect? And what can shelter those whom God will destroy? Jehoshaphat is safe in his robes, Ahab killed in his armour; for the race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong.

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2 Chronicles 18:1-34 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

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Commentary on 2 Chronicles 18 Matthew Henry Commentary

Chapter 18