2 Chronicles · Chapter 18
Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.
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 Ramothgilead.
Daniel Whedon
2. Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him — Made for him a grand feast, thus seeking to secure his consent to assist him in the war with Syria. It was by such attention, and also by words of hope and promise, that Ahab persuaded Jehoshaphat to join him in the war.
And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramothgilead? And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the war.
Adam Clarke
Verse 3. To Ramoth-gilead] This place belonged to the Israelites, and was now held by the king of Syria.
The whole of this chapter is circumstantially explained in the notes on 1 Kings 22:1-53.
Daniel Whedon
3-34. The rest of this chapter is parallel with 1 Kings 22:4-39, where see notes.
And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.
John Wesley
V. 4. Enquire, &c.-This we should do, whatever we undertake, by particular, believing prayer, by an unbiased consulting of the scriptures and our own consciences, and by a close regard to the hints of providence.
Joseph Benson
Verse 4. Inquire, I pray thee, at the word of the Lord — This we should do, whatever we undertake, by particular, believing prayer, by an unbiased consulting of the Scriptures, and our own consciences and by a close regard to the hints of Providence.
Daniel Whedon
3-34. The rest of this chapter is parallel with 1 Kings 22:4-39, where see notes.
Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the king’s hand.
Daniel Whedon
3-34. The rest of this chapter is parallel with 1 Kings 22:4-39, where see notes.
But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?
Daniel Whedon
3-34. The rest of this chapter is parallel with 1 Kings 22:4-39, where see notes.
And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may enquire 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.
Daniel Whedon
3-34. The rest of this chapter is parallel with 1 Kings 22:4-39, where see notes.
And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.
Daniel Whedon
3-34. The rest of this chapter is parallel with 1 Kings 22:4-39, where see notes.
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.
Adam Clarke
Verse 9. The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat] “Ahab consulted false prophets; but Jehoshaphat sought instruction from the presence of the Lord, and prayed at the entering in of Samaria; and before these all the false prophets prophesied lies.”-Targum.
Daniel Whedon
3-34. The rest of this chapter is parallel with 1 Kings 22:4-39, where see notes.
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.
Daniel Whedon
3-34. The rest of this chapter is parallel with 1 Kings 22:4-39, where see notes.
And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
Daniel Whedon
3-34. The rest of this chapter is parallel with 1 Kings 22:4-39, where see notes.
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 their’s, and speak thou good.
Daniel Whedon
3-34. The rest of this chapter is parallel with 1 Kings 22:4-39, where see notes.
And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.
Daniel Whedon
3-34. The rest of this chapter is parallel with 1 Kings 22:4-39, where see notes.
And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.
Daniel Whedon
3-34. The rest of this chapter is parallel with 1 Kings 22:4-39, where see notes.
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?
Daniel Whedon
3-34. The rest of this chapter is parallel with 1 Kings 22:4-39, where see notes.
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.
Daniel Whedon
3-34. The rest of this chapter is parallel with 1 Kings 22:4-39, where see notes.
And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?
Daniel Whedon
3-34. The rest of this chapter is parallel with 1 Kings 22:4-39, where see notes.
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.
Daniel Whedon
3-34. The rest of this chapter is parallel with 1 Kings 22:4-39, where see notes.
And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.
Daniel Whedon
3-34. The rest of this chapter is parallel with 1 Kings 22:4-39, where see notes.
Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith?
Adam Clarke
Verse 20. Then there came out a spirit] The Targum gives a strange gloss here: “Then the spirit of Naboth of Jezreel came out from the abode of the righteous, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will deceive him. And the Lord said, By what means? To which he answered, I will be a spirit of false prophecy in the mouth of his prophets. And the Lord said, Thou mayest then. But although the power of deceiving them is given unto thee, nevertheless it will not be lawful for thee to sit among the righteous; for whosoever shall speak falsely cannot have a mansion among the righteous. Therefore go forth from me, and do as thou hast said.”-Targum.
Daniel Whedon
3-34. The rest of this chapter is parallel with 1 Kings 22:4-39, where see notes.
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.
Joseph Benson
Verse 21. I will go out and be a lying spirit, &c. — See the power of Satan! One lying spirit can make four hundred lying prophets. And thus he frequently becomes a murderer by being a liar, and destroys men by deceiving them.
Daniel Whedon
3-34. The rest of this chapter is parallel with 1 Kings 22:4-39, where see notes.
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.
John Wesley
V. 22. Lying spirit, &c.-See the power of Satan! One lying spirit can make four hundred lying prophets. And thus he frequently becomes a murderer by being a liar, and destroys men by deceiving them.
Daniel Whedon
3-34. The rest of this chapter is parallel with 1 Kings 22:4-39, where see notes.
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?
Daniel Whedon
3-34. The rest of this chapter is parallel with 1 Kings 22:4-39, where see notes.
And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.
Daniel Whedon
3-34. The rest of this chapter is parallel with 1 Kings 22:4-39, where see notes.
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;
Daniel Whedon
3-34. The rest of this chapter is parallel with 1 Kings 22:4-39, where see notes.
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.
John Wesley
V. 26. This fellow, &c.-How frequently has this been the lot of faithful ministers, to be hated and ill treated, merely for being true to God: and just and kind to the souls of men! But that day will declare who is in the right, and who is in the wrong, when Christ appears to the unspeakable consolation of the persecuted, and the everlasting confusion of their persecutors.
Joseph Benson
Verse 26. Put this fellow in the prison, &c. — How frequently has this been the lot of faithful ministers, to be hated and ill treated merely for being true to God, and just and kind to the souls of men! But that day will declare who is in the right and who is in the wrong, when Christ appears, to the unspeakable consolation of the persecuted, and the everlasting confusion of their persecutors.
Daniel Whedon
3-34. The rest of this chapter is parallel with 1 Kings 22:4-39, where see notes.
And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, then hath not the LORD spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, all ye people.
Daniel Whedon
3-34. The rest of this chapter is parallel with 1 Kings 22:4-39, where see notes.
So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.
Daniel Whedon
3-34. The rest of this chapter is parallel with 1 Kings 22:4-39, where see notes.
And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and I will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle.
Adam Clarke
Verse 29. I will disguise myself] See Clarke’s note on “1 Kings 22:30”.
Daniel Whedon
3-34. The rest of this chapter is parallel with 1 Kings 22:4-39, where see notes.
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.
Daniel Whedon
3-34. The rest of this chapter is parallel with 1 Kings 22:4-39, where see notes.
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.
John Wesley
V. 31. Cried out-He cried out, either to his friends to help, or to his enemies, to let them know, he was not the king of Israel: or to God, and not in vain; for he moved the captains to depart from him. Many are moved in a manner unaccountable both to themselves and others; but an invisible power moves them.
Adam Clarke
Verse 31. But Jehoshaphat cried out] “Jehoshaphat cried, and the WORD of the Lord brought him assistance.”-Targum.
Joseph Benson
Verse 31. Jehoshaphat cried out — He cried out, either to his friends to help, or to his enemies, to let them know he was not the king of Israel, or to God, and not in vain; for he moved the captains to depart from him — Many are moved in a manner unaccountable both to themselves and others; but an invisible power moves them.
Daniel Whedon
3-34. The rest of this chapter is parallel with 1 Kings 22:4-39, where see notes.
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.
Daniel Whedon
3-34. The rest of this chapter is parallel with 1 Kings 22:4-39, where see notes.
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.
Adam Clarke
Verse 33. A certain man drew a bow] The Targum tells us who it was. “Now, Naaman, the captain of the host of the great king of Syria, drew a bow against him, (that the prophecy of Elijah the Tishbite, and of Micaiah the son of Imla, might be fulfilled,) and smote the king of Israel between the heart and the caul of the liver, through the place where the coat of mail is joined.” See Clarke’s note on “2 Kings 5:1” for this tradition.
Daniel Whedon
3-34. The rest of this chapter is parallel with 1 Kings 22:4-39, where see notes.
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.
John Wesley
V. 34. He died-What can hurt those whom God will protect? And what can shelter those whom God will destroy? Jehoshaphat is saved in his robes; Ahab is killed in his armour!
Adam Clarke
Verse 34. Stayed himself up-against the Syrians] There was a great deal of true personal courage and patriotism in this last act of the king of Israel: he well knew that if his troops found that he was mortally wounded, they would immediately give way, and the battle would not only be lost, but the slaughter would be great in the pursuit; therefore he stayed himself up till the evening, when the termination of the day must necessarily bring the battle to a close: and when this was done, the Israelites found that their king was slain, and so they left the field of battle to their foes. Thus Israel had a great loss, and the Syrians had got a great deliverance. Had it not been for this accident, the Syrians had probably been defeated. See on 1 Kings 22:36.
IN the notes referred to above, the quibbling predictions of false prophets and lying oracles are mentioned, and several instances given; and the whole account of the lying spirit going forth from the Lord to deceive Ahab, particularly considered. See especially the notes as above on 2 Chronicles 18:19, 23, 24.
The reader should never forget a truth so very frequently occurring in the Bible, that God is repeatedly represented as doing what, in the course of his providence, he only permits to be done.
II CHRONICLES
Joseph Benson
Verse 34. He died — Who can hurt those whom God will protect? And what can shelter those whom God will destroy? Jehoshaphat is saved in his robes; Ahab is killed in his armour!
Daniel Whedon
3-34. The rest of this chapter is parallel with 1 Kings 22:4-39, where see notes.
John Wesley
V. 1. With Ahab-For Joram’s eldest son married Athaliah, Ahab’s daughter.
Adam Clarke
Verse 1. Jehoshaphat had riches and honour] The preceding chapter gives ample proof of this.
Joined affinity with Ahab.] Took his daughter Athalia to be wife to his son Joram.
Joseph Benson
Verse 1. And joined affinity with Ahab — For Joram, his eldest son, married Athaliah, Ahab’s daughter. This chapter is, for substance, the same with 1 Kings 22., where it is explained.
Joseph Sutcliffe
Verse 1. Jehoshaphat had riches and honour. In his, and in the reign of other good kings, we see how righteousness aggrandizes a country, and exalts its character.
The whole of this chapter is nearly similar to the twenty second of the first book of Kings, in which the reflections will be found.
Daniel Whedon
1. Jehoshaphat had riches… and joined affinity with Ahab — Probably his riches and honour begat in him “that bloated luxury which eats the core from manly virtue,” and in a thoughtless hour he proposed to ally the two kingdoms by the marriage of his son Jehoram with Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. See note on 2 Kings 8:18. This alliance was the source of numerous woes to the kingdom of Judah, and is the darkest stain upon the otherwise fair fame of Jehoshaphat.