Geneva Study Bible And they continued three years without war between Syria and Israel. And they continued {a} three years without war between Syria and Israel.
(a) Ben-hadad the king of Syria, and Ahab made a peace which endured three years. And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah {b} came down to the king of Israel.
(b) To see and visit him. And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we be still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria? And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that {c} Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we be still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria?
(c) The kings of Syria kept Ramoth before this league was made by Benhadad: therefore he did not think he was bound by it to restore it. And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramothgilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses. And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramothgilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, {d} I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.
(d) I am ready to join and go with you , and all of mine is at your command. And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Inquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day. And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, {e} Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.
(e) He seemed that he would not go to war unless God approved it, yet when Michaiah advised the opposite he would not obey. Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king. Then the king of Israel gathered the {f} prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
(f) Meaning the false prophets, who were liars and served for money whom Jezebel had assembled and kept after the death of those whom Elijah slew. And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might inquire of him? And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the {g} LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?
(g) Jehoshaphat did not acknowledge the false prophets to be God's ministers, but contemned them. And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so. And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but {h} I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
(h) By which we see that the wicked cannot abide to hear the truth, but hate the prophets of God and molest them. Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah. Then the king of Israel called an {i} officer, and said, Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah.
(i) Read Ge 37:36. And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them. And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their {k} robes, in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.
(k) In their kingly apparel. And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them. And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him {i} horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them.
(i) The true prophets of God were accustomed to use signs for the confirmation of their doctrine, Isa 20:2, Jer 7:2 in which the false prophets imitated them, thinking by it to make their doctrine more believable. And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the king's hand. And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the king's hand.
And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good. And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with {m} one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good.
(m) This is the common argument of the wicked, who think that no one should speak against anything if the majority approves of it, be they ever so ungodly. And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak. And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak.
So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king. So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, {n} Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
(n) He speaks this in derision, because the king attributed so much to the false prophets, meaning that by experience he should discern that they were liars. And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD? And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD?
And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace. And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, {o} These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.
(o) It is better for them to return home than to be punished and scattered because they go to war without God's counsel and approval. And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil? And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?
And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the {p} host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.
(p) Meaning, his angels. And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.
And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. And there came forth a spirit, and {q} stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.
(q) Here we see that though the devil is always ready to bring us to destruction, yet he has no more power than God gives him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a {r} lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.
(r) I will cause all his prophets to tell lies. Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee. Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.
But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee? But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, {s} Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?
(s) Thus the wicked would that none were in the favour of God but they, and that God has given his graces to none so much as to them. And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself. And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.
And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son; And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;
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 come in peace. And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with {t} bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.
(t) Let him waste away with hunger and be fed with a small portion of bread and water. And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, the LORD hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you. And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, the LORD hath not spoken by me. And he said, {v} Hearken, O people, every one of you.
(v) That when you see these things come to pass you may give God the glory, and know that I am his true prophet. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.
And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle. And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle.
But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel. But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel.
And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it is the king of Israel. And they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out. And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it is the king of Israel. And they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat {x} cried out.
(x) That is, to the Lord for help. And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him. And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.
And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded. And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.
And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot. And the battle increased that day: and the {y} king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot.
(y) That is, Ahab, king of Israel. And there went a proclamation throughout the host about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his own country. And there went a proclamation throughout the {z} host about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his own country.
(z) Of the Israelites. So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria. So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria.
And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the word of the LORD which he spake. And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armor; according unto the word of the LORD which he spake.
Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead. So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.
And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.
Jehoshaphat was thirty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. Jehoshaphat was thirty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the LORD: nevertheless the high places were not taken away; for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places. And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the LORD: nevertheless {a} the high places were not taken away; for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places.
(a) Meaning, that he was led with an error, thinking that they might still sacrifice to the Lord in those places, as they did before the temple was built. And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel. And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.
Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he shewed, and how he warred, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he showed, and how he warred, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
And the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land. And the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land.
There was then no king in Edom: a deputy was king. There was then no king in Edom: a {b} deputy was king.
(b) In the time of this king, Idumea was subject to Judah, and was governed by whom they of Judah appointed. Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber. Jehoshaphat made ships of {c} Tharshish to go to {d} Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber.
(c) By Tharshish the scripture means Cilicia and all the Mediterranean Sea. (d) Josephus writes that Ophir is in India, where the Egyptians and Arabians traffic for gold. Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not. Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not.
And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead. And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.
Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel. Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel.
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin: And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin:
For he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the LORD God of Israel, according to all that his father had done. For he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the LORD God of Israel, according to all that his father had done. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
    |