20 "The Lord said , 'Who will entice Ahab to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead ?' And one said this while another said that. 21 "Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord and said , 'I will entice him.' 22 "The Lord said to him, 'How ?' And he said , 'I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all his prophets .' Then He said , 'You are to entice him and also prevail . Go and do so .' 23 "Now therefore, behold , the Lord has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets ; and the Lord has proclaimed disaster against you." 24 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said , " How e did the Spirit of the Lord pass from me to speak to you?" 25 Micaiah said , "Behold , you shall see on that day when you enter an inner room to hide yourself." 26 Then the king of Israel said , "Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king's son ; 27 and say , 'Thus says the king , " Put this man in prison e and feed him sparingly with bread and water until I return safely .""' 28 Micaiah said , " If you indeed return safely the Lord has not spoken by me." And he said , " Listen , all you people ."
29 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up against Ramoth-gilead . 30 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat , " I will disguise myself and go into the battle , but you put on your robes ." So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into the battle . 31 Now the king of Aram had commanded the thirty-two e captains of his chariots , saying , "Do not fight with small or great , but with the king of Israel alone ." 32 So when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat , they said , "Surely it is the king of Israel ," and they turned aside to fight against him, and Jehoshaphat cried out. 33 When the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel , they turned back from pursuing him. 34 Now a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel in a joint of the armor . So he said to the driver of his chariot , "Turn around and take me out of the fight ; for I am severely wounded ." 35 The battle raged that day , and the king was propped up in his chariot in front of the Arameans , and died at evening , and the blood from the wound ran into the bottom of the chariot . 36 Then a cry passed throughout the army close to sunset e , saying , "Every man to his city and every man to his country ." 37 So the king died and was brought to Samaria , and they buried the king in Samaria . 38 They washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria , and the dogs licked up his blood (now the harlots bathed themselves there), according to the word of the Lord which He spoke . 39 Now the rest of the acts of Ahab and all that he did and the ivory house which he built and all the cities which he built , are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles e of the Kings of Israel ? 40 So Ahab slept with his fathers , and Ahaziah his son became king in his place .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Kings 22:20-40
Commentary on 1 Kings 22:15-28
(Read 1 Kings 22:15-28)
The greatest kindness we can do to one that is going in a dangerous way, is, to tell him of his danger. To leave the hardened criminal without excuse, and to give a useful lesson to others, Micaiah related his vision. This matter is represented after the manner of men: we are not to imagine that God is ever put upon new counsels; or that he needs to consult with angels, or any creature, about the methods he should take; or that he is the author of sin, or the cause of any man's telling or believing a lie. Micaiah returned not the blow of Zedekiah, yet, since he boasted of the Spirit, as those commonly do that know least of the Holy Spirit's operations, the true prophet left him to be convinced of his error by the event. Those that will not have their mistakes set right in time, by the word of God, will be undeceived, when it is too late, by the judgments of God. We should be ashamed of what we call trials, were we to consider what the servants of God have endured. Yet it will be well, if freedom from trouble prove not more hurtful to us; we are more easily allured and bribed into unfaithfulness and conformity to the world, than driven to them.
Commentary on 1 Kings 22:29-40
(Read 1 Kings 22:29-40)
Ahab basely intended to betray Johoshaphat to danger, that he might secure himself. See what they get that join with wicked men. How can it be expected that he should be true to his friend, who has been false to his God! He had said in compliment to Ahab, I am as thou art, and now he was indeed taken for him. Those that associate with evil-doers, are in danger of sharing in their plagues. By Jehoshaphat's deliverance, God let him know, that though he was displeased with him, yet he had not deserted him. God is a friend that will not fail us when other friends do. Let no man think to hide himself from God's judgment. God directed the arrow to hit Ahab; those cannot escape with life, whom God has doomed to death. Ahab lived long enough to see part of Micaiah's prophecy accomplished. He had time to feel himself die; with what horror must he have thought upon the wickedness he had committed!