ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for 1 Kings 22

1 Kings 22:1–40 Although the house of Ahab is under a prophetic curse, the complete fulfillment of the prophecy will be delayed until the reign of Ahab’s son (see 21:27–29). However, Ahab’s own death has been foretold by two different prophets (20:41–42; 21:19). Now, after a third prophet confirms the word from the Lord, Ahab will die.

1 Kings 22:1–5 The peace that followed the battle of Aphek (20:26–34) lasted three years. Even after such a crushing defeat, the king of Syria was able to hold on to Ramoth-gilead, located on a major trade route from the Red Sea to Damascus. Jehoshaphat is apparently at peace with Ahab (see 22:44) after the long war described in 14:30; 15:6–7; 16–22. Jehoshaphat, who is a devout man (see 22:43, 46), is willing to go with Ahab to battle at Ramoth-gilead. But first he wishes to inquire . . . for the word of the Lord.

1 Kings 22:6–7 gathered the prophets together. These prophets are not truly prophets of the Lord, as events will prove. They say whatever the king wants to hear. This is further implied in Jehoshaphat’s response to their advice: Is there not here another prophet of the Lord? (See also note on 2 Chron. 18:4–14.)

1 Kings 22:8 Let not the king say so. Ahab should not ignore a prophet of the Lord simply because he never prophesies good concerning me.

1 Kings 22:10–12 The harvesting of cereal crops in Israel was followed by a threshing and winnowing process. Threshed material was thrown into the air with a fork or a shovel to allow the breeze to separate the grain, the straw, and the chaff. The grain would then be cleaned and stored in jars, grain pits, or storage houses. The location of this activity was the threshing floor, which in this case was at the city gate. Here all the prophets were prophesying before the kings, and Zedekiah acted out his message.

1 Kings 22:15–16 Go up and triumph. Ahab sees that Micaiah’s words are merely a mocking imitation of the court prophets, who tell him only what he wants to hear.

1 Kings 22:21 a spirit came forward. The imagery is that of a council of war, with the heavenly king sitting on his throne surrounded by his army, making plans to defeat Ahab in battle.

1 Kings 22:23 put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these . . . prophets. Though God himself does not do evil, he sometimes uses evil agents to accomplish his purposes (see note on 1 Sam. 16:14).

1 Kings 22:24 How did the Spirit of the Lord go from me to speak to you? Zedekiah says that he has been influenced by “the Spirit of the Lord,” who cannot give contradictory advice to him and Micaiah.

1 Kings 22:25 All will become clear, Micaiah claims, when the disaster that he is predicting comes and Zedekiah is forced to hide inside someone’s home.

1 Kings 22:26 Amon is evidently one of Ahab’s high officials, entrusted with control of city affairs in Samaria. Joash the king’s son is responsible for prisoners.

1 Kings 22:30 the king of Israel disguised himself. Ahab’s disguise is evidence of unclear thinking. If Micaiah has been lying, there is no danger. If he has been telling the truth, Ahab will die, whatever he does.

1 Kings 22:32–33 Jehoshaphat cried out. And when the captains . . . saw that it was not the king of Israel. Although only Jehoshaphat wears royal robes, he is saved from death because his shout (either its language or its accent) reveals that he is not the man Ben-hadad wants to kill (v. 31).

1 Kings 22:34 between the scale armor and the breastplate. The arrow shot at random flies to one of the few undefended spots on Ahab’s body. Micaiah is proven to be a true prophet.

1 Kings 22:35 propped up in his chariot. The king stays on the battlefield all day, presumably to encourage his troops. At sunset he dies.

1 Kings 22:38 according to the word of the Lord. See 21:19, although that verse does not mention prostitutes, but only dogs. There is already a close association between the two, however, in Deut. 23:17–18. There Moses commands Israel not to become a cult prostitute or to bring into the temple the earnings of a female prostitute or a male prostitute (literally, “dog”; see esv footnote on Deut. 23:18).

1 Kings 22:39 Chronicles of the Kings (also v. 45). See note on 14:19. Archaeologists have uncovered a palace reminiscent of Ahab’s ivory house at Samaria.

1 Kings 22:41–53 Jehoshaphat and Ahaziah. Both Jehoshaphat and Ahaziah have already appeared in 1 Kings as characters in Ahab’s story. They are, respectively, his comrade-in-arms and his successor (vv. 2–4, 40).

1 Kings 22:43–46 Jehoshaphat was a good king. He had nothing to do with cult prostitutes (15:12). Under his rule, however, the high places where ungodly worship occurred were not taken away (15:14).

1 Kings 22:47 There was no king in Edom; a deputy was king. The Hebrew word for “deputy” is also used to describe Solomon’s various officials (4:5; 27; 5:16; 9:23). Jehoshaphat controlled Edom so completely that its king had no more power than one of Solomon’s deputies.

1 Kings 22:48 the ships were wrecked at Ezion-geber. Because Jehosh­aphat rules Edom, like Solomon he is able to build ships at Ezion-geber (see 9:26–28).

1 Kings 22:49 Jehoshaphat was not willing. The current peace between Israel and Judah (v. 44) is not strong. Whereas Solomon took Sidonians on board his ships (9:27), Jehoshaphat refuses even to have Israelites sail with his men. According to 2 Chron. 20:35–37, at first Jehoshaphat was willing to cooperate with Ahaziah. But after Eliezer prophesied against Jehoshaphat’s alliance with Ahaziah, Jehoshaphat changed his mind.

1 Kings 22:50 slept with his fathers. See note on 2:10.