1 Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.
2 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.
3 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.
4 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.
5 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.
6 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?
7 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.
8 And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.
9 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.
10 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.
11 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.
12 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 theirs, and speak thou good.
13 And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.
14 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.
15 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?
16 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.
17 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?
18 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.
19 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.
20 Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith?
21 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.
22 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.
23 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?
24 And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.
25 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;
26 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.
27 And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, then hath not the LORD spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, all ye people.
28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.
29 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.
30 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.
31 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.
32 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.
33 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.
34 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.
The Book of 2 Chronicles is the fourteenth book of the Old Testament in the King James Version of the Holy Bible. It is the second in a series of two books, the first being 1 Chronicles. The book is believed to be written by Ezra, and it covers the history of the kings of Israel from the reign of Solomon to the exile of the Israelites in Babylon. The eighteenth chapter of 2 Chronicles is a continuation of the story of King Jehoshaphat, who was the fourth king of Judah. This chapter focuses on the alliance between King Jehoshaphat and King Ahab of Israel, and the consequences of this alliance.
Introduction
The chapter begins by stating that Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor, and that he had made a marriage alliance with Ahab. Ahab was the king of Israel, who was known for his wickedness and idolatry. However, Jehoshaphat was a righteous king who followed the ways of the Lord. Despite this, he joined forces with Ahab in a military campaign against the king of Syria.
The Consultation with Ahab
As they were about to go into battle, Jehoshaphat asked Ahab to inquire of the Lord for guidance. Ahab gathered his false prophets and asked them if they should go to battle against Ramoth-gilead. They all gave favorable responses, encouraging Ahab to go to battle and promising him victory. However, Jehoshaphat was not convinced and asked for a true prophet of the Lord to be consulted.
The Prophet Micaiah
Ahab summoned Micaiah, a prophet of the Lord, but warned Jehoshaphat that he never prophesied anything good about him. Micaiah confirmed that the Lord had given him a vision of Israel scattered on the mountains like sheep without a shepherd. He also revealed that the Lord had put a lying spirit in the mouths of Ahab's prophets, in order to bring about his downfall. Micaiah's prophecy angered Ahab, and he ordered for him to be imprisoned and given only bread and water until he returned from battle.
The Battle of Ramoth-gilead
Despite the warning from Micaiah, Ahab and Jehoshaphat went to battle against the king of Syria. Ahab disguised himself, but he was struck by an arrow and died. Jehoshaphat managed to escape unharmed, and he returned to Jerusalem. However, upon his return, Jehu, the son of Hanani, went out to meet him and rebuked him for joining forces with the wicked king Ahab. He reminded Jehoshaphat of how the Lord had destroyed the house of Ahab, and warned him that he would also face judgment for his alliance with Ahab.
The Reign of Jehoshaphat
The chapter ends with a brief account of the rest of Jehoshaphat's reign. It is mentioned that he reigned for twenty-five years and that he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He removed the high places and idols from the land, and he sent priests and Levites to teach the people the law of the Lord. He also strengthened the cities of Judah and had a great army. However, he did not remove the high places, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.
1. The Consequences of Bad Alliances
The main theme of this chapter is the consequences of bad alliances. King Jehoshaphat's alliance with the wicked king Ahab proved to be disastrous. Despite being a righteous king, Jehoshaphat's decision to join forces with Ahab led to his downfall. This serves as a warning against forming alliances with those who do not follow the ways of the Lord, as it can ultimately lead to destruction.
2. The Importance of Seeking God's Guidance
Another theme in this chapter is the importance of seeking God's guidance before making decisions. Jehoshaphat's initial decision to inquire of the Lord before going into battle was a wise one. However, he was swayed by the false prophets of Ahab and did not heed the warning from the prophet Micaiah. This resulted in disastrous consequences. This serves as a reminder for us to always seek God's guidance and not be swayed by the opinions of others.
3. The Power of God's Word
The chapter also highlights the power of God's word through the prophet Micaiah. Despite the false prophets giving favorable responses, Micaiah's prophecy proved to be true. This shows that God's word cannot be manipulated or controlled, and it will always come to pass. This serves as a reminder for us to trust in the word of the Lord and not be deceived by false teachings.
Chapter 18 of 2 Chronicles serves as a warning against forming alliances with those who do not follow the ways of the Lord. It also emphasizes the importance of seeking God's guidance and trusting in His word. The downfall of Ahab and Jehoshaphat's alliance serves as a reminder that God will not tolerate disobedience and will bring judgment upon those who choose to disobey Him. This chapter also highlights the power of God's word and the importance of following it above the opinions of man.
In a broader sense, this chapter also serves as a reminder for us to be careful in our associations and to always seek God's guidance in all aspects of our lives. It also shows that even the most righteous of leaders can make mistakes, but it is important to acknowledge and repent of those mistakes. Overall, this chapter teaches us the consequences of making unwise decisions and the importance of staying true to the ways of the Lord.
Chapter 18 of 2 Chronicles continues to provide valuable lessons for us today. It serves as a reminder to be cautious in our associations and to always seek God's guidance before making decisions. It also emphasizes the power of God's word and the importance of following it above the opinions of man. Ultimately, this chapter teaches us the consequences of disobedience and the importance of staying true to the ways of the Lord.
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