Westminster Annotations, 1 Kings (3 Kings) · Chapter 22 – Argument 2
CHAP. XXII.
Vers. 1. THree yeers] From the covenant made betwixt Ahab and Benhadad (chap. 20. 34.) which was in the ninteenth yeer of Ahabs reign, chap. 16. 29.
V. 2. third yeer] After Jehoshaphat had made peace (v. 44.) and affinity with Ahab, 2 Chron. 18. 1. 2 King. 8. 18. This was in the seventh yeer of Jehoshaphat, v. 51.
Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel] 2 Chro. 18. 1, &c.
V. 3. servants] Counsellours who attended on him.
Ramoth-Gilead] See chap. 4. 13.
is ours] It was a part of Israels inheritance, even one of their cities of refuge, Josh. 20. 8. And though it were taken away by Benhadads father, yet it was promised to be restored again, chap. 20. 34.
still] Heb. silent from taking it.
V. 4. I as thou, &c.] 2 Kings 3. 7. I and mine are ready to go, and do as thou wilt. See v. 44.
V. 5. Enquire, &c.] By some prophet, whether God will prosper our design, or no.
V. 6. four hundred men] Those prophets of the groves which are mentioned, chap. 18. 19. as is probable.
V. 7. besides] These that are prophets of the groves. Jehoshaphat suspected that their word was not from the LORD.
V. 8. yet one man] Notwithstanding many of them have been slain (chap. 18. 4. and 19. 10.) and some sled, so as I know not where to finde them. It may be gathered from this phrase (carry him back again, v. 26.) that Micaiah was in prison when Ahab sent for him.
son of Imlah] To distinguish him from the other Micaiah, Mic. 1. 1▪
good] That which is pleasing, Jer. 38. 4. or that which may tend to my honour or profit.
evil] Terrible things, which tend to my shame, damage and undoing.
Let not the king] A modest check, implying, That sound counsell, though unsavoury, is to be hearkned unto.
V. 9. officer] Or, eunuch. The Hebrew word signifieth one that is gelded, Isai. 56. 3. So the Greek, Matth. 19. 12. The Persians, Babylonians and other heathen, were wont to appoint such to be chief attendants upon queens and great ladies, for the surer confidence of their continence: such also were attendants upon kings, and other great persons; whence, it became to be a title given to such great officers and attendants, whether they were gelt or no, Gen. 39. 1. See the Notes on Gen. 33. 36.
V. 10. robes] Royall robes, to set out their majestie, as Act. 12. 21.
void place] Heb. floor. A spacious place, where multitudes of people might stand together, Gen. 50. 10. The Hebrew word is used to signifie a barn or a floor where corn is threshed, as Ruth 3. 3. 2 Sam. 24. 18.
prophesied] See Chrp. 18. 29.
V. 11. Zedekiah] The chief of the false prophets.
son of Chenaanah] To distinguish him from Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, Jer. 29. 21.
made him horns] As a signe of the truth of his prophecie, in imitation of true prophets. See Jer. 27. 2. and 28. 13. Zac. 1. 18, 19.
the Lord] They used the Name Jehovah, to please Jehoshaphat.
With these, &c.] As horned beasts with their horns push and wound other beasts, till they have destroyed them: so shall thine army d…al with the Syrians.
V. 12. so] To the same purpose that Zedekiah had done.
V, 13. good] See v. 8.
with one mouth] With one consent.
V. 14. As the Lord, &c.] This was an usuall concise form of oath. See Chap. 1. v. 29.
V. 15. Go, and prosper] This was spoken ironically, in the words of the false prophets (v. 12.) to discover their falshood more evidently: in such a manner were these words uttered, as Ahab discerned them to be a meer mock. This kinde and way of discovering the folly of men, is frequent, as Chap. 18. 27. Gen. 3. 22. Judg. 10. 14. 2 Chron. 25. 8. Eccles 11. 9. Lam. 4. 21. Am. 4. 4, 5.
V. 16. How many times] The interrogation implies a vehement asseveration, thus, Again and again, as by a solemn oath, I charge thee, &c.
in the Name of the Lord] Received from the LORD; for Micaiah, in his answer (v. 15.) no way implied that he spake it in the Name of the LORD. The king falsly imagined that it was the will of the LORD that he should recover Ramothgilead.
V. 17. I saw] In a vision, as Ezek. 1. 4, &c. Act. 10. 11, 17. A vision was a representation of things to a mans imagination while he wa… awake: wherein it differed from a dream.
all Israel] All that were drawn forth to warre, put to flight.
as sheep] Pursued by wolves, without a shepherd, Zach 13. 7.
no master] Their king being slain.
V. 18. no good] See v. 8.
V. 19. therefore] Because thou didst adjure me to tell the truth in the name of the LORD.
I saw] As v. 17.
sitting] As a Judge, Isai. 6. 1. Dan. 7. 9.
the host] Angels, who as an host, or army of souldiers attend the LORD, Psal. 103. 20, 21.
on his right, &c.] Round about him.
V. 20. the Lord said] All this discourse is by way of resemblance, and that after the manner of man applied to God: For who is his counsellour? Isa. 40. 13.
perswade] Or, deceive.
one] Spirit.
V. 21. a spirit] An evill spirit: for evill spirits can for their advantage, thrust into the company of good spirits, Job 1. 6. He calls himself a lying spirit in the next verse.
V. 22. I will be a lying spirit] I will so work on them, as they shall declare false things, Joh. 8. 44. Thus he is called, a spirit of whoredom, Hos. 4. 13. meaning spirituall whoredom, which is idolatry: and an unclean spirit, Zac. 13. 2. and a spirit of errour, 1 Joh. 4. 6. because he allures men to those sins.
he said] The LORD. Because Ahab hated Gods true prophets, God in justice gave him over to believe lies. See on 2 Thess. 2. 11, 12.
V. 23. the Lord hath put] As a just Judge, making an evil spirit his executioner, to punish Ahab. So 2 Sam. 16. 10. Job 12. 16. Ezek. 14. 9.
spoken evil] Denounced judgement, Am. 3. 6.
V. 24. smote] Impudently, before the kings and whole assembly.
on the check] Reproachfully, Job 16. 10. Act. 23. 2.
Which way went the Spirit of the Lord from me, to speak to thee?] 2 Chron. 18. 23. Zedekiah pretends that he himself had the Spirit of the LORD, and thereupon inferres, that Micaiah had it not, because it could not be shewed how it should passe from the one to the other.
V. 25. thou shalt see] By wofull experience thou shalt finde, that I, by the Spirit of the LORD, have declared a truth. To see, is oft put for an experimentall proof, as Gen. 26. 28. Matth. 2. 16.
go into an inner chamber] Or, from chamber to chamber; As Benhadad did, Chap. 20. 30.
an inner chamber] Heb. a chamber in a chamber.
to hide thy self] From Ahabs friends, who will revenge this thy falshood in deceiving the king.
V. 26. carry him back] To the prison where he was before. See v. 8.
the kings son] Appointed governour of the kingdom while the king went to war; as Jotham, when his father was a leper, 2 Chron. 26. 21.
V. 27. bread of affliction] With no more then may sustain life, that he may be preserved, but in affliction through want.
V. 28. thou return] Heb. returning thou return. Herein he hath reference to the evidence of a true or false prophet, Deut. 18. 21, 22. See Num. 16. 29.
Hearken] I take you all to witnesse.
V. 29. and Jehoshaphat] Though in sundry other things he gave good evidence of a true fear of God, yet here he shewed great failing, 2 Chron. 19. 1.
V. 30. I will disguise my self, and enter into the battell] Or, when he was to disguise himself and enter into the battell: By changing my habit, that I may not be known to be whom I am. See Chap. 14. 2. and 20. 38.
thy robes] As v. 10. Hereby he pretends honour to Jehoshaphat, but he was afraid of the issue of Micaiah's prophecie.
V. 31. with small nor great] A proverbiall speech, whereby he doth not forbid his servants to slay any other then the king; but that they should observe the king, and bend their main force against him, and not suffer themselves, by fighting with others, to be kept from setting upon the king.
V. 32. turned aside] From all others (as they were commanded, v. 31.) and compassed about Jehoshaphat, 2 Chron. 18. 31.
cried out] Earnestly prayed to the LORD, as Chap. 17. 20. 2 King. 2 12. Exod. 14. 15.
V. 33. perceived] By some speciall work of the LORD, whereby the LORD is said to help him, 2 Chron. 18. 31.
V. 34. at a venture] Heb. in his simplicity; Not purposely aiming at Ahab, nor knowing Gods purpose, 2 Sam. 15. 11.
joynts of the harnesse] Heb. joynts and the brest-plate.
I am wounded] Heb. made sick. Or, being wounded, I am ready to faint. See 2 King. 1. 2.
V. 35. encreased] Heb. ascended; Grew more and more fierce.
was stayed up] Or, stayed himself up, 2 Chron. 28. 34. to keep his army together from fleeing away: for though he were carried aside out of the host (v. 34.) to binde up his wound, yet did he not clean leave the army.
chariot] Some put it in the plurall number, thus, or, his chariots; and apply it to the chariots of his captains, that by the kings abiding in the field, they might be kept from flight.
midst] Heb. bosome.
V. 36. a proclamation] By reason of the kings death, 2 Chro. 18. 34. and this was according to the prophets word, v. 17.
Every man to his city] A phrase of retreat, and giving over the battell. See a like phrase, but in another sense, Chap. 12. 16.
V. 37. died] In the field, 2 Chron. 18. 34.
was brought] Heb. came, Dead.
Samaria] See Chap. 16. 24, 29.
V. 38. pool of Samaria] Which reached to Jezreel, where was the kings armoury, and where his chariots stood. Thus, though it were stiled, the pool of Samaria, yet the chariot and armour might be washed in Jezreel, where Naboth was stoned, as Chap. 21. 19.
unto the word of the Lord which he spake] Chap. 21. 19.
V. 39. ivory house which he made] Chap. 10. 18.
chronicles] See Chap. 11. 41.
V. 40. slept] See Chap. 2. 10.
V. 41. Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah] 2 Chron. 20. 31.
V. 42. thirty and five yeers old] Heb. a son of thirty five yeers.
twenty and five yeers] To the end of his life, all which time he was the true king. See 2 King. 1. 17.
mothers name] See Chap. 14. 21. and 15. 10.
V. 43. in all the ways] First ways, as 2 Chron. 17. 3. See Chap. 15. 10.
high places] See Chap. 15. v. 14.
V. 44. peace] Which brought the wrath of God upon him, 2 Chron. 19. 2.
king of Israel] Both with Ahab (v. 4.) and also with Jehoram Ahabs son, 2 King. 3. 7.
V. 45. chronicles] As Chap. 14. v. 29.
sodomites] See Chap. 15. 12.
V. 47. then] From the time that David subdued Edom, (2 Sam. 8. 14.) till Jorams time (2 King. 8. 20.) Then was Jacobs prophecy (Gen. 27. 40.) accomplished. See the Notes on Gen. 25. 23.
a deputy] Put in by the king of Judah.
V. 48. made ships] Or, had ten ships.
ships of Tharshish] See Chap. 10. v. 22.
Ophir] See Chap. 9. v. 28.
Ezion-geber] See Chap. 9. v. 26.
V. 49. would not] After he had been reproved and punished for joyning with him, 2 Chron. 20. 37.
V. 50. slept, &c.] See Chap. 2. 10.
V. 51. two yeers] Currant (as Chap. 15. 2.) His first yeer was in common with Ahab his father: his second, with Jehoram his brother, 2 King. 1. 17.
V. 52. father] Ahab.
mother] Jezebel.
V. 53. served and worshipped] Ascribed Deity, and yeelded divine honour to Baal, as to a true God. See Chap. 16. 21.
ANNOTATIONS On the second Book of the KINGS, Commonly called, The fourth Book of the KINGS.
The Argument of the second Book of KINGS.
THe second Book of Kings continueth the History of the Kings of Israel and Judah, to the captivity of them both. The History of Israel is from the rebellion of Moab in Ahaziahs time, to the captivitie of Hoshea, 2 Kings 18. 6. which was the space of one hundred fifty and nine yeers, wherein twelve Kings reigned one after another. The History of Judah is from the end of Jehoshaphats reign, to the captivity of Zedekiah, which was the space of two hundred ninty and four yeers (besides the twenty and six yeers, mentioned 2 King. 25. 27.) wherein fifteen Kings (besides Athalia the usurper, 2 King. 11. 1.) reigned, one after another.
The Title.
The second] See the Title of the first Book of KINGS.