14When he had come to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I refrain?” He answered, “Go up and triumph; they will be given into your hand.” 15But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?” 16Then Micaiaha said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep without a shepherd; and the LORD said, ‘These have no master; let each one go home in peace.’” 17The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy anything favorable about me, but only disaster?”
18Then Micaiahb said, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, with all the host of heaven standing to the right and to the left of him. 19And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice King Ahab of Israel, so that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ Then one said one thing, and another said another, 20until a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, saying, ‘I will entice him.’ The LORD asked him, ‘How?’ 21He replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ Then the LORDc said, ‘You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do it.’ 22So you see, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets; the LORD has decreed disaster for you.”
23Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah came up to Micaiah, slapped him on the cheek, and said, “Which way did the spirit of the LORD pass from me to speak to you?” 24Micaiah replied, “You will find out on that day when you go in to hide in an inner chamber.” 25The king of Israel then ordered, “Take Micaiah, and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son; 26and say, ‘Thus says the king: Put this fellow in prison, and feed him on reduced rations of bread and water until I return in peace.’” 27Micaiah said, “If you return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Hear, you peoples, all of you!”
Defeat and Death of Ahab
28So the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. 29The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle. 30Now the king of Aram had commanded the captains of his chariots, “Fight with no one small or great, but only with the king of Israel.” 31When the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is the king of Israel.” So they turned to fight against him; and Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him. God drew them away from him, 32for when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him. 33But a certain man drew his bow and unknowingly struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate; so he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around, and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded.” 34The battle grew hot that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans until evening; then at sunset he died.
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a Heb he
b Heb he
c Heb he
18.1–19.3 Cf. 1 Kings 22.1–40. This is the only time in Chronicles that a lengthy text from 1 or 2 Kings dealing with a Northern king is included. Chronicles omits the bloody details of Ahab’s death (1 Kings 22.35–38) and Ahab’s final regnal formula (1 Kings 22.39–40). The Chronicler makes significant changes at the beginning and end of this pericope; the rest is largely unchanged from 1 Kings 22.
18.1 Now, better “although.” The information about Jehoshaphat’s riches in 17.5 should have removed the need for an alliance. Jehoshaphat’s son Jehoram marries Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab.
18.2 The context in Chronicles makes Jehoshaphat’s trip to Samaria part of the marriage agreement, with Ahab preparing a banquet of sheep and cattle. Ahab plays the role of tempter: he induced, or “seduced,” Jehoshaphat into going with him. Ramoth-gilead, a city in the territory of Gad, some twenty-five miles east of the Jordan River.
18.4–11 The four hundred court prophets assure the two kings that God supports the upcoming battle. At Jehoshaphat’s request, Ahab agrees to send for Micaiah son of Imlah, a prophet known for his unfavorable messages. A prophet named Zedekiah performs a symbolic act, in which he compares the army to a goring bull, to encourage the kings to attack the Arameans.
18.12–22 After an initial and presumably insincere positive oracle, Micaiah says that Israel will in fact be scattered like sheep without a shepherd (v. 16). Micaiah reports his attendance at a meeting of the divine council, where a spirit offered to be a lying spirit in the mouth of all the prophets so that Ahab would go out and fall at Ramoth-gilead. With God’s encouragement, this lying spirit induces all the court prophets to urge Ahab toward disaster.
18.23–27 After a confrontation with Zedekiah, Micaiah is imprisoned by Ahab until he returns safely from battle. Micaiah charges that Ahab’s safe return would prove that the Lord has not sent Micaiah.
18.28–34 The Arameans at first mistake Jehoshaphat for Ahab, but the Lord deflects the pursuers; a chance shot later wounds the real king of Israel. At the end of the day he dies.
18.31 Although and the LORD helped him is not in the Hebrew text of Kings, these words are attested in one of the ancient Greek recensions of the Bible, the Lucianic recension, and were probably in the Hebrew text known by the Chronicler. They are not a theological addition by the Chronicler. God drew them away from him. In this addition by the Chronicler, drew them away uses the same Hebrew verb as induce (seduce) in v. 2.
2 CHRONICLES 19
1King Jehoshaphat of Judah returned in safety to his house in Jerusalem. 2Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the LORD. 3Nevertheless, some good is found in you, for you destroyed the sacred polesa out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God.”
The Reforms of Jehoshaphat
4Jehoshaphat resided at Jerusalem; then he went out again among the people, from Beer-sheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the LORD, the God of their ancestors. 5He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, 6and said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you judge not on behalf of human beings but on the LORD’s behalf; he is with you in giving judgment. 7Now, let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take care what you do, for there is no perversion of justice with the LORD our God, or partiality, or taking of bribes.”
8Moreover in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed certain Levites and priests and heads of families of Israel, to give judgment for the LORD and to decide disputed cases. They had their seat at Jerusalem. 9He charged them: “This is how you shall act: in the fear of the LORD, in faithfulness, and with your whole heart; 10whenever a case comes to you from your kindred who live in their cities, concerning bloodshed, law or commandment, statutes or ordinances, then you shall instruct them, so that they may not incur guilt before the LORD and wrath may not come on you and your kindred. Do so, and you will not incur guilt. 11See, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the governor of the house of Judah, in all the king’s matters; and the Levites will serve you as officers. Deal courageously, and may the LORD be with the good!”
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a Heb Asheroth
19.1–3 An addition by the Chronicler. Having ignored the warning of the prophet Micaiah (18.27), Jehoshaphat is met by a prophet of his own kingdom, Jehu, the son of Hanani (who prophesies against Baasha in 1 Kings 16.1, 7).
19.2 The wicked, namely, Ahab. Love, a reference to Jehoshaphat’s marriage alliance. The campaign of Jehoshaphat against Ramoth-gilead represents the kind of unholy alliance with the North that the Chronicler bitterly opposes.
19.3 Jehoshaphat’s destruction of the sacred poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah (17.6) and his seeking God mitigate the judgment agains
t him.
19.4–11 This reform and the exemplary behavior of Jehoshaphat in a subsequent military crisis (ch, 20), both without parallel in Kings, illustrate the good found in Jehoshaphat (v. 3) that helps him escape divine wrath.
19.4 Again presupposes the earlier teaching mission in 17.7–9.
19.5 By appointing judges, delegating judicial authority to officials appointed by himself throughout the kingdom, Jehoshaphat extends his own jurisdiction and restricts the influence of the local courts. Fortified cities. In some respects the account in Chronicles seems to be typologically older than the laws in Deuteronomy. In Deut 16.18–20, the lawgiver says that judges are to be set up in all towns and not just in the fortified cities.
19.6–7 The Lord’s own sense of integrity and justice is to give form to the behavior of the local judges (Deut 10.17–18; 16.19).
19.8 Jehoshaphat establishes a central court in Jerusalem to deal with cases referred to it from local courts. These cases could be resolved by the establishment of precedents or the formulation of new law. They had their seat at Jerusalem. This translation results from a changed vocalization of the Hebrew text: “[To decide the disputed cases] of the inhabitants of Jerusalem” (Septuagint, Vulgate); “They returned to Jerusalem” (Hebrew). The NRSV ’s alternative seems the least likely of the three.
19.11 Amariah, probably the third high priest after Solomon built the temple (1 Chr 6.11). Matters of the LORD, sacral law; the king’s matters, civil law. This differentiation of duties may not have arisen until the Persian period (beginning in 539 BCE).
2 CHRONICLES 20
Invasion from the East
1After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites,a came against Jehoshaphat for battle. 2Messengersb came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom,c from beyond the sea; already they are at Hazazon-tamar” (that is, En-gedi). 3Jehoshaphat was afraid; he set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4Judah assembled to seek help from the LORD; from all the towns of Judah they came to seek the LORD.
Jehoshaphat’s Prayer and Victory
5Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, 6and said, “O LORD, God of our ancestors, are you not God in heaven? Do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? In your hand are power and might, so that no one is able to withstand you. 7Did you not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? 8They have lived in it, and in it have built you a sanctuary for your name, saying, 9‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment,d or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house, and before you, for your name is in this house, and cry to you in our distress, and you will hear and save.’ 10See now, the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy—11they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession that you have given us to inherit. 12O our God, will you not execute judgment upon them? For we are powerless against this great multitude that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
13Meanwhile all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. 14Then the spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the middle of the assembly. 15He said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the LORD to you: ‘Do not fear or be dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours but God’s. 16Tomorrow go down against them; they will come up by the ascent of Ziz; you will find them at the end of the valley, before the wilderness of Jeruel. 17This battle is not for you to fight; take your position, stand still, and see the victory of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you.”
18Then Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping the LORD. 19And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
20They rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God and you will be established; believe his prophets.” 21When he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy splendor, as they went before the army, saying,
“Give thanks to the LORD,
for his steadfast love endures forever.”
22As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the Ammonites, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. 23For the Ammonites and Moab attacked the inhabitants of Mount Seir, destroying them utterly; and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.
24When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; they were corpses lying on the ground; no one had escaped. 25When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take the booty from them, they found livestocke in great numbers, goods, clothing, and precious things, which they took for themselves until they could carry no more. They spent three days taking the booty, because of its abundance. 26On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, for there they blessed the LORD; therefore that place has been called the Valley of Beracahf to this day. 27Then all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat at their head, returned to Jerusalem with joy, for the LORD had enabled them to rejoice over their enemies. 28They came to Jerusalem, with harps and lyres and trumpets, to the house of the LORD. 29The fear of God came on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30And the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.
The End of Jehoshaphat’s Reign
31So Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he began to reign; he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. 32He walked in the way of his father Asa and did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the LORD. 33Yet the high places were not removed; the people had not yet set their hearts upon the God of their ancestors.
34Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, from first to last, are written in the Annals of Jehu son of Hanani, which are recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel.
35After this King Jehoshaphat of Judah joined with King Ahaziah of Israel, who did wickedly. 36He joined him in building ships to go to Tarshish; they built the ships in Eziongeber. 37Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have joined with Ahaziah, the LORD will destroy what you have made.” And the ships were wrecked and were not able to go to Tarshish.
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a Compare 26.7: Heb Ammonites
b Heb They
c One Ms: MT Aram
d Or the sword of judgment
e Gk: Heb among them
f That is Blessing
20.1–30 The conduct of this war is mostly liturgical, and little can be established about the historical circumstances.
20.1 Meunites, a people named after the town of Maon, eight and a half miles south of Hebron. Later in the chapter the enemies are identified as Ammonites, Moabites, and the people of Mount Seir or Edom.
20.2 Hazazon-tamar, a town between En-gedi and Bethlehem. En-gedi, a site on the west shore of the Dead Sea.
20.3 Though terrified, Jehoshaphat does the right thing: he seeks the LORD and proclaims a fast.
20.6–12 A prayer of national lament by Jehoshaphat.
20.9 Jehoshaphat appeals to Solomon’s prayer (6.28,
34) at the dedication of the temple and to the Lord’s promise to answer it (7.12–14).
20.10 Mount Seir, not mentioned in v. 2, but see vv. 22–23.
20.11 Ammon, Moab, and Edom should be grateful for having been spared when Israel entered the land (Deut 2.1–22), but instead they now try to take the land away from Israel.
20.12 Perplexed by the invading horde, Jehoshaphat indicates his strong trust in God.
20.14 Jahaziel, a levitical singer (descendant of Asaph) who functions as a prophet and promises Israel a victory in holy war (cf. 1 Chr 25.1–8; 2 Chr 29.25; 35.15).
20.15–17 The speech of Jahaziel answers Jehoshaphat’s lament and resembles the speech of a priest before a battle (Deut 20.2–4).
20.16 Ascent of Ziz, between Tekoa, a town in the highlands of Judah, and En-gedi (see note on 20.2). Wilderness of Jeruel, unidentified.
20.17 Despite the fact that Jehoshaphat has more than a million troops in Jerusalem alone (17.14–18), the people are reminded that they are not to fight, but to watch the victory of the Lord.
20.20 In his exhortation, Jehoshaphat seems to refer to Isaiah (“If you do not stand firm in faith, you shall not stand at all,” Isa 7.9), to Jahaziel, who had just assured them of victory, and to Jahaziel’s fellow Levites who are Kohathites, more specifically Korahites. It is probable that the temple singers of the Chronicler’s day claimed prophetic authority.
20.21 The appointment of (prophetic) singers is the trigger that causes the Lord to set the invading nations against one another, leading to their total destruction.
HarperCollins Study Bible Page 176