1 Transierunt igitur tres anni absque bello inter Syriam et Israël. 2 In anno autem tertio, descendit Josaphat rex Juda ad regem Israël. 3 (Dixitque rex Israël ad servos suos: Ignoratis quod nostra sit Ramoth Galaad, et negligimus tollere eam de manu regis Syriæ?) 4 Et ait ad Josaphat: Veniesne mecum ad præliandum in Ramoth Galaad? 5 Dixitque Josaphat ad regem Israël: Sicut ego sum, ita et tu: populus meus et populus tuus unum sunt: et equites mei, equites tui. Dixitque Josaphat ad regem Israël: Quære, oro te, hodie sermonem Domini. 6 Congregavit ergo rex Israël prophetas, quadringentos circiter viros, et ait ad eos: Ire debeo in Ramoth Galaad ad bellandum, an quiescere? Qui responderunt: Ascende, et dabit eam Dominus in manu regis. 7 Dixit autem Josaphat: Non est hic propheta Domini quispiam, ut interrogemus per eum? 8 Et ait rex Israël ad Josaphat: Remansit vir unus per quem possumus interrogare Dominum: sed ego odi eum, quia non prophetat mihi bonum, sed malum: Michæas filius Jemla. Cui Josaphat ait: Ne loquaris ita, rex. 9 Vocavit ergo rex Israël eunuchum quemdam, et dixit ei: Festina adducere Michæam filium Jemla. |
10 Rex autem Israël, et Josaphat rex Juda, sedebant unusquisque in solio suo, vestiti cultu regio, in area juxta ostium portæ Samariæ: et universi prophetæ prophetabant in conspectu eorum. 11 Fecit quoque sibi Sedecias filius Chanaana cornua ferrea, et ait: Hæc dicit Dominus: His ventilabis Syriam, donec deleas eam. 12 Omnesque prophetæ similiter prophetabant, dicentes: Ascende in Ramoth Galaad, et vade prospere, et tradet Dominus in manus regis. 13 Nuntius vero qui ierat ut vocaret Michæam, locutus est ad eum, dicens: Ecce sermones prophetarum ore uno regi bona prædicant: sit ergo sermo tuus similis eorum, et loquere bona. 14 Cui Michæas ait: Vivit Dominus, quia quodcumque dixerit mihi Dominus, hoc loquar. 15 Venit itaque ad regem, et ait illi rex: Michæa, ire debemus in Ramoth Galaad ad præliandum, an cessare? Cui ille respondit: Ascende, et vade prospere, et tradet eam Dominus in manus regis. 16 Dixit autem rex ad eum: Iterum atque iterum adjuro te, ut non loquaris mihi nisi quod verum est, in nomine Domini. 17 Et ille ait: Vidi cunctum Israël dispersum in montibus, quasi oves non habentes pastorem. Et ait Dominus: Non habent isti dominum: revertatur unusquisque in domum suam in pace. 18 (Dixit ergo rex Israël ad Josaphat: Numquid non dixi tibi, quia non prophetat mihi bonum, sed semper malum?) 19 Ille vero addens, ait: Propterea audi sermonem Domini: vidi Dominum sedentem super solium suum, et omnem exercitum cæli assistentem ei a dextris et a sinistris: 20 et ait Dominus: Quis decipiet Achab regem Israël, ut ascendat, et cadat in Ramoth Galaad? Et dixit unus verba hujuscemodi, et alius aliter. 21 Egressus est autem spiritus, et stetit coram Domino, et ait: Ego decipiam illum. Cui locutus est Dominus: In quo? 22 Et ille ait: Egrediar, et ero spiritus mendax in ore omnium prophetarum ejus. Et dixit Dominus: Decipies, et prævalebis: egredere, et fac ita. 23 Nunc igitur ecce dedit Dominus spiritum mendacii in ore omnium prophetarum tuorum, qui hic sunt, et Dominus locutus est contra te malum. 24 Accessit autem Sedecias filius Chanaana, et percussit Michæam in maxillam, et dixit: Mene ergo dimisit spiritus Domini, et locutus est tibi? 25 Et ait Michæas: Visurus es in die illa quando ingredieris cubiculum intra cubiculum ut abscondaris. 26 Et ait rex Israël: Tollite Michæam, et maneat apud Amon principem civitatis, et apud Joas filium Amelech, 27 et dicite eis: Hæc dicit rex: Mittite virum istum in carcerem, et sustentate eum pane tribulationis, et aqua angustiæ, donec revertar in pace. 28 Dixitque Michæas: Si reversus fueris in pace, non est locutus in me Dominus. Et ait: Audite, populi omnes. 29 Ascendit itaque rex Israël, et Josaphat rex Juda, in Ramoth Galaad. 30 Dixit itaque rex Israël ad Josaphat: Sume arma, et ingredere prælium, et induere vestibus tuis. Porro rex Israël mutavit habitum suum, et ingressus est bellum. 31 Rex autem Syriæ præceperat principibus curruum triginta duobus, dicens: Non pugnabitis contra minorem et majorem quempiam, nisi contra regem Israël solum. 32 Cum ergo vidissent principes curruum Josaphat, suspicati sunt quod ipse esset rex Israël, et impetu facto pugnabant contra eum: et exclamavit Josaphat. 33 Intellexeruntque principes curruum quod non esset rex Israël, et cessaverunt ab eo. 34 Vir autem quidam tetendit arcum, in incertum sagittam dirigens, et casu percussit regem Israël inter pulmonem et stomachum. At ille dixit aurigæ suo: Verte manum tuam, et ejice me de exercitu, quia graviter vulneratus sum. 35 Commissum est ergo prælium in die illa, et rex Israël stabat in curru suo contra Syros, et mortuus est vespere: fluebat autem sanguis plagæ in sinum currus, 36 et præco insonuit in universo exercitu antequam sol occumberet, dicens: Unusquisque revertatur in civitatem, et in terram suam. 37 Mortuus est autem rex, et perlatus est in Samariam: sepelieruntque regem in Samaria, 38 et laverunt currum ejus in piscina Samariæ: et linxerunt canes sanguinem ejus, et habenas laverunt, juxta verbum Domini quod locutus fuerat. 39 Reliqua autem sermonum Achab, et universa quæ fecit, et domus eburnea quam ædificavit, cunctarumque urbium quas exstruxit, nonne hæc scripta sunt in libro sermonum dierum regum Israël? 40 Dormivit ergo Achab cum patribus suis, et regnavit Ochozias filius ejus pro eo. |
22 Ahab invites Jehoshaphat to join in recovering Ramoth - gilead, 1 Regum 22:1-4.
His false prophets promise him success, 1 Regum 22:5-6.
He sends for Micaiah, 1 Regum 22:7-10.
Farther promises, 1 Regum 22:11-12.
Micaiah's uprightness and prediction, 1 Regum 22:13-23.
He is abused and imprisoned, 1 Regum 22:24-28.
An account of the battle, wherein Ahab is slain, 1 Regum 22:29-40.
The good reign of Jehoshaphat, 1 Regum 22:41-51.
The wicked reign of Ahaziah, 1 Regum 22:52-54.
22:2 Came down, etc - It is strange, that so good a man would be so closely connected with a king revolted from the worship of God! But heappears to have been of too easy a temper, which betrayed him to manyinconveniencies.
22:3 Is ours - Belongeth to us by right. both by God's donation, and by our last agreement with Ben - hadad, chap.1 Regum 20:34, which yet herefuseth to deliver up.
22:5 Enquire - A good man, wherever he goes, will take God along with him, will acknowledge him in all his ways, and look to him for success.And wherever he goes, he ought to take his religion along with him: and notbe ashamed to own it, even among those who have no kindness for it.
22:6 The prophets - Doubtless his own false prophets, or the priests of the groves; who yet gave in their answer in the name of Jehovah; either,in compliance with Jehoshaphat, or by Ahab's direction, thatJehoshaphat might be deceived by them, into a good opinion of the war.
22:8 One man - In this place, for whom I can speedily send: for there were also other prophets elsewhere in the kingdom, but these were not athand. Micaiah - Not one of the twelve prophets, who lived about a hundredand fifty years after this time, but another of that name.Let not, etc - Let us neither hate his person, nor despise his message;but first hear it, and then do as we see cause.
22:9 Micaiah - It seems, he had imprisoned him; for ver. 1 Regum 22:26, he bids the officer carry him back, namely to the place where he wasbefore. Probably this was he that had reproved him, for lettingBen - hadad go: And for that, had lain in prison three years. But thisdid not make him less confident, or less faithful in delivering his message.
22:14 Said - What answer God shall put in to my mouth. Bravely resolved! And as became one who had an eye to a greater king thaneither of these.
22:15 Go - Using the very words of the false prophets, in way of derision. Micaiah's meaning is plainly this, because thou dost notseek to know the truth, but only to please thyself, go to the battle,as all thy prophets advise thee, and try the truth of their predictionby thy own experience.
22:17 I saw - In the spirit, or in a vision. The hills - Upon the mountains of Gilead, nigh Ramoth, where they lay encamped byAhab's order. As sheep - As people who have lost their king.Return - Discharged from the war: which was fulfilled, ver. 1 Regum 22:26.
22:18 Evil - Nay, but what evil was it, to tell him, what would be the event, if he proceeded in his expedition, while it was in his own power,whether he would proceed, or no? The greatest kindness we can do to onethat is walking in a dangerous way, is to tell him of his danger.
22:19 He said - I will give thee a distinct and true account of the whole matter, in God's name and presence. I saw - By the eyes of my mind:for he could not see the Lord with bodily eyes. The Host - The angels,both good and bad, the one possibly on his right, the other on his lefthand. Nor is it strange that the devils are called the host of heaven;if you consider, first, that their original seat was in heaven. Secondly,that the name of heaven is often given to all that part of the world whichis above the earth, and among the rest, to the air, and where the devil'sresidence and dominion lies, Ephesios 2:2,and that both Michael and his angels, and the Dragon and his angels,are said to be, and to wage war in heaven, Apocalipsys 12:7, either theair, or the church.
22:20 Who shall - This is not to be grossly understood, as if God were at a loss to find out an expedient to accomplish his own will; but only tobring down divine things to our shallow capacities, and to express thevarious means which God hath to execute his own designs.
22:21 A spirit - An evil spirit came, and presented himself before the throne.
22:22 He said - I will inspire a lie into the minds and mouths of his prophets. Thou shalt - I will give them up into thy hands, and leave themto their own ignorance and wickedness. Go - This is not a command, butonly a permission.
22:24 Zedekiah - The chief of the false prophets, who was much in the king's favour. Which way - In what manner went it? Forasmuch as I andmy brethren have consulted the Lord, and have the same spirit which thoupretendest to have.
22:25 Hide thyself - Probably he went with Ahab to the battle, after which he was glad to shelter himself where he could.
22:27 Bread, etc - With a very course and sparing diet, whereby he may be only supported to endure his torment.
22:31 Save only - This he ordered, truly supposing this to be the best way to put an end to the war: and by the providence of God, which disposeththe hearts of kings as he pleaseth; and inclined them to this course, thatthey might, though ignorantly, accomplish his counsel. Perhaps Ben - hadadonly designed to have taken him prisoner, that he might now give him ashonourable a treatment, as he had formerly received from him.
22:34 The joints - Where the several parts of his armour were joined together. The only place about him where this arrow of death could findentrance. No armour is proof against the darts of divine vengeance. Casethe criminal in steel, and it is all one: he that made him, can make hissword approach him. And that which to us seems altogether casual, comesby the determinate counsel of God.
22:37 Died - Finding too late the truth of Micaiah's words; and Zedekiah's horns of iron, pushing not the Syrians, but himself,into destruction.
22:39 Ivory house - Not that it was made of solid ivory, but because the other materials were covered, or inlaid with ivory.
22:41 Of Ahab - Who reigned twenty two years; therefore he reigned about eighteen years with Ahab.
22:43-44 High places - He took them away, but not fully; or not in the beginning of of his reign.
22:45 Made peace - With Ahab first, and then with his son. This is noted as a blemish in his government, 2 Paralipomenon 19:2, and proved of mostmischievous consequence to his posterity.
22:48 A deputy - Sent, and set over them by the kings of Judah, from the time of David, until the days of Jehoram, 2 Paralipomenon 21:8.
22:50 Would not - He did join with Ahaziah before this time, and before the ships were broken: for the breaking of the ships mentionedhere, is noted to be the effect of his sin, in joining with Ahaziah,2 Paralipomenon 20:37.And Jehoshaphat being warned and chastised by God for this sin,would not be persuaded to repeat it.
22:52 Ahaziah, etc - Ahaziah was made king by his father, and reigned in conjunction with him a year or two before Ahab's death, andas long after it; even as Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat was madeking by his father in his life - time, which possibly was done in compliancewith Ahab's desire upon marriage of his daughter to Jehoshaphat'sson; and it may be Ahab, to induce him to do so, give him an exampleof it, and made his son his partner in the kingdom.
22:53 In the way - Which seems added, to shew, how little the example of parents, or ancestors, is to be valued where it is opposed to the willand word of God.
22:54 His father, etc - Most unhappy parents, that thus help to damn their own children's souls!