Jehoshaphat, however, stipulated that enquiry should be made at the word of Jehovah; upon which Ahab consulted 400 prophets, who all encouraged him to proceed.* Jehoshaphat seems to have had some misgiving that all was not right, for he still asked, Is there not here a prophet of Jehovah besides, that we might enquire of him?† Ahab replied that there was Micaiah, the son of Imla, but that he hated him, as he never prophesied good unto him, but always evil; Jehoshaphat gently reproved his royal host, saying; Let not the king say so.‡ Micaiah being sent for, both the monarchs put on their royal robes and sat upon their thrones, in the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets prophesied before them; and one of them, Zedekiah, being desirous to render himself conspicuous, made him horns of iron, and said; Thus saith Jehovah, with these thou shalt push Syria until they be consumed.§ The messenger who had been sent for Micaiah, urged him, most probably out of kindness, to coincide with the known wishes of Ahab, and the smooth counsel of his prophets; but Micaiah said, as Jehovah liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak. It is not easy to reconcile this pious and manly declaration with the prophet's conduct, unless we suppose he spoke ironically, or gave some indication by which Ahab knew he was not expressing his real sentiments; for when that monarch asked him whether they should go up to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or should forbear? he replied, Goy ye up and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.¶ 2 Chron. xviii. 4, 5. 9, 10, 11. 1 Kings, xxii. 6, 7. 10-12. +2 Chron. xviii. 6. 2 Chron. xviii. 7. 2 Chron. xviii. 9, 10. 2 Chron. xviii. 12, 13 2 Chron. xviii. 14. 1 Kings, xxii. 7. Upon being solemnly adjured by Ahab to speak nothing but the truth, in the name of Jehovah, Micaiah said, “I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd and Jehovah said, These have no master; let them return every man to his house in peace." Therefore hear the word of Jehovah: I saw Jehovah sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left. And Jehovah said, Who shall entice Ahab, king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner. Then there came out a spirit, and stood before Jehovah, and said, I will entice him. And Jehovah said unto him wherewith? And he said, I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And Jehovah said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail; go out, and do even so. Now, therefore, behold Jehovah hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and Jehovah hath spoken evil against thee.* Upon this Zedekiah came near and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the spirit of Jehovah from me to speak unto thee? And Micaiah said, Behold thou shalt see on that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself. 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, 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. And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, then hath not Jehovah spoken by me, and he said, Hearken, all ye people.† It is difficult to reconcile the conduct of Jehoshaphat in * 2 Chron. xviii. 16-22 1 Kings, xxii. 17-23. going with Ahab after this denunciation, with his previous piety in enquiring the will of Jehovah; and the whole transaction ought to furnish us with a lesson against the danger of making unholy associations, and the mischief which may arise from being drawn within the vortex of their influence. We may well suppose that Jehoshaphat had no intention, when he left Jerusalem, to engage in a war with the Syrian monarch; but he knew that Ahab and his house were given up to idolatry, and had forsaken Jehovah and his worship; and that therefore he had no business there. Again, there can be no doubt, that when he desired a prophet of Jehovah should be sent for, he intended to be regulated by the will of Jehovah, as it might be declared by that prophet. Still, however, we see the influence of wicked Ahab, perhaps of his more wicked wife, Jezebel, and his idolatrous priests and courtiers, prevailed over all the pious and holy intentions of Jehoshaphat. And this monarch, we may suppose, was amiable and simple hearted, if not weak minded; for his perfidious host persuaded him to go into the battle dressed in that monarch's royal robes, whilst Ahab had disguised himself like a coward.* The result, however, proved that no disguise can defeat the all searching eye of God; and that when the time arrives, at which he thinks fit to commission the arrow of divine vengeance, neither rock nor mountain, nor any human artifice, can protect the wicked from his wrath; and his glory and mercy were made equally conspicuous in protecting his pious, though inconsistent servant, Jehoshaphat. For the king of Syria having ordered his officers to fight neither with small or great, save only with the king of Israel, they crowded round the king of Judah by mistake, and pressed him so hard, that he cried out; when Jehovah helped him, and 2 Chron. xviii. 29. 1 Kings, xxii. 30. moved the Syrians to depart from him; for perceiving that they had mistaken the object of their pursuit, they turned back.* Ahab, nevertheless, was slain notwithstanding his disguise; for a Syrian archer drew a bow at a venture, and smote him between the joints of the harness, of which wound he died in the evening.† Jehoshaphat, however, by the mercy of God, returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem; when Jehu, the son of Hanani, the seer, went out to meet him, and said to him, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate Jehovah? therefore is wrath upon thee from before Jehovah. Nevertheless, there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.‡ On his return home, Jehoshaphat resumed his pious labours for re-establishing the true worship of God, and went out again through the people, from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back unto Jehovah, the God of their fathers. And he set judges in the land, throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city, and said to the judges, Take heed what ye do for ye judge not for man, but for Jehovah, who is with you in the judgment. Wherefore now, let the fear of Jehovah be upon you; take heed, and do it: for there is no iniquity with Jehovah, our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts. Moreover, in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set, of the Levites and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of Jehovah, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem. And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of Jehovah, faith * 2 Chron. xviii. 30-31. 1 Kings, xxii. 32, 33. + 2 Chron. xviii. 33, 34. 1 Kings, xxii. 34, 37. fully, and with a perfect heart. And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes, and judgments, ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against Jehovah, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not trespass. And, behold, Amariah, the chief priest, is over you in all matters of Jehovah; and Zebadiah, the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king's matters: also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and Jehovah shall be with the good.* The Moabites and Ammonites having united to invade the territories of Judah, and arrived in great force from beyond the sea on this side Syria, in Hazazon-tamar, or Engedi, Jehoshaphat set himself to seek Jehovah, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of Jehovah: even out of all the cities of Judah, they came to seek Jehovah. And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of Jehovah, before the new court, and said, O Jehovah, God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham, thy friend, for ever? And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help. And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab, and mount 2 Chron. xix. 4-11. |