And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade [him], and prevail also: go forth, and do so.
Ver. 22. And I will be a lying spirit.] This therefore was not Naboth's spirit, as R. Solomon vainly conceited; for that was gathered to the rest of the "spirits of just men made perfect"; Heb 12:23 but it was the devil who borrowed the mouths of these false prophets to vent his lies by.
Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also.] Ahab's death then was revealed to the devil, and he could foretell it. What can the most intelligent spirits know of future things, but what they see either in their causes or in the light of participation?