F I R S T K I N G S
CHAP. XXII.
This chapter finishes the history of Ahab's reign. It was promised in the close of the foregoing chapter that the ruin of his house should not come in his days, but his days were soon at an end. His war with the Syrians at Ramoth-Gilead is that which we have an account of in this chapter. I. His preparations for that war. He consulted, 1. His privy-council, 1 Kings 22:1-3. 2. Jehoshaphat, 1 Kings 22:4. 3. His prophets. (1.) His own, who encouraged him to go on this expedition (1 Kings 22:5; 1 Kings 22:6), Zedekiah particularly, 1 Kings 22:11; 1 Kings 22:12. (2.) A prophet of the Lord, Micaiah, who was desired to come by Jehoshaphat (1 Kings 22:7; 1 Kings 22:8), sent for (1 Kings 22:9-14), upbraided Ahab with his confidence in the false prophets (1 Kings 22:15), but foretold his fall in this expedition (1 Kings 22:16-18), and gave him an account how he came to be thus imposed upon by his prophets, 1 Kings 22:19-23. He is abused by Zedekiah (1 Kings 22:24; 1 Kings 22:25), and imprisoned by Ahab, 1 Kings 22:26-28. II. The battle itself, in which, 1. Jehoshaphat is exposed. But, 2. Ahab is slain, 1 Kings 22:29-40. In the close of the chapter we have a short account, (1.) Of the good reign of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, 1 Kings 22:41-50. (2.) Of the wicked reign of Ahaziah king of Israel, 1 Kings 22:51-53.