Micaiah (1 Kings 22:7–9; 1 Kings 22:13–14; 1 Kings 22:15–18; 1 Kings 22:19–23; 1 Kings 22:24–28; 1 Kings 22:34–37; 2 Chronicles 18:6–8; 2 Chronicles 18:12–14; 2 Chronicles 18:18–22; 2 Chronicles 18:23–27)

Micaiah the son of Imlah, the prophet the king of Israel hated, said he would speak what the LORD said to him, told of Israel scattered as sheep and of a lying spirit in the mouth of the prophets, and was smitten and sent to prison.

Micaiah appears in one episode, told in 1 Kings 22 and again in 2 Chronicles 18. Jehoshaphat of Judah and the king of Israel were going up to Ramoth-gilead, and Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not here a prophet of Jehovah besides, that we may inquire of him?” (1 Kings 22:7) The king of Israel answered, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Jehovah, Micaiah the son of Imlah: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil” (1 Kings 22:8). Chronicles writes the father's name “Imla” (2 Chronicles 18:7).

The messenger told him that the prophets declared good to the king with one mouth. Micaiah said, “As Jehovah liveth, what Jehovah saith unto me, that will I speak” (1 Kings 22:14). Before the kings he first answered, “Go up and prosper” (1 Kings 22:15); adjured to speak “nothing but the truth” (1 Kings 22:16), he told of “all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd” (1 Kings 22:17), and of the LORD sitting on his throne and a spirit who would be “a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets” (1 Kings 22:22).

Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah “smote Micaiah on the cheek” (1 Kings 22:24), and the king of Israel sent him to the prison with bread and water of affliction. Micaiah's last word in the chapter is “If thou return at all in peace, Jehovah hath not spoken by me” (1 Kings 22:28). The king of Israel went into the battle disguised, was smitten by a bow drawn “at a venture” (1 Kings 22:34), and “died at even” (1 Kings 22:35). Scripture does not record whether Micaiah was released or how his life ended, and it names him nowhere else.

Strengths

• Speaks what the LORD saith unto him
• Stands to his word when smitten

Themes

• The word of the LORD
• A true prophet among many
• The lying spirit
• Hated for evil tidings
• Smitten and imprisoned

Named by the king who hates him (1 Kings 22:4–9; 2 Chronicles 18:3–8)

Jehoshaphat asks for a prophet of the LORD besides the four hundred; the king of Israel names Micaiah son of Imlah, says he hates him, and has him fetched.

The four hundred and the messenger (1 Kings 22:10–14; 2 Chronicles 18:9–13)

All the prophets say Go up, and Zedekiah makes horns of iron; the messenger urges Micaiah to speak good, and he says he will speak what the LORD says.

The four hundred and the messenger

The two kings sat on their thrones at the gate of Samaria, “and all the prophets were prophesying before them” (1 Kings 22:10). “Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith Jehovah, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until they be consumed. And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper; for Jehovah will deliver it into the hand of the king” (1 Kings 22:11-12).

“And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak thou good” (1 Kings 22:13).

“And Micaiah said, As Jehovah liveth, what Jehovah saith unto me, that will I speak” (1 Kings 22:14). Chronicles gives it: “As Jehovah liveth, what my God saith, that will I speak” (2 Chronicles 18:13).

Before the king: Go up, and the scattered sheep (1 Kings 22:15–18; 2 Chronicles 18:14–17)

Asked by the king whether to go to Ramoth-gilead, Micaiah first answers Go up; the king adjures him to speak the truth, and he tells of Israel scattered as sheep without a shepherd.

Before the king: Go up, and the scattered sheep

“Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go up and prosper; and Jehovah will deliver it into the hand of the king” (1 Kings 22:15). In Chronicles he says, “Go ye up, and prosper; and they shall be delivered into your hand” (2 Chronicles 18:14). The text does not say why he answered so.

“And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou speak unto me nothing but the truth in the name of Jehovah?” (1 Kings 22:16).

“And he 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” (1 Kings 22:17). The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?” (1 Kings 22:18).

The throne and the lying spirit (1 Kings 22:19–23; 2 Chronicles 18:18–22)

Micaiah tells of the LORD on his throne with the host of heaven, of a spirit who offers to be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets, and says the LORD has spoken evil concerning the king.

The throne and the lying spirit

“Therefore hear thou the word of Jehovah: I saw Jehovah sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. And Jehovah said, Who shall entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?” (1 Kings 22:19-20).

“And there came forth a spirit, and stood before Jehovah, and said, I will entice him. And Jehovah said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt entice him, and shalt prevail also: go forth, and do so” (1 Kings 22:21-22).

“Now therefore, behold, Jehovah hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets; and Jehovah hath spoken evil concerning thee” (1 Kings 22:23). The same vision stands in 2 Chronicles 18:18-22.

Smitten and sent to prison (1 Kings 22:24–28; 2 Chronicles 18:23–27)

Zedekiah smites Micaiah on the cheek; the king of Israel sends him to the prison on bread and water of affliction, and Micaiah says that if the king returns in peace the LORD has not spoken by him.

Smitten and sent to prison

“Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah on 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” (1 Kings 22:24-25).

The king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto 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 come in peace” (1 Kings 22:26-27).

“And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, Jehovah hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hear, ye peoples, all of you” (1 Kings 22:28). The same scene is told in 2 Chronicles 18:23-27.

Ahab dies at Ramoth-gilead (1 Kings 22:29–37; 2 Chronicles 18:28–34)

The king of Israel, who had said until I come in peace, goes up to Ramoth-gilead disguised, is smitten by a bow drawn at a venture, and dies at even.

Ahab (1 Kings 22:8; 1 Kings 22:26–27; 2 Chronicles 18:7)

The king of Israel said of him, I hate him, and sent him to the prison until he should come in peace.

Jehoshaphat (1 Kings 22:7–8; 2 Chronicles 18:6–7)

King of Judah who asked for a prophet of the LORD besides the four hundred and said to the king of Israel, Let not the king say so.

Zedekiah son of Chenaanah (1 Kings 22:11; 1 Kings 22:24; 2 Chronicles 18:23)

Made horns of iron, prophesied success, and smote Micaiah on the cheek.

The four hundred prophets (1 Kings 22:6; 1 Kings 22:22–23; 2 Chronicles 18:21–22)

All prophesied Go up; Micaiah said the LORD had put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets.

Amon and Joash (1 Kings 22:26; 2 Chronicles 18:25)

The governor of the city and the king's son, to whom the king ordered Micaiah carried back for the prison.

The LORD (1 Kings 22:14; 1 Kings 22:19–23; 2 Chronicles 18:13)

Micaiah said he would speak what the LORD said to him, and told what he saw of the LORD on his throne.

Major sections

• 1 Kings 22:1–40
• 2 Chronicles 18:1–34

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