Ver. 1. And they continued three years.] No longer. Reconciliations are but fox-like friendships, and covenants with enemies hold not long: “ Flamma redardescit, quae modo nulla fuit. ” Witness the wars betwixt Charles V, emperor, and Francis I king of France, whom being his prisoner, he had dismissed, as Ahab did Benhadad, upon a covenant made at Madrid; but it lasted not many months, for the French king quickly combined with the Pope and State of Venice against the emperor, &c.
Ver. 2. Jehoshaphat came down to the king of Israel.] With whom he warred at first with good success: (2 Chronicles 17:1-3) but afterwards, for some politic respect, as haply to withstand the growing greatness of the Syrian, an ill neighbour to them both, he contracted with Ahab affinity and amity, and here cometh down to give him a courtly visit, which had like to have cost him his life.
Ver. 3. Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours?] A part of our promised inheritance, and one of our cities of refuge, (Joshua 20:8) besides Benhadad’s promise to restore it unto us, with the rest that were taken from us by his father, (1 Kings 20:24) but he never intendeth it.
Ver. 4. And he said unto Jehoshaphat.] After that he had royally entertained him, (2 Chronicles 18:2) and concluded a match with him, betwixt his daughter Athaliah and Jehoshaphat’s son Joram. I am as thou art, my people as thy people.] Here that of Solomon is exemplified, “A righteous man falling down before the wicked, is as a troubled fountain and a corrupt spring,.” (Proverbs 25:26) Jehoshaphat was well chidden for this, as well he deserved. (2 Chronicles 19:2)
Ver. 5. Inquire, I pray thee.] Ahab never thought of this, belike. God was not in all his thoughts. (Psalms 10:4) And yet Scipio went first to the capitol, and then to the senate. And the Romans called a sacrifice hostia; because, when they went against the enemies, they offered it. At the word of the Lord.] Some think that Jehoshaphat, hearing of Ahab’s late humiliation, mistook him for a true convert, and therefore thus bespake him, and thought he might lawfully join with him in so just a war. Today.] Josephus saith that this was done when the armies were now met, and were ready to march. Liv., lib. xxvi. Gel., lib. vii., chap. 1.
Ver. 6. About four hundred men.] Baal’s prophets all; perhaps those prophets of the groves, Jezebel’s trencher-flies, (1 Kings 18:19) who yet pretended the name of the Lord. Their number showeth that truth may not ever be measured by the poll: Non numeranda sed expendenda suffragia. A solid verity in one mouth is worthy to preponderate light falsehood in a thousand. Go up.] Pithanologiae nunquam desunt pseudotheologis. The devil had deceived these prophets, and they deceive Ahab: quem in decipulam caedis quasi murem inducunt, who perished by his credulity and for his cruelty. (1 Kings 21:5-16) For the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.] Yea, but of which king, thou lying spirit? Of Ahab, or of Benhadad? The particle ‘it’ is not in the original; the word ‘thee’ may be as well supplied. This answer, therefore, was ambiguous, like that Aio te Aeacida Romanos vincere posse: or that Croesus Halyn penetrans magnam disperdet opum vim. Howbeit the devil here hath more ingenuousness than have the Jesuits; for he confesseth his equivocating oracle to be a lie. “I will go and be a lying spirit,” saith he, “in the mouth of all his prophets.” (1 Kings 22:22)
Ver. 7. Is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides?] Good Jehoshaphat suspecting these four hundred of base flattery, maketh further inquiry for a prophet of the Lord that was melioris monetae of a better stamp. But should such a king as Jehoshaphat be without some true prophet or priest in his retinue? That we might inquire of him.] But did he inquire pro forma tantum, as resolved to go on howsoever? This can hardly be excused.
Ver. 8. There is yet one man.] Even king Ahab—as bad as he was—kept count of his prophets, and could give account of one that was missing. But I hate him.] Evildoers hate the light, because it stands in the light of their wicked ways, as the angel did in Balaam’s way to his sin. But, Micaiah, could not you, to avoid Ahab’s hatred, meddle only with toothless truths, as Balak bid Balaam neither curse nor bless at all? Cannot you preach placentia? Know you not that truth breeds hatred? For he doth not prophesy good concerning me.] Yes, once he did (if at least this were the same, as Pellican holdeth that he was), when he told you once and again that the Syrians should be given into your hands. Howsoever, it is very probable that Micaiah was that disguised prophet who brought to Ahab the fearful message of displeasure and death for dismissing Benhadad, for which he was ever since fast in prison, deep in disgrace. But evil.] Ahab was not, as Vespasian was said to be, patientissimus veri, most willing to hear the truth. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.] This was a too cold reproof, which should ever be warm, but not scalding. Quintilian.