“Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.”
Affinity, taking Achab’s daughter for his son’s wife. (Tirinus) (Chap. xxi. 6., and 3 Kings xxii.)
“And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramothgilead ? And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the war.”
War. Josaphat was too complaisant. He was rebuked by the son of Hanani, as Asa had been by his father; (chap. xvi. 7.) and, not long after, Eliezer reproached him for joining in alliance with Ochozias, chap. xx. (Calmet) — He acted without an ill intention, and was more easily pardoned. (Worthington)
“And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.”
Hands. He ironically (Calmet) alludes to the declarations of the false prophets. (Haydock)
“Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.”
Ye. In 3 Kings, he addresses his discourse chiefly to Achab. (Calmet)
“Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith?”
Said. See 3 Kings xxii. The Rabbins pretend that the spirit of Naboth came forth. But it was satan, or an evil spirit. (Tirinus)
“And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the LORD said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so.”
So. The Lord permits evil, but he does not approve of it. (Calmet) — Homer makes Jupiter send a deluding dream to Agamemnon. (Iliad B.) — The delusive predictions of impostors, are one great source of calamities. (Du Hamel)
“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;”
Amelech. Septuagint and Syriac, “to Joas, the commander, son of the father. (Haydock) — He had perhaps the government of affairs at Samaria, during his king.” Achab’s absence. (Tirinus)
“And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, then hath not the LORD spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, all ye people.”
People. Mark what I say. The event will quickly prove whether I am a prophet or an impostor. (Haydock)
“And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle.”
Dress. Protestants, “disguised himself, and they went.” See 3 Kings xxii. 30.
“And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.”
Turned. Hebrew, “moved them from him.” They felt that he was under God’s protection; and discovered that he was not the king of Israel. (Haydock)