The messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, “Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one mouth. Let your word therefore, please be like one of theirs, and speak good.”
Micaiah said, “As Yahweh lives, I will say what my God says.”
When he had come to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?” He said, “Go up, and prosper. They shall be delivered into your hand.”
The king said to him, “How many times shall I adjure you that you speak to me nothing but the truth in Yahweh’s name?”
He said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. Yahweh said, ‘These have no master. Let them each return to his house in peace.’ ”
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv12, 14, 16 Thinking, that whereas four hundred prophets had agreed in…
Thinking, that whereas four hundred prophets had agreed in one thing, that he being but one man and in least estimation, durst not gainsay it.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On v13 2Ch 18:13 And Micaiah said, [As] the LORD liveth,…
2Ch 18:13 And Micaiah said, [As] the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.
Ver. 13. Even what my God saith.] His God he calleth him, though he had suffered for God, and was like to suffer more for his veracity. He would not budge - as Ecebolius and other timeservers did - for any man’s pleasure or displeasure.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On v14 Hands. He ironically (C.) alludes to the declarations of…
Hands. He ironically (C.) alludes to the declarations of the false prophets. H.
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv12–16 12. with one assent] R.V. with one mouth (so…
12. with one assent] R.V. with one mouth (so Heb. here and 1 Kin.).
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv12–16 (12) The words of the prophets . . .…
(12) The words of the prophets . . . one assent.—See margin, and comp. Jos_9:2, “they assembled . . . to fight against Israel, one mouth “—i.e., with one consent.)
Probably instead of dibhrê, “words,” we should read dibbĕrû, “they said,” a far slighter change in Hebrew writing than in English: “Behold the prophets have with one mouth spoken good unto (or, of) the king.” So LXX.
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Like one of their’s.—Literally, like one of them. Kings, like the word of one of them.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv12, 14, 16 This verse bespeaks very clearly the rotten condition of…
This verse bespeaks very clearly the rotten condition of Church and state, prophets and king and "officers" (ver. 8).
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v16 Then he said, I see all Israel scattered.
2Ch_18:16
Then he said, I see all Israel scattered.
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The prophetic visions
Micaiah declared the visions revealed to him by the Spirit of God.
I. The sheepherdless people.
II. The parabolic providence.
1. A picture of Gods supremacy.
2. An insight into supernatural ministry. All the host of heaven ready to serve.
3. An interpretation of the events of history. (J. Wolfendale.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv12, 15 Translate this man's name the same as in 2…
Micaiah
Translate this man's name the same as in 2 Chronicles 17:7. (See: How to Translate Names)
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Look
"Listen" or "Pay attention to what I am about to tell you"
the words of the prophets with one mouth are favorable to the king
The prophets all saying the same thing is spoken of as if they all spoke with the same mouth. The phrase "the words of the prophets" represents the message that the prophets declare. AT: "the prophets all declare that good things will happen to the king" (See: Metaphor)
your words
"what you say"
As Yahweh lives
"as surely as Yahweh is alive." The people use this expression to show that what they say next is certainly true. This is a way of making a solemn promise. AT: "I solemnly swear" (See: Idiom)
or not
The understood information may be supplied. AT: "or should we not go" (See: Ellipsis)
should we go
The word "we" refers to Ahab, Jehoshaphat, and their armies but not to Micaiah. (See: Exclusive and Inclusive "We")
translationWords
messenger
prophet
Yahweh
God
Ramoth
Gilead
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v15 18:15 Ahab understood that Micaiah had not spoken the…
18:15 Ahab understood that Micaiah had not spoken the word of the Lord, perhaps because Micaiah’s answer used the same words as that of his rivals, or Micaiah might have been speaking with a sarcastic tone (18:14).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.