1 Kings 22 10

1 Kings 22:10 kjv

And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.

1 Kings 22:10 nkjv

The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, having put on their robes, sat each on his throne, at a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.

1 Kings 22:10 niv

Dressed in their royal robes, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying before them.

1 Kings 22:10 esv

Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting on their thrones, arrayed in their robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying before them.

1 Kings 22:10 nlt

King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah, dressed in their royal robes, were sitting on thrones at the threshing floor near the gate of Samaria. All of Ahab's prophets were prophesying there in front of them.

1 Kings 22 verses

1 Kings 22 10 Meaning

This verse describes the grand, official setting where King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah convened a public assembly. They were seated on their respective thrones, dressed in royal attire, in the prominent open square at the gate of Samaria, indicating a formal, public consultation of immense importance. Before them stood numerous prophets, all actively delivering prophecies, setting the stage for a critical confrontation between uniform human consensus and singular divine truth.

1 Kings 22 10 Context

First Kings chapter 22 recounts the final years of King Ahab's reign in Israel. For three years, there had been peace between Aram and Israel, but Ahab desired to reclaim Ramoth-gilead, a city that belonged to Israel but was occupied by the Arameans. He invited King Jehoshaphat of Judah to join him in battle. While Jehoshaphat agreed to the alliance, he prudently requested that they first inquire of the Lord. This verse, 1 Kings 22:10, immediately follows Jehoshaphat's request and sets the scene for the inquiry, highlighting the royal pomp, the chosen public location, and the unified presence of Ahab's 400 court prophets. The description meticulously establishes the impressive and authoritative façade behind which Ahab sought divine approval for his predetermined war plan, implicitly preparing the reader for the coming conflict between truth and deception orchestrated by these same prophets.

1 Kings 22 10 Word analysis

• "Now the king of Israel": This refers to King Ahab, though not explicitly named in this phrase. This phrasing emphasizes his authoritative position as the current ruler of the northern kingdom, deeply embedded in a system of state-controlled religion that was largely idolatrous. His identity, contextually, is bound up in Israel's apostasy.

• "and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah": Jehoshaphat, king of the southern kingdom, Judah, was generally considered a pious king who "walked in the ways of his father David" (1 Ki 22:43). However, his alliance with Ahab, a wicked king, often led to spiritual compromise and difficulty. His presence here underscores the unlikely and ill-advised political union.

• "were sitting": Indicates a formal, stationary posture for deliberation or judgment. This was not a casual meeting but a weighty session.

• "each on his throne": (Hebrew: כִּסֵּא, kisse) A kisse signifies a seat of power, authority, and royalty. The use of "each on his throne" emphasizes their equal, sovereign status and the highly official nature of their joint assembly, likely implying a formal judicial or governmental proceeding.

• "arrayed in their robes": (Hebrew: מַדִּים, maddim) This refers to official or royal garments. It speaks to the majesty, formality, and public spectacle of the event. The visual display of their regalia underscores their earthly authority and their perceived legitimacy.

• "in the open square": This describes a broad, public space (Hebrew often rachab, meaning broad or spacious place). This location signifies that the consultation was a public affair, visible to citizens and designed to convey official authority and transparency (though the "truth" presented was often absent).

• "at the entrance of the gate of Samaria": (Hebrew: שַׁעַר שֹׁמְרוֹן, sha'ar Shomron) The gate of an ancient Near Eastern city was not merely an entry point but the heart of its civic, legal, and commercial life. It was where justice was administered, business was conducted, and important public pronouncements were made. Its selection here highlights the formal and judicial weight given to the prophetic inquiry, affirming its legitimacy within the state's official channels. Samaria was the capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel.

• "and all the prophets": This phrase refers specifically to the large number of court prophets of Ahab, revealed in verse 6 to be about four hundred men. These were not prophets of Yahweh (as evidenced by Micaiah's appearance later) but likely those affiliated with state-sponsored idolatry (Baal or Asherah worship) or false interpretations of Yahwism that pleased the king.

• "were prophesying before them": (Hebrew: מִתְנַבְּאִים, mitnabbe'im) This indicates they were actively speaking prophetic messages. In this context, it implies they were delivering declarations purportedly from the divine, which, as subsequent verses reveal, were uniformly positive and confirmatory of Ahab's desired outcome. This sets up the dramatic conflict with the lone, true prophet Micaiah, highlighting the unified and powerful front of false spiritual guidance against God's singular word.

• Words-group: "the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting": This grouping highlights the political alliance between the two kingdoms, one predominantly wicked and the other attempting to serve God, but compromising its spiritual purity through such associations. It showcases the precarious position of Jehoshaphat and the corrupting influence of Ahab.

• Words-group: "on his throne, arrayed in their robes, in the open square at the entrance of the gate of Samaria": This combined phrase paints a vivid picture of elaborate royal pomp and the formal public setting. It signifies the immense outward authority and gravitas of the scene, intended to impress and validate the subsequent pronouncements. This display underscores the earthly power contrasted later with the stark reality of divine truth.

• Words-group: "all the prophets were prophesying before them": This emphasizes the unified and collective voice of the numerous false prophets. Their consolidated message provides a powerful, if deceptive, endorsement for the kings' intentions. This mass affirmation heightens the dramatic impact when Micaiah, a lone voice, stands in opposition.

1 Kings 22 10 Bonus section

The detailed setting of 1 Kings 22:10, far from being mere descriptive filler, serves as a crucial dramatic and theological device. The strategic choice of the city gate, a place where justice was rendered and official decisions made, is not accidental. It confers an aura of legality and divine sanction on the prophecies, making it harder for the populace (and perhaps even Jehoshaphat) to question their veracity. The sheer number of "all the prophets" underscores the pervasive nature of false religion and royal-sanctioned apostasy in the northern kingdom, where kingly power could dictate "divine" messages. This carefully constructed scenario is vital for fully appreciating the profound courage and singular faithfulness of Micaiah when he subsequently dares to contradict such a powerful, unanimous, and officially sanctioned display. The scene becomes a powerful parable on the deceptive nature of outward appearance and numerical strength versus the profound authority of even a single voice speaking God's uncompromised word.

1 Kings 22 10 Commentary

1 Kings 22:10 masterfully sets the stage for one of the Bible's most dramatic confrontations between truth and deception. The meticulous description of the royal pomp – two kings on their thrones, arrayed in majestic robes – at the bustling, central city gate of Samaria emphasizes the outward display of power, legitimacy, and formality. This grand public spectacle, orchestrated by Ahab, creates an environment where a particular kind of truth is sought: one that validates pre-existing desires. The presence of "all the prophets" (specifically, Ahab's 400 court prophets from earlier in the chapter), all "prophesying before them" with a unified, positive message, establishes a powerful majority narrative designed to give an aura of divine approval to the kings' military plans. The scene subtly highlights humanity's natural inclination to prefer agreeable falsehoods over uncomfortable divine truth, underscoring how outward show and popular consensus can tragically overshadow genuine spiritual discernment. It is into this meticulously constructed façade that the singular, unpopular voice of God's true prophet, Micaiah, will soon break, exposing the deceit.