1 Kings 22:26 kjv
And 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;
1 Kings 22:26 nkjv
So the king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah, and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king's son;
1 Kings 22:26 niv
The king of Israel then ordered, "Take Micaiah and send him back to Amon the ruler of the city and to Joash the king's son
1 Kings 22:26 esv
And the king of Israel said, "Seize Micaiah, and take him back to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king's son,
1 Kings 22:26 nlt
"Arrest him!" the king of Israel ordered. "Take him back to Amon, the governor of the city, and to my son Joash.
1 Kings 22 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Persecution of Prophets/Truth | ||
| 1 Kgs 22:27 | "Put this fellow in prison and feed him..." | Ahab's further instruction to imprison Micaiah. |
| 2 Chr 16:10 | "...Asa was enraged at the seer and put him in the stocks..." | King Asa imprisoned Hanani for a true prophecy. |
| 2 Chr 18:26 | (Parallel to 1 Kgs 22:26) | King Ahab commands Micaiah's detention. |
| Jer 20:2 | "...Pashhur beat Jeremiah the prophet and put him in the stocks..." | Jeremiah imprisoned and beaten for prophesying. |
| Jer 32:2 | "...Jeremiah the prophet was confined in the court of the guard..." | Jeremiah imprisoned by King Zedekiah. |
| Jer 37:15 | "...they beat him and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan..." | Jeremiah beaten and imprisoned again. |
| Amos 7:10-13 | "...Amaziah...sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, 'Amos has conspired...'" | Amaziah the priest seeks to banish Amos. |
| Mt 5:11-12 | "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you... for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." | Christ's words on persecution for righteousness. |
| Mt 23:34 | "Therefore I send you prophets... some of whom you will kill and crucify..." | Jesus speaks of the consistent rejection of God's messengers. |
| Acts 5:40 | "...when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak..." | Apostles persecuted for preaching the Gospel. |
| Acts 7:52 | "Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute?" | Stephen's charge against those who resisted the Holy Spirit. |
| Lk 6:23 | "Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets." | Rejoice in persecution for prophetic witness. |
| Rejection of Truth/Love for Lies | ||
| Prov 1:7 | "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." | Foolishness despising truth. |
| Is 30:10 | "who say to the seers, 'Do not see!' and to the prophets, 'Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things...'" | People preferring comfortable lies. |
| Jer 5:31 | "the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so..." | Leaders and people embrace falsehood. |
| 2 Tim 4:3-4 | "...the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions..." | People preferring false teachers who tell them what they want to hear. |
| Divine Judgment/Prophetic Fulfillment | ||
| 1 Kgs 22:28 | "...if you return in safety, the Lord has not spoken by me." | Micaiah's challenge and God's faithfulness. |
| 1 Kgs 22:34-35 | "...a man drew his bow with intent...and struck the king of Israel...So the king died..." | Ahab's death fulfilling Micaiah's prophecy. |
| Jer 28:15-17 | "The prophet Hananiah died that same year, in the seventh month." | Fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy against a false prophet. |
| Ezek 13:2-3 | "Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!" | Condemnation of false prophets. |
| Ahab's Wickedness | ||
| 1 Kgs 16:30 | "Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him." | Ahab's notorious wickedness. |
| 1 Kgs 21:25 | "Indeed, there was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord like Ahab..." | Highlighting Ahab's complete dedication to evil. |
| Mic 6:16 | "For you have kept the statutes of Omri, and all the works of the house of Ahab..." | Later prophets referencing Ahab's persistent evil practices. |
1 Kings 22 verses
1 Kings 22 26 Meaning
This verse records King Ahab of Israel issuing a direct command to seize the prophet Micaiah and place him under the custody of two high-ranking royal officials: Amon, the city governor, and Joash, the king's son. This act was a punitive response to Micaiah's true, yet unwelcome, prophecy which contradicted the promises of victory made by Ahab's 400 false prophets, instead predicting Ahab's death in the upcoming battle.
1 Kings 22 26 Context
The verse finds its immediate place in a tense standoff between King Ahab of Israel and the prophet Micaiah. Earlier in the chapter, Ahab and Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, decided to wage war to reclaim Ramoth-Gilead from the Arameans. Ahab consulted his 400 court prophets, who unanimously guaranteed victory, aligning with the king's desires. However, Jehoshaphat, discerning the prophets' true nature, pressed Ahab to consult a true prophet of Yahweh. Reluctantly, Ahab summoned Micaiah, whom he detested because "he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil" (1 Kgs 22:8).
Upon his arrival, Micaiah initially offered a sarcastic affirmation of victory but, when pressed by Ahab to "tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord," he revealed a disturbing vision. He saw all Israel scattered without a shepherd and, more significantly, a scene in the heavenly court where a "lying spirit" volunteered to deceive Ahab's prophets so that Ahab would go to war and be killed. This direct and unfiltered truth, exposing Ahab's impending doom and the spiritual deception around him, greatly angered the king. This anger precipitates the command in verse 26 to detain Micaiah. Ahab preferred the flattering lies of 400 false prophets over the uncomfortable, but accurate, word from God.
Historically, this event occurs during a period of spiritual apostasy in Israel under Ahab and Jezebel, who aggressively promoted Baal worship. The confrontation underscores the conflict between Yahwism and Baalism, true prophecy and false, and the profound corruption within the royal court that silenced divine truth in favor of political convenience and personal desires. Kings often had close relationships with prophets for counsel, but true prophets of Yahweh frequently clashed with unrighteous kings who rejected God's Law and preferred messages that aligned with their wicked plans. Imprisonment was a common tactic for rulers to control dissenting voices or perceived threats.
1 Kings 22 26 Word analysis
- Then the king of Israel said: Refers specifically to King Ahab, the ruling monarch of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. His "saying" is an official, authoritative decree from the highest position in the kingdom. This phrase highlights the immediate, forceful reaction of the king to Micaiah's prophecy, revealing his anger and resolve.
- Take Micaiah: Hebrew: לִקַּח אֶת-מִיכָיְהוּ ( liqqaḥ 'et-Mikayhu ). "Take" (liqqaḥ) is a strong command for apprehension or seizure. "Micaiah" (Mikayhu) means "Who is like Yahweh?". The prophet's very name, declaring God's supremacy, stands in stark contrast to the human king's rebellion and an indication of God's authoritative message. This is an order for an immediate arrest, demonstrating Ahab's absolute contempt for God's messenger and the divine message delivered through him.
- and return him: Hebrew: וַהֲשִׁיבֵהוּ ( vahashīvehū ). This verb implies returning someone to a designated place of custody or detention. It signifies that Micaiah is to be officially held, not just temporarily restrained. This confirms the punitive and official nature of the king's order.
- to Amon the governor of the city: Hebrew: אֶל-אָמוֹן שַׂר-הָעִיר ( 'el-'Āmōn sar-hāʿîr ). "Amon" (meaning 'faithful' or 'master-workman') is identified as שַׂר-הָעִיר (sar ha'ir), which translates as "governor of the city" or "ruler of the city." This was a significant administrative and judicial post, indicating the official in charge of a specific city's civil administration, security, and sometimes the local prison. Entrusting Micaiah to him underscores the severity of the king's decree; this was an official state action.
- and to Joash the king's son: Hebrew: וְאֶל-יוֹאָשׁ בֶּן-הַמֶּלֶךְ ( və'el-Yōʾāsh ben-hamMelekh ). "Joash" (meaning 'Yahweh has given' or 'Yahweh is strong') is identified as the "king's son" (בֶּן-הַמֶּלֶךְ, ben-hamMelekh). This title indicated a high-ranking royal figure, potentially a son of Ahab, or simply someone from the royal family designated for important administrative roles, possibly even over security or the royal treasury, which often had attached prison facilities. The involvement of such a high-status individual ensured compliance and emphasized the critical nature of Micaiah's detention from Ahab's perspective. The parallel passage in 2 Chronicles 18:25 specifies the purpose: "put him in prison" and "feed him with meager rations."
Words-group analysis:
- "Take Micaiah and return him": This phrase constitutes a direct royal command for Micaiah's arrest and transfer to official custody. It indicates that Ahab views Micaiah not as a mere annoying prophet but as a disruptive influence who must be physically removed and contained. This act serves to silence the unwelcome truth.
- "to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king's son": This specification of two high-ranking officials underscores the formal and official nature of Micaiah's detention. It ensures that the order is carried out effectively and with appropriate security. It also demonstrates Ahab's deep resentment towards Micaiah; he isn't simply being thrown into a dungeon by a random guard but entrusted to senior authorities, implying that Micaiah is perceived as a significant threat or troublemaker requiring high-level oversight. This strategic placement ensures the message is confined and its truth cannot reach the general populace.
1 Kings 22 26 Bonus section
- The specified officials for Micaiah's custody indicate the seriousness with which Ahab viewed the prophet's declaration. Amon and Joash represent the administrative and perhaps military/security apparatus of Ahab's kingdom, entrusted with a vital matter for the king.
- This act by Ahab highlights the political and personal danger of delivering God's unvarnished truth to those in power, especially when that truth runs counter to their desires or plans.
- The conflict between Ahab and Micaiah serves as a prototype for the enduring tension between the spirit of the age, which often favors what is pleasing, and the prophetic voice, which often delivers what is challenging yet true.
1 Kings 22 26 Commentary
1 Kings 22:26 provides a stark illustration of human opposition to divine truth. King Ahab's command to arrest Micaiah is a punitive act born of rage against a message he finds unpalatable but knows to be from the Lord. By handing Micaiah over to the governor and a royal prince, Ahab elevates the prophet's detention from a mere personal act of vengeance to a formalized state-sanctioned imprisonment. This move serves not only to silence the immediate prophetic voice but also to intimidate any others who might dare to speak truth against royal authority. It epitomizes a pattern seen throughout biblical history where genuine messengers of God face persecution when their message confronts human wickedness and cherished deceptions. Ahab chose to embrace a comforting lie over a discomforting truth, ultimately sealing his own fate, as the subsequent verses powerfully confirm. The rejection of divine warning is often a precursor to divine judgment.