1 Kings 22:29 kjv
So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.
1 Kings 22:29 nkjv
So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead.
1 Kings 22:29 niv
So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead.
1 Kings 22:29 esv
So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.
1 Kings 22:29 nlt
So King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah led their armies against Ramoth-gilead.
1 Kings 22 29 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kgs 22:3 | "The king of Aram has taken Ramoth-gilead... we are to take it from his hand?" | Strategic city |
| 1 Kgs 22:5-7 | Jehoshaphat said, "Please inquire for the word of the Lord today." | Seeking divine counsel |
| 1 Kgs 22:15-28 | Micaiah's prophecy against Ahab | True prophecy ignored |
| 1 Kgs 22:34-37 | Ahab’s death and the dogs licking his blood | Fulfillment of prophecy |
| 2 Chr 18:1-3 | Jehoshaphat made an alliance with Ahab... "I am as you are, and my people as your people." | Unwise alliance with apostate |
| 2 Chr 18:27 | "Behold, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets." | God's permissive will in deception |
| 2 Chr 19:2 | "Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord?" | Condemnation of Jehoshaphat's alliance |
| 2 Chr 20:35-37 | Jehoshaphat's subsequent alliance with Ahaziah of Israel was also judged | Repeated error in alliances |
| Prov 16:18 | "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." | Ahab's arrogance |
| Prov 16:25 | "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death." | Following human wisdom, not divine |
| Isa 14:26-27 | "This is the purpose that is purposed concerning the whole earth..." | God's sovereign plan |
| Ps 33:10-11 | "The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing..." | Divine counsel triumphs |
| Jer 28:15-17 | Jeremiah's warning to Hananiah the false prophet | Fate of false prophets |
| Deut 13:1-5 | Warning against false prophets | Discernment of truth |
| Ezek 12:28 | "For I the Lord will speak, and the word which I speak will be fulfilled." | Certainty of God's word |
| 1 Sam 15:22-23 | "To obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams." | Importance of obedience |
| 2 Tim 3:1-5 | Men will be "lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud..." | Traits leading to disregard for truth |
| Mt 7:15 | "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing..." | Warning against spiritual deception |
| Rom 1:28 | "God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done." | Judicial hardening/consequence for rebellion |
| Gal 6:7 | "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap." | Principle of sowing and reaping |
| Heb 4:7 | "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts." | Call to listen to God's warning |
1 Kings 22 verses
1 Kings 22 29 Meaning
This verse states the physical movement of two kings, Ahab of Israel and Jehoshaphat of Judah, as they embarked on a military campaign to capture Ramoth-gilead from Aram. It marks the direct action taken following a highly contentious prophetic encounter, where a true prophet of God, Micaiah, foretold disaster, contrasting with four hundred false prophets who promised victory. Despite the divine warning, the kings proceeded, setting in motion the fulfillment of prophecy concerning Ahab's demise.
1 Kings 22 29 Context
1 Kings chapter 22 details a pivotal moment in the history of the divided monarchy. The preceding chapters established King Ahab of Israel as an extremely wicked king, who promoted Baal worship and incurred God's wrath, especially after seizing Naboth's vineyard. Ramoth-gilead, a strategic city in Gilead, had been captured by the Arameans, and Ahab wished to reclaim it. King Jehoshaphat of Judah, generally a righteous king who walked in the ways of the Lord (unlike Ahab), made an unwise alliance with Ahab and was visiting him in Samaria. When Ahab proposed a joint military campaign against Ramoth-gilead, Jehoshaphat, though pious, consented but insisted on consulting a prophet of the Lord. Four hundred false prophets of Ahab prophesied victory, but Micaiah, a true prophet, bravely stood against them, revealing that God had ordained a spirit of deception to lure Ahab to his doom. Despite this clear, albeit shocking, prophecy, Ahab dismissed Micaiah, threw him into prison, and, with Jehoshaphat, proceeded to the battle, fulfilling Micaiah's grim prophecy. Verse 29 marks the definitive action following the prophetic confrontation.
1 Kings 22 29 Word analysis
- So (וַיַּעַל – wa·ya'al): This conjunction-verb combination signifies consequence and continuation. It bridges the preceding prophetic warnings (especially Micaiah's dire prophecy) with the direct action of the kings. It implicitly conveys a stubborn resolve to disregard the divine warning and pursue a self-willed course.
- the king of Israel (מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל – me·leḵ yiś·rā·'êl): Refers to King Ahab. The designation "king of Israel" emphasizes his official position but highlights the irony that he, the king of God's covenant people, was defiantly acting against God's direct revelation. Ahab was characterized by idolatry, rebellion against God's laws, and persecution of prophets. His persistent wickedness reached a climax in his determined journey towards his predicted demise, illustrating a hardened heart unwilling to repent or yield to divine truth.
- and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah (וִיהוֹשָׁפָט מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה – wî·hō·wōšā·fāṭ me·leḵ yə·hū·ḏāh): Refers to King Jehoshaphat. While personally devout, his alliance with wicked Ahab proved to be a spiritual and political blunder. His presence indicates a failure to fully trust in God's provision for Judah's protection and a willingness to compromise his theological principles for political expediency. His joining Ahab at this critical juncture shows a serious lack of discernment, especially after Micaiah's clear warning. This highlights the dangers of unequal yokes (cf. 2 Cor 6:14) and bad company (cf. 1 Cor 15:33).
- went up ('ālāh – עָלָה): Means "ascended," "went up," or "departed." In this military context, it refers to marching, advancing, or preparing for war. It is an intentional, determined movement towards the anticipated confrontation. This ascent to battle becomes an ascent to judgment for Ahab.
- to Ramoth-gilead (רָמֹת גִּלְעָד – rāmōṯ gil·‘āḏ): A key strategic city on the eastern side of the Jordan, contested between Israel and Aram. Its capture was critical for control of the Transjordan region. From a divine perspective, Ramoth-gilead becomes the pre-ordained location for Ahab's judgment. The repeated mention of this city underscores its significance as the stage for God's impending fulfillment of Micaiah's prophecy against Ahab and the demonstration of divine sovereignty.
Words-group analysis:
- "So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah": This phrase underlines the peculiar and tragic alliance. It shows Ahab, defiant against God's warning, dragging along a generally righteous king, Jehoshaphat, into a perilous venture rooted in disobedience. It sets up the immediate unfolding of judgment against Ahab, and indirect consequence for Jehoshaphat.
- "went up to Ramoth-gilead": This group of words emphasizes the decisive action taken. It is not merely a thought or a discussion, but the commencement of the doomed campaign. The destination, Ramoth-gilead, signifies not just a military objective but the divinely appointed place of destiny for Ahab, where the prophecy would be fulfilled.
1 Kings 22 29 Bonus section
The narrative involving Ahab, Jehoshaphat, Micaiah, and the false prophets illustrates God's complex interaction with human will. While Ahab chose to rebel and disregard the Lord's prophet, God, in His sovereignty, "put a lying spirit" in the mouths of Ahab's false prophets (1 Kgs 22:23) to orchestrate his demise. This does not imply God is the author of evil, but rather that He can permit deception or utilize human sin to achieve His righteous purposes and execute judgment, revealing His absolute control even over spiritual forces and human rebellion. This incident serves as a crucial biblical example of how God's prophetic word is ultimately unstoppable and will always be fulfilled, regardless of human resistance or schemes. It also underscores the importance of discerning between true and false prophecy, and the severe consequences of failing to heed God's voice.
1 Kings 22 29 Commentary
Verse 29 encapsulates a moment of stark spiritual blindness and stubborn resolve in the face of divine truth. Ahab, hardened by years of sin and rejection of God's ways, actively marched towards his prophetic doom, embodying a self-willed spirit that refuses to bend to heavenly counsel. His action here is the direct consequence of ignoring Micaiah's dire warning, which explicitly laid out the plan of divine deception to lead him to destruction. Jehoshaphat, though pious, is seen here in a deeply compromising position. His agreement to ally with Ahab (a "reproof" for "loving those who hate the Lord," as seen in 2 Chr 19:2) meant he too embarked on this fated journey, implicitly endorsing Ahab's defiance. The journey to Ramoth-gilead, therefore, is not merely a geographical movement, but a theological one, representing a chosen path of rebellion for Ahab and misplaced trust for Jehoshaphat, inevitably leading to the unfolding of God's righteous judgment and the demonstration of His sovereign control over kings and nations. It serves as a potent warning against ignoring clear prophetic revelation and forming unholy alliances.