2 Chronicles 18:17 kjv
And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?
2 Chronicles 18:17 nkjv
And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?"
2 Chronicles 18:17 niv
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Didn't I tell you that he never prophesies anything good about me, but only bad?"
2 Chronicles 18:17 esv
And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?"
2 Chronicles 18:17 nlt
"Didn't I tell you?" the king of Israel exclaimed to Jehoshaphat. "He never prophesies anything but trouble for me."
2 Chronicles 18 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kgs 22:8 | "And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire... but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but only evil.”" | Parallel passage, Ahab's explicit hatred of Micaiah. |
| Deut 13:1-5 | Warning against false prophets who lead to idolatry. | Criterion for identifying false prophets. |
| Deut 18:20-22 | God's instruction on false prophets: what they speak does not come to pass. | Standard for identifying true vs. false prophets. |
| Jer 5:31 | "The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so." | People desiring comforting lies. |
| Jer 14:14 | "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name... a deceptive vision, worthless divination and the delusions of their own minds." | False prophets speaking deception. |
| Jer 23:16 | "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you; they lead you astray." | Rejecting misleading counsel. |
| Jer 28:15 | "The LORD has not sent you, and you have made this people trust in a lie." | Jeremiah to Hananiah, a false prophet. |
| Lam 2:14 | "Your prophets have seen for you false and misleading visions." | Critique of Judah's false prophets. |
| Eze 13:6-9 | God condemns false prophets who prophesy empty visions. | God's wrath against deceitful prophecy. |
| Mic 3:11 | "Its prophets pronounce oracles for pay... they lean on the Lord and say, “Is not the Lord among us?"" | Prophets driven by gain, feigning divine support. |
| Zech 13:2-3 | God promises to banish prophets and unclean spirits. | Future judgment on false prophecy. |
| Matt 7:15 | "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves." | Jesus' warning against false teachers. |
| 2 Pet 2:1 | "But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you." | False teachers arising in the church. |
| 1 Kgs 22:20-23 | Lord permits a deceiving spirit in mouths of Ahab's prophets. | God using deception as judgment. |
| Isa 30:9-11 | "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 soothing lies over truth. |
| Amos 7:10-13 | Amaziah the priest of Bethel banishes Amos for his unwelcome prophecy. | Speaking truth to power leading to persecution. |
| Lk 6:22-23 | "Blessed are you when people hate you... for the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice..." | Blessing on those persecuted for righteousness. |
| Acts 7:51-53 | Stephen condemns Jews for always resisting the Holy Spirit and killing prophets. | History of rejecting God's messengers. |
| Isa 45:7 | "I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity; I am the LORD, who does all these things." | God's sovereignty over good and evil (calamity). |
| Lam 3:37-38 | "Who can speak and have it happen unless the Lord has decreed it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?" | God is the ultimate source of all outcomes. |
| 2 Chr 19:2 | Jehoshaphat rebuked by a prophet for helping the wicked. | Divine disapproval of alliances with the ungodly. |
| Prov 12:15 | "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice." | Folly of ignoring wise counsel. |
2 Chronicles 18 verses
2 Chronicles 18 17 Meaning
2 Chronicles 18:17 presents the bitter reaction of Ahab, the King of Israel, to the prophecy delivered by Micaiah. Ahab tells Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, that Micaiah never speaks positive outcomes regarding him, but only negative ones, specifically concerning his military endeavors or reign. This statement reveals Ahab's prior history of rejecting divine warnings and his deep-seated antagonism towards prophets who delivered unpopular but truthful messages from the Lord. He preferred flattery over divine counsel, which often prophesied "calamity" or "disaster" for his rebellious actions.
2 Chronicles 18 17 Context
The eighteenth chapter of 2 Chronicles details the ill-fated alliance between Jehoshaphat, the good King of Judah, and Ahab, the wicked King of Israel, against the Arameans to recapture Ramoth-gilead. Despite Jehoshaphat's request to "inquire first for the word of the Lord," Ahab brings forth 400 of his court prophets who unanimously prophesy victory. These prophets are Baal worshippers or syncretistic Yahwists, telling the king what he wants to hear. Still, Jehoshaphat is unsatisfied and asks if there is any true prophet of the Lord. Ahab grudgingly admits there is one, Micaiah son of Imlah, but adds his well-known complaint: Micaiah "never prophesies good concerning me, but only evil." This verse occurs immediately after Micaiah is brought forth, reinforcing Ahab's deep-seated prejudice and the underlying tension between divine truth and royal desire for validation. Historically, Ahab was notorious for his idolatry, persecution of prophets like Elijah, and consistent rebellion against Yahweh, which had led to frequent divine judgments and negative prophecies concerning his reign.
2 Chronicles 18 17 Word analysis
So the king of Israel: Refers specifically to King Ahab. His title here contrasts with Jehoshaphat's faith in seeking Yahweh. Ahab embodied the spiritual rebellion of the Northern Kingdom.
said to Jehoshaphat: Jehoshaphat, despite his generally righteous reign, enters a compromising alliance with the ungodly Ahab (2 Chr 19:2), setting the stage for this confrontation with true prophecy.
“Did I not tell you: This phrase reveals Ahab's existing conviction and prior experiences with Micaiah. It is not a new revelation but a reiteration of a known fact, steeped in Ahab's resentment. It carries a tone of "I told you so," expressing his pre-conceived notion and bias.
that he would not prophesy: The Hebrew word for "prophesy" is naba' (נָבָא), meaning to speak by divine inspiration. Ahab acknowledges Micaiah as a prophet, but despises the content of his prophecy, demonstrating his opposition to God's revealed will.
good (טוֹב - tov) concerning me,: Tov here refers to well-being, success, prosperity, or favorable outcomes. Ahab desired messages of victory, expansion, and affirmation of his royal agenda, not correction or judgment. He wanted a "yes" man.
but evil (רַע - ra')?: Ra' in this prophetic context signifies calamity, disaster, or adversity, typically a consequence of God's judgment. It does not primarily denote moral evil but rather adverse circumstances. Micaiah's consistent message was of impending doom for Ahab due to his unfaithfulness. Ahab correctly anticipated the type of message, even if he despised its content and origin.
Words-group Analysis:
- "Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?": This question is rhetorical, serving as Ahab's exasperated declaration and self-vindication before Jehoshaphat. It reveals his stubborn heart, his awareness of Micaiah's consistent negative prophecies (which stemmed from his consistently wicked actions), and his inherent aversion to any message from God that conflicted with his desires. It demonstrates the conflict between a king who rejects divine truth and a faithful prophet.
2 Chronicles 18 17 Bonus section
The scene involving Micaiah in 2 Chronicles 18 (and its parallel in 1 Kings 22) is one of the most vivid biblical illustrations of the spiritual battle behind prophetic utterances. Micaiah later reveals a vision where God Himself dispatches a deceiving spirit to enter the mouths of Ahab's 400 false prophets, ensuring Ahab's demise. This highlights God's sovereign control even over evil and deception, orchestrating events to fulfill His judgment against a consistently rebellious king. It demonstrates that not all prophetic pronouncements are from God's Holy Spirit; some are even allowed by God as a judgment upon those who stubbornly refuse truth and prefer lies.
2 Chronicles 18 17 Commentary
2 Chronicles 18:17 captures a critical moment showcasing the tension between human desire and divine revelation. Ahab's dismissive comment about Micaiah perfectly encapsulates the perennial human tendency to reject inconvenient truths, especially when delivered by God's messengers. He wanted comfortable lies ("good") from compliant court prophets, not divine warnings ("evil") that necessitated repentance or a change in his plans. This verse is key to understanding Ahab's hardened heart, his ultimate downfall, and the cost of resisting God's revealed will. It highlights the authenticity of Micaiah's prophecy: true prophecy often confronts power and offers a stark, unpalatable reality, serving God's purposes rather than human wishes. For Jehoshaphat, it should have been a stark warning against his ill-advised alliance, exposing the dangerous spiritual climate surrounding Ahab.