2 Chronicles 18 26

2 Chronicles 18:26 kjv

And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.

2 Chronicles 18:26 nkjv

and say, 'Thus says the king: "Put this fellow in prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction, until I return in peace." ' "

2 Chronicles 18:26 niv

and say, 'This is what the king says: Put this fellow in prison and give him nothing but bread and water until I return safely.'?"

2 Chronicles 18:26 esv

and say, 'Thus says the king, Put this fellow in prison and feed him with meager rations of bread and water until I return in peace.'"

2 Chronicles 18:26 nlt

Give them this order from the king: 'Put this man in prison, and feed him nothing but bread and water until I return safely from the battle!'"

2 Chronicles 18 verses

2 Chronicles 18 26 Meaning

King Ahab of Israel, enraged by the true prophecy of Micaiah that he would be defeated and killed in battle, commanded that Micaiah be taken into custody. He further decreed that the prophet be subjected to imprisonment, to be fed only a meager "bread of affliction" and "water of affliction," indicating a diet meant for severe deprivation and hardship, until Ahab himself supposedly returned victoriously from the conflict against Ramoth-gilead. This action clearly illustrates the king's rejection of divine warning and his harsh treatment of God's faithful messenger.

2 Chronicles 18 26 Context

2 Chronicles chapter 18 details the unholy alliance between King Ahab of Israel, a wicked king, and King Jehoshaphat of Judah, a relatively righteous king. They conspire to reclaim Ramoth-gilead from Aram. Before engaging in battle, Jehoshaphat insists on consulting a prophet of the Lord. Ahab convenes 400 false prophets who uniformly predict victory, primarily reflecting the king's desires. However, when pressed by Jehoshaphat, Ahab reluctantly calls for Micaiah, a true prophet of the Lord. Micaiah initially delivers a sarcastic favorable prophecy mirroring the false prophets, but when charged to speak truth, he reveals God's true message: Ahab will be defeated and killed, and the Lord has permitted a lying spirit to deceive the false prophets. This stark contradiction provokes Ahab's wrath, leading to the command found in 2 Chronicles 18:26. Historically, this event takes place during the mid-9th century BCE, a period where idolatry (Baal worship) was rampant in Israel under Ahab and Jezebel, and true prophets of Yahweh were often persecuted or forced into hiding.

2 Chronicles 18 26 Word analysis

• Then the king (המלך - ham-melekh): Refers specifically to King Ahab of Israel, emphasizing his ultimate royal authority being unjustly used. His identity underscores the gravity of rejecting God's direct word through a prophet.
• said: Simple declarative verb, highlighting a direct and official command.
• Take Micaiah: A definitive order for seizure and apprehension. Micaiah (מִיכָיְהוּ - Miḵaʿyhu) means "Who is like Yahweh?" or "Who is like God?". This name is deeply ironic given Ahab's direct defiance of Yahweh's messenger.
• and return him: Implies Micaiah was brought from his existing location to stand before Ahab; now he is to be sent away from the royal presence for punishment.
• to Amon the governor of the city: Amon (אָמוֹן - Amon) means "master-worker" or "faithful/trusted one". This specifies a high-ranking official, highlighting a formal and bureaucratic execution of Ahab's command, indicating systematic oppression.
• and to Joash the king’s son: Joash (יוֹאָשׁ - Yo’ash) means "Yahweh has given." The involvement of the king's son adds a layer of official weight and possibly future punitive intentions against Micaiah. His role signifies a personal decree from the king.
• and say: This indicates a specific message to accompany Micaiah to his custodians, stating the king's reasons and terms of imprisonment.
• Thus says the king: A deliberate echo of the prophetic phrase "Thus says the LORD," used by Micaiah, but now asserted by human authority. This signifies Ahab's attempt to elevate his own word above divine revelation, seeking to counter God's authority with his own.
• Put this fellow in prison: A direct and dehumanizing command. "Fellow" (אֶת־זֶה - 'et-zeh) is dismissive, stripping Micaiah of his prophetic dignity. "Prison" (בֵית הַכֶּלֶא - bêt hak-kele, also מַסְגֵר - masger meaning "lock-up" or "fortress") signifies an official place of detention, emphasizing confinement.
• and feed him with the bread of affliction: Lechem lachatz (לֶחֶם לַחַץ), literally "bread of oppression/distress". This was not merely coarse prison fare but food rationed in quantity and poor in quality, designed to cause severe physical suffering and degradation, typical for prisoners awaiting judgment or condemned for severe offenses.
• and water of affliction: Mayim lachatz (מַיִם לַחַץ), "water of oppression." Similarly, a scarcity of water, compounding the deprivation, a measure meant to inflict hardship and symbolize God's displeasure, ironic here since it's the prophet who is being afflicted. This parallels Is 30:20, showing a known practice of severe incarceration.
• until I return in peace: This phrase reflects Ahab's deluded expectation of victory and a safe return, directly contradicting Micaiah's prophecy. It showcases Ahab's stubborn pride and defiance against God's revealed will, believing he could defy fate and silence truth.

2 Chronicles 18 26 Bonus section

The severity of the punishment — the "bread of affliction" and "water of affliction" — reveals not just a desire to confine Micaiah, but to crush his spirit and possibly compel him to retract his prophecy or recant. This specific phrase implies a punitive diet below sustenance levels, designed to inflict prolonged suffering, which was a common practice for serious offenders or those held captive and subjected to torture or starvation. This act also serves as a polemic against the "prophets of peace" (the 400 false prophets), showcasing the real consequences of speaking God's actual word, rather than flattering lies. Micaiah's faithfulness under such extreme pressure exemplifies prophetic integrity and courage, placing him within the tradition of suffering servants who would later include Jeremiah, and ultimately Jesus himself, all of whom faced rejection and persecution for delivering God's challenging truth.

2 Chronicles 18 26 Commentary

2 Chronicles 18:26 encapsulates the dangerous intersection of power, truth, and rebellion. King Ahab's response to Micaiah’s prophecy is not reasoned rebuttal but raw, unrighteous anger meted out through institutional punishment. By ordering Micaiah’s imprisonment and severe deprivation, Ahab attempted to silence the divine voice that exposed his delusion and impending doom. His demand for Micaiah's suffering under the "bread of affliction and water of affliction" was not merely about punishment; it was an act of personal vengeance against God's messenger and a stark warning to anyone else who might dare to speak truth contrary to the king's wishes. Ahab's presumptive statement "until I return in peace" is a testament to his hardened heart, as he clung to a false hope, defying the very God he claimed to serve, ironically condemning himself by dismissing the divine warning. This passage highlights the profound courage of true prophets, who chose faithfulness to God over safety, and serves as a perennial warning against rejecting inconvenient truth for comforting lies, especially by those in authority. It also foretells the pattern of persecution faced by God's messengers throughout history, culminating in Christ himself and his followers.