2 Chronicles 18:8 kjv
And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.
2 Chronicles 18:8 nkjv
Then the king of Israel called one of his officers and said, "Bring Micaiah the son of Imla quickly!"
2 Chronicles 18:8 niv
So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, "Bring Micaiah son of Imlah at once."
2 Chronicles 18:8 esv
Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, "Bring quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah."
2 Chronicles 18:8 nlt
So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, "Quick! Bring Micaiah son of Imlah."
2 Chronicles 18 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Is 30:9-10 | For they are a rebellious people... who say to the seers, “Do not see visions!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions.” | Desire for pleasing lies, rejection of truth. |
| Jer 23:16-17 | Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you... They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. They say continually to those who despise the word of the LORD, | Warning against false prophets who promise peace. |
| Jer 23:21 | “I did not send these prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied.” | Divine disavowal of uncommissioned prophets. |
| Ezek 13:2-3 | “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are prophesying... ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!’” | Condemnation of prophets who follow their own thoughts, not God's. |
| Jn 3:19-20 | And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light... | Hatred of truth/light by those whose deeds are evil. |
| Acts 7:51 | “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.” | Resistance to God's Spirit and His messengers. |
| 2 Tim 4:3-4 | For 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, and will turn away from listening to the truth... | People seeking teachers who cater to their desires. |
| Mt 23:37 | “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you! How often I longed to gather your children together...” | Historical pattern of rejecting and persecuting God's messengers. |
| Lk 6:26 | “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.” | A true prophet is often unpopular or disliked. |
| Amos 7:10-13 | Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you... For thus Amos has said, ‘Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel must go into exile away from his land.’” | Official rejection and command to silence a true prophet because of his message. |
| Jer 20:7-8 | O LORD, you have deceived me, and I was deceived... For whenever I speak, I cry out, I shout, “Violence and destruction!” For the word of the LORD has become for me a reproach and derision all day long. | The unpopularity and difficulty of speaking God's judgments. |
| Prov 1:7 | The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. | Ahab's rejection of Micaiah mirrors despising true wisdom. |
| Prov 15:10 | There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way; whoever hates correction will die. | Danger of hating correction, as Ahab demonstrates. |
| Is 5:20 | Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! | Perverting truth and righteousness, a reflection of Ahab's view. |
| Rom 1:28 | And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. | Consequences of deliberate rejection of God and His truth. |
| 1 Kgs 22:23 | Now therefore, behold, the LORD has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the LORD has declared disaster concerning you. | God allowing deception when people refuse truth (the Micaiah prophecy). |
| Gal 1:10 | For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. | The faithful prophet's motivation: pleasing God, not man. |
| Jer 43:2 | then Azariah the son of Hoshaiah and Johanan the son of Kareah and all the insolent men said to Jeremiah, “You are telling a lie. The LORD our God has not sent you to say, ‘You shall not go to Egypt to live there,’ | Accusation of lying against a true prophet. |
| Deut 18:21-22 | And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?’ — when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come to pass or come true, that is the word that the LORD has not spoken. | Test for distinguishing true from false prophets. |
| 1 Thess 5:19-20 | Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies... | Warning against quenching God's word and prophetic utterance. |
2 Chronicles 18 verses
2 Chronicles 18 8 Meaning
This verse reveals King Ahab's deep-seated aversion to truth and his preference for flattery. When asked to consult a true prophet of the Lord, Ahab admits to Jehoshaphat that there is one such man, Micaiah, but immediately confesses his hatred for him. His reason for this animosity is that Micaiah's prophecies consistently bring messages of misfortune or judgment concerning Ahab, rather than positive or favorable outcomes. It underscores the king's rebellion against God's direct, unvarnished word and his desire to only hear what pleases him.
2 Chronicles 18 8 Context
The narrative of 2 Chronicles 18 unfolds during a pivotal alliance between King Jehoshaphat of Judah and King Ahab of Israel. Jehoshaphat, despite generally being a righteous king, formed a marital and military alliance with wicked Ahab. The chapter opens with Jehoshaphat visiting Ahab, who persuades him to join a campaign to retake Ramoth-gilead from the Arameans. Before embarking on war, Jehoshaphat wisely suggests inquiring of the Lord. Ahab, true to form, gathers 400 court prophets who enthusiastically prophesy victory. However, Jehoshaphat senses something is amiss and asks if there is truly "no other prophet of the Lord here whom we may inquire of?" It is at this point that Ahab gives the confession found in verse 8, begrudgingly admitting the existence of Micaiah and his disdain for him. The verse thus sets the stage for the true prophetic word of Micaiah, which contradicts the comfortable lies of the 400, ultimately leading to Ahab's death in battle as God's judgment. Historically, Ramoth-gilead was a strategically important city, symbolizing the ongoing conflicts between Israel and Aram (Syria). Ahab was renowned as one of Israel's most idolatrous kings, heavily influenced by his Phoenician wife, Jezebel, who championed Baal worship throughout Israel, leading to a strong polemic between YHWH's prophets and pagan cults.
2 Chronicles 18 8 Word analysis
- Then: Connects the statement directly to Jehoshaphat's persistent request for a true prophet of the Lord in the previous verse (2 Chron 18:7), implying a reluctant concession from Ahab.
- the king of Israel: Identifies Ahab. Although powerful and reigning, this title subtly reminds the reader that his authority is ultimately subject to the Lord, whom he despises.
- said to Jehoshaphat: A direct, personal revelation of Ahab's inner disposition towards divine truth, distinct from public policy or his advisors.
- 'There is yet one man':
Yēsh ‘ōd ʾîsh ʾeḥāḏ(יֵשׁ עוֹד אִישׁ אֶחָד) - "There is still one man." This implies Micaiah's isolation among the many court prophets, highlighting the scarcity of true prophetic voices in Ahab's kingdom and a grudging acknowledgement of Micaiah's existence as distinct from the others. - 'by whom we may inquire of the Lord':
Lidrosh ʾet-YHWH(לִדְרֹשׁ אֶת־יְהוָה) - "to seek the Lord." This phrase indicates a formal religious inquiry, acknowledging that Micaiah possesses a genuine connection to God, unlike the false prophets. Even a wicked king like Ahab recognizes the proper channel for divine counsel, yet rebels against its implications. - 'Micaiah the son of Imlah':
Mîkhāyāhū ben Yimlāh(מִיכָיָהוּ בֶן־יִמְלָה) - "Who is like Yahweh, son of Imlah." The name itself, "Who is like Yahweh," is a declarative statement of God's uniqueness and sovereignty, profoundly ironic given Ahab's hatred for His message. - 'but I hate him':
Sēnē'tîhû(שְׂנֵאתִיהוּ) - "I have hated him." A strong expression of animosity. Ahab's hatred is directed not at Micaiah's person, but at the divine message he faithfully delivers. This reveals a heart fundamentally opposed to God's will when it conflicts with his own desires. - 'for he never prophesies good concerning me':
Lōʾ-mitnabbēʾ ‘ālay ṭôḇ(לֹא־מִתְנַבֵּא עָלַי טוֹב) - "He does not prophesy good concerning me." "Good" (ṭôḇ) here refers to fortune, prosperity, or favorable outcomes. Ahab equates a "good" prophecy with one that aligns with his wishes, not with one that is true or from God. He values comfort over truth. - 'but always evil':
kî-ṯāmiḏ rā‘(כִּי־תָמִיד רָע) - "for always evil/misfortune." "Evil" (rā‘) refers to calamity, judgment, or negative outcomes. Ahab sees Micaiah's prophecies as perpetually unfavorable to him, which highlights that God's truth, when addressing sin, often brings a word of impending judgment or correction, rather than soothing promises.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, 'There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord'": This phrase exposes Ahab's hypocrisy and a glimmer of his awareness. He acknowledges the existence of a true prophet through whom God speaks, indicating he understands the proper channel for divine revelation. Yet, this acknowledgement is made grudgingly, prefacing his profound aversion.
- "Micaiah the son of Imlah; but I hate him": This striking juxtaposition places the identity of the divine messenger (Micaiah, whose name means "Who is like Yahweh?") immediately before the king's stark declaration of personal hatred. It powerfully emphasizes the direct conflict between Ahab's will and God's revealed truth.
- "for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil": This is Ahab's rationalization for his hatred, revealing his self-centered worldview. He doesn't question Micaiah's legitimacy as a prophet of YHWH, but rather hates the content of the message because it consistently challenges his unrighteous path, pronouncing consequences rather than affirmations. This demonstrates a deep spiritual blindness and rejection of divine correction.
2 Chronicles 18 8 Bonus section
- The Unpopular Truth: Micaiah epitomizes the often-unpopular and persecuted role of the true prophet, a recurring theme throughout biblical history. Prophets like Jeremiah also experienced rejection and suffering for delivering messages of judgment and calling for repentance.
- Ahab's Consistent Wickedness: This confession is consistent with Ahab's character established in 1 Kings, where he is repeatedly shown as one of Israel's most wicked kings, particularly in his promotion of Baal worship and his disregard for YHWH's commandments (e.g., in the Naboth's vineyard incident in 1 Kgs 21). His hatred for Micaiah is a further manifestation of his deep-seated rebellion against God.
- The Sovereignty of God: Despite Ahab's hatred and the overwhelming consensus of the 400 false prophets, God's truth, through Micaiah, ultimately prevails and determines Ahab's fate. This passage powerfully illustrates God's sovereignty over human desires, deceptions, and even the choices of kings.
- Lessons for Discernment: This episode serves as a vital lesson in discerning true prophecy and godly counsel from deceptive flattery. Jehoshaphat's subtle discomfort with the 400 prophets, despite their unanimous positive messages, allowed him to press for the true word, highlighting the importance of spiritual discernment.
2 Chronicles 18 8 Commentary
Ahab's raw confession in 2 Chronicles 18:8 serves as a chilling testament to the human heart's capacity to despise truth when it brings discomfort. Confronted with the need to seek genuine divine counsel, the king's true character emerges. He doesn't deny Micaiah's prophetic bona fides – indeed, he identifies him as the singular channel for inquiring "of the Lord." However, his subsequent declaration, "but I hate him," reveals a profound spiritual enmity. Ahab's animosity isn't rooted in Micaiah's untruthfulness, but in the persistent negative outcomes of his prophecies. He craves validation and flattering predictions, demonstrating a deep-seated desire for God to affirm his own will rather than demanding his submission. This aversion to corrective truth underscores the inherently unpopular role of the faithful prophet who must deliver God's unfiltered word, regardless of how it's received. It's a stark warning against choosing comforting lies over challenging realities, and highlights the self-destructive nature of those who love darkness rather than light. The narrative positions Micaiah as a courageous figure who stood alone, a beacon of truth in an age of widespread apostasy, contrasted with Ahab's stubborn, self-deceptive rebellion against God's sovereign hand.