Jehoshaphat made an alliance with Syria which lasted for three years, 1 Kings 20:26-29, but at the end of those three years, Ahab made an alliance with Jehoshaphat and Judah, so that he could secure himself from the threat of Syria and Assyria in the north, 1 Kings 22:1-38.
He allied himself with Ahab by marriage, which tells us he is trying to unite the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, however, this was the wrong way of going about it. Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, was given in marriage to Jehoram, the son of Jehoshaphat.
Sadly, the evil influence of Ahab and Jezebel came into the life of Jehoram, and so, when he came to the throne, wickedness once again came into the royal family of Judah.
Israel made an alliance with Syria which lasted for three years, 1 Kings 20:26-29, but at the end of those three years, Ahab made an alliance with Jehoshaphat and Judah, so that he could secure himself from the threat of Syria and Assyria in the north, 2 Chronicles 18:1-27.
It was to be a huge mistake for Jehoshaphat to go to Ahab because this alliance or any marital alliance was never given approval from God, 2 Chronicles 19:2.
He also ignored the huge differences which were happening between the two kingdoms. This was the first time that a king of Judah, of the house of David, had visited one of the kings who had revolted from that dynasty.
It appears that even though 450 false prophets of Baal were killed at Mount Carmel, 1 Kings 18:19 / 1 Kings 18:40, there were still other false prophets around, Isaiah 9:15 / Jeremiah 5:13 / Jeremiah 5:31 / Jeremiah 23:11 / Jeremiah 23:15-16 / Hosea 4:5 / Micah 3:5-7.
They were ‘ear tickling’ prophets who told Ahab what Ahab wanted to hear, 2 Timothy 4:3. The good news is that Jehoshaphat wasn’t like Ahab, he still relied on God for guidance, hence why he asks, ‘Is there no longer a prophet of the LORD here whom we can inquire of?’ 1 Kings 22:1-12.
The king of Israel brought four hundred prophets, 1 Kings 22:4-39, however, they were being paid by Ahab, which would mean they would be biased in their political judgments. In other words, what they said couldn’t be trusted and so, it’s not surprising that Jehoshaphat was sceptical about what they said.
Coffman in his commentary says the following.
‘We may be certain that Ahab called Micaiah reluctantly, and that while Micaiah was being summoned the false prophets redoubled their efforts in the hope of convincing Jehoshaphat. The occasion was a spectacular display of the kings on their thrones dressed in all their royal regalia at the gate of Samaria and those four hundred false prophets putting on a vigorous display of their false prophecies. It seems very likely that Micaiah was in prison when Ahab sent for him, this is indicated by the fact of his ready availability to Ahab and his being sent for by a eunuch, the type of officer usually in charge of the harem and of the prison, and likewise by the fact of Zedekiah’s arrogant slap of the defenceless Micaiah.’
Jehoshaphat’s asking for a prophet of God dramatically states that the four hundred prophets of Ahab were not prophets of God. Ahab’s god was Baal and his prophets were automatically prophets of Baal, not of God, 1 Kings 22:53.
He wanted a second opinion and so he goes to a true prophet of God, Micaiah. He knows that Micaiah will only speak the truth, no matter who he is being supported by. Since Ahab was living in wickedness, Micaiah could only say that which was contrary to the wicked wishes of Ahab.
Four hundred paid prophets had preached a united message and a messenger who was sent to Micaiah wanted to intimidate him into conforming to the opinion of the 400. However, Micaiah wasn’t intimidated by them, he only spoke what God told him to say.
It’s clear that the false prophets of Ahab were very confident in what they were saying because Jehoshaphat was present. They obviously assumed that because the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel were united at this point in time, that victory in the battle with the Syrians was certain.
It’s also clear that Ahab was very familiar with Micaiah, because he asks, ‘how many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?’
Ahab was also very familiar with other prophecies which Micaiah had made, 1 Kings 20:13 / 1 Kings 20:35. Notice that Ahab said that Micaiah never prophesied anything good for him, but this isn’t the case, 1 Kings 20:13-34.
After asking that question, Micaiah replies by saying, ‘I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd, and the LORD said, ‘These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.’ These words are the same words which God told Moses concerning Israel, Numbers 27:17.
Everyone was well aware of the judgment which God brought upon Ahab and Jezebel because of the way they dealt with Naboth in order to steal his inherited vineyard, 1 Kings 21:17-29. And so, failure to win this battle would provide the perfect opportunity for God to fulfil his judgment on Ahab.
Micaiah exposed the false prophecies of the false prophets whom Ahab had asked to help him with his desires and at the same time, he also revealed the judgment, which was now coming upon Ahab, 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12.
When we go back and look at the attitude of Ahab, 1 Kings 21:25-26 / 1 Kings 22:8 / 1 Kings 22:19-23, it becomes evident that God didn’t in reality command that the false prophets lie to Ahab. He simply permitted them to do so, as they had already been doing.
Micaiah’s vision simply related in figurative language how God would use Ahab’s own false prophets to bring about his downfall. The fact that Ahab was punished shows that Ahab himself was held responsible for rejecting the truth and believing the lie.
God didn’t lie to Ahab nor did He put lies in the mouth of Ahab’s prophets. God simply made use in a providential way of those who were already lying to Ahab. The false prophets lied because they chose to lie and Ahab believed them because he chose to believe them, Romans 1:24-25.
Notice they have Micaiah thrown in prison, this usually happens when people speak the truth and others don’t like it, Acts 14:22 / 2 Timothy 2:8-13 / 1 Peter 4:16.
The people were frightened to death of Ahab, and because of men like Zedekiah, no one would say anything bad against him. However, when the truth is spoken against what most people believed, the fulfilment of the prophecy was actually proof that the prophecy was from God Himself, 1 Kings 22:24-28 / Deuteronomy 18:18-22.
The prophecy was very clear, and everyone present would have heard the words that Ahab would die at Ramoth Gilead. Micaiah accepted the test of all true prophecy, namely, that it will come to pass, Jeremiah 28:9.
Notice God’s protection of Jehoshaphat when He cried out to Him, God helped him and God drew him away from the chariots. In the heat of the battle, a special effort was made to go after someone they thought was Ahab, the king of Israel, Jehoshaphat cried out to the Lord. Jehoshaphat’s prayer was answered immediately and in a direct manner.
When we read 1 Kings 22:29-36, it appears that Ahab to a degree anyway, believed what Micaiah has said, because he wants to go into battle in disguise. Because of this, he asks Jehoshaphat to wear his royal robes, so that the Syrians wouldn’t be able to identify him asking of Israel in the battle, 2 Chronicles 18:28-34.
Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram commands his men not to fight with anyone, except the king of Israel, 1 Kings 22:35. The reason behind this is simple enough to understand, if any king of any nation was captured or killed in battle, then the opposing side would automatically claim the victory. It appears that Ben-Hadad wants his soldiers’ to focus on the king of the northern kingdom, not Jehoshaphat.
Notice that someone drew their bow at ‘random’ and killed Ahab, it’s surely possible that this arrow didn’t randomly hit Ahab but was guided by God Himself.
Remember this was God’s judgment upon Ahab, and although he disguised himself, he couldn’t escape the judgment of God. After news got around the Israelite army that Ahab was dead, every man dispersed and returned to their homes, 1 Kings 22:36.
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."