2 Chronicles 18:1-34 contains some of the most fascinating accounts we read in Scripture. The prophecy itself and the fulfillment of prophecy pertaining to Ahab and Jehoshaphat couldn’t be clearer. We even get a glimpse of what happened in heaven and how God worked with the heavenly beings that were with him for Jehoshaphat’s good.
In 2 Chronicles 18:1-34 the battle was to be at Ramoth-gilead (also called Ramah in 2 Kings 8:2; 2 Chr. 22:6). Israel and Judah besieged the city, and Ahab was killed there (1 Kings 22:29-36; 2 Chronicles 18). Let’s go back to review the various events leading up to that point.
Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab (see 2 Chr. 17). Jehoshaphat had taken Ahab’s daughter, Athalia, to be wife to his son Joram. Not only were there national ties, but also family ties. Ahab wanted Jehoshaphat to go with him to battle in order to recover Ramoth-gilead, a city that belonged to the Israelites, but was now held by the king of Syria.
1 Kings 22:1 says, “And they continued three years without war between Syria and Israel.” That was from the time that Ahab made the covenant with Ben-hadad (1 Kings 20:34). No doubt that treaty stipulated that Ramoth-gilead should be restored to Israel, but it had not been done. Because of that, Ahab felt justified to form a confederacy with Judah, and take it by force. As these two men make plans to go to war, pay close attention to the main events of that day and see how obvious it is who was in control.
Ahab and Jehoshaphat consulted the prophets concerning the success of the war. Ahab consulted his false prophets, and Jehoshaphat required speaking to Micaiah. All the prophets except for Micaiah promised Ahab would win the victory (2 Chr. 18:4-17).
After being threatened by Ahab, Micaiah relates his vision concerning the lying spirit in the mouth of Ahab’s prophets (2 Chr. 18:18-22). Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the Lord; I saw the Lord sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left. 19 And the Lord said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner. 20 Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will entice him. And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? 21 And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the Lord said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so. 22 Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil against thee.
Zedekiah, a false prophet, opposed Micaiah; and Micaiah was put in prison (2 Chr. 18:23-27).
We see another unusual occurrence later in the chapter.
And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them to depart from him. 32 For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him. Both kings went against the Syrians; the confederate armies were defeated, and the king of Israel was killed by a bow that someone shot up into the air—not even aimed directly at him (2 Chr. 18:31).
–Beth Johnson
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