Introduction: This second message is about Zedekiah, probably one of the worst false prophets ever. He lived during the days of Ahab and Jehoshaphat but caused a great deal of grief for many people in both Israel and Judah. His “visual aids” didn’t help, either!
The setting for this “prophecy” took place in Samaria when Jehoshaphat came to visit Ahab (one wonders why). Full disclosure; Sermon Central has previously accepted my sermon on the joint campaign between Israel and Judah to recapture Ramoth-Gilead called “The Battle and The Banquet (this message is not a copy-paste of that previous submission)”. In this message, my goal is to focus one Zedekiah and his utterly false prophecy.
1 Zedekiah and the 400 false prophets
Text: 2 Chronicles 18:1-11, KJV: 1 Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab. 2 And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramothgilead. 3 And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramothgilead? And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the war.
4 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Inquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day. 5 Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the king's hand. 6 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might inquire of him? 7 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may inquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
8 And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla. 9 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them. 10 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt push Syria until they be consumed. 11 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
According to the website quora.com (https://www.quora.com/Who-originally-said-%E2%80%9CThe-enemy-of-my-enemy-is-my-friend%E2%80%9D), the saying, “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” has been around for many years. That sentiment and saying would have been just as true at the time of this incident.
Most of us recall that the united kingdom of Israel split into the Ten Tribes in the North, keeping the name “Israel”, and the Two Tribes in the south, known as Judah, after Rehoboam, son of Solomon, became king. Rehoboam committed one of history’s greatest blunders and doomed the nation into generations of wars between children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The story of how this happened is in 1 Kings 11-12.
But now, there seems to be “peace in our time”, as Neville Chamberlain once said in 1938. That peace seemed to be taking place because of intermarriage between the two royal families, Jehoshaphat’s son taking Ahab (and Jezebel’s) daughter as his wife. This later proved to be another disaster in the making—just read 2 Kings 10 and 11!
And another reason for this peace was that these two kingdoms had a common enemy, Syria (Aram, in some other translations). The Ten Tribes had been in conflict with Syria several times before but there had been a three-year “peace” or, truce, between Israel and Syria (2 Kings 22:1). There was a problem, however, and that was because Syria still had control over a city of Israel called Ramothgilead (some place a hyphen or dash after “Ramoth”). Now, Israel, the Ten Tribes, wanted that city back from the Syrians.
Wouldn’t you believe it, here comes the king of Judah, probably with a good number of fellow southerners, so to speak, arriving at Samaria, Ahab’s capital. If there was any other business they discussed, we don’t know about it, but we do have a good record of one particular topic.
Ramoth-Gilead.
The text describes how Ahab provided a feast for Jehoshaphat and his staff (let’s call them that), preparing a goodly amount of sheep (mutton) and oxen (beef, and plenty of it, I’m sure). Paraphrasing Dr. Vance Havner’s message, “The Four-Hundred-and-First Prophet”, a banquet like this was one way to get a Jehoshaphat to join up with you.
Ahab and Jehoshaphat were now united. The previous wars and “cold wars” between Israel and Judah were stopped, for the moment, as these two kings began to make plans to re-take that city of Ramoth-Gilead.
We would do well to consider some things. First, Jerusalem was maybe 30 miles or more from Samaria. Allowing, say, 10 miles per day, Jehoshaphat and his staff would have needed three or more days travel time just to reach Samaria. At the very least, Ahab and his staff seemed to provide hospitality to Jehoshaphat and his staff during that time.
Ramoth-Gilead, though, was a whole another story. This city was not only on the east side of the Jordan River, it was also just about at a border or frontier in the middle of nowhere! Looking at a map like this one (https://bibleportal.com/bible-maps/headwaters-bible-maps), Ramoth-Gilead was maybe 100 miles of more to the north-east of Samaria. Ahab and Jehoshaphat (try typing that name for a while and like me, you may wish you could call him “Joe” or “Jay” or something easier!) would have had to lead their forces across the Jordan, after going down and then up a hillside (and it’s anybody’s guess how steel it would be), then cross another river (the Jabbok, perhaps) unless they marched far to the north and then turn east. Oh, yeah, I almost forgot, this would take them close to the border of Syria and things could get interesting in a hurry.
We also can’t forget that all of these men would need food, water, and some kind of lodging as they would be marching for almost a week or longer. I remember a hike our Boy Scout troop took during my Boy Scouts days, and even though I don’t remember how long it was in terms of miles (anywhere between 10 to 20 miles, as I recall), it took days to recover! And the only food we had was what we brought with us (there was water, as I recall, but water doesn’t fill the stomach of most 13 year olds very well!). Now imagine an army of, say, 150.000 to 200, 000 or more and one can well determine the nightmare of logistics, alone.
Well, we can leave all the planning and so forth to the pros of that day. But now it’s time to focus on a very important aspect of this joint campaign. It wasn’t the who’s going (how many troops to send to the battle); and it wasn’t the “how do we keep ‘em supplied” aspect. What, if anything, was said about what they would do with Ramoth-Gilead once it was retaken isn’t really of much concern here. No, we’re talking and looking about the most important aspect of all.
The spiritual aspect. Remember, the Ten Tribes (Israel) had been worshiping Jeroboam’s golden calves for many years by this time. How many in the North were still worshiping only Jehovah, the LORD, God of Israel (like Elijah, Elisha, and Obadiah, to name three)—we may never know. The same could be said for Judah’s army. It’s true that Jehoshaphat was one of Judah’s best kings but that was no guarantee that every southerner was a worshiper of the LORD.
Looking back at verse 4, I have sometimes wondered if Jehoshaphat had an “Uh, oh, I forgot something” moment. Notice that he had gone to Ahab’s territory, eaten a meal with him and others, and had agreed to join in a battle that, strictly speaking, Judah had nothing to do with. It may also be that the LORD Himself pricked Jehoshaphat’s conscience, maybe saying something like, “Aren’t you forgetting something? Or, Someone? Did you remember to ask Me before you agreed to make this commitment?”
So now, Jehoshaphat asks, “Why don’t we inquire of the LORD about this?” And Ahab was glad, it seems, to oblige. Ahab “gathered together” 400 prophets and asked, “Shall we go to Ramoth-Gilead or not?” Give him credit, at least he asked the question!
Yet again, there were a few things that have left me wondering how sincere these “prophets” really were. For one thing, it hadn’t been that long before when Jezebel, Ahab’s wife, had basically declared war on the prophets of the LORD and “cut [them] off (1 Kings 18:4”). Now, in just a few years, there were 400 of the LORD’s prophets available at a moment’s notice?
And notice just whom these prophets quoted: “Go up, for God will deliver it into the king’s hand (verse 5).” For most of us, we’d think, okay, they must be referring to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but there’s something else we may not get in our English translations. The word “God” is translated from either a singular Hebrew noun, “El”, such as “El-Shaddai” translated “God Almighty” or El-Elyon, translated as “The Most High God” in Genesis 14:22. There’s another Hebrew word, “Elohim”, which is the plural form of “El”. God Himself used this word in Genesis 1 where Moses wrote, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Gen. 1:1). So far, so good; we’re still keeping the One True God in view here.
The problem is that both “El” and “Elohim” are used also of other deities. “El” could be, and was, used to describe a particular pagan deity (such as El-Berith in Judges 9:46. The plural, “Elohim”, could be used to describe a collection of gods, like a pantheon, such as “the house of gods” which Micah had in his possession (Judges 17:5).
And I have to agree with Jehoshaphat here. When he asked Ahab (that was a mistake) to inquire of the LORD, and the prophets come back with “You got this, God [sic] will give you the victory”—that isn’t what Jehoshaphat asked for. Did these 400 prophets speak in the name of the God of Israel; or, were they just mouthing words to please Jehoshaphat; or, were they prophesying in the name of another “god”?
Clearly, Jehoshaphat was not at all comforted or encouraged. He sensed something was off and, like someone said a long time ago, if you think something’s off, you’re probably right. He politely asked Ahab if there was another prophet of the LORD, besides the 400, so that he could inquire of the LORD through this prophet.
Ahab agreed, but reluctantly, I think; anyway, he sent an officer to bring the 401st prophet, who was Micaiah. While the two kings and the rest of the assembly was there, and while they were waiting for Micaiah to come before the kings, now enters Zedekiah with his additional prophecy.
We don’t know much about this Zedekiah except his father’s name was Chenaanah which, oddly enough, means “Canaan (https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3668.htm)” It could be that this Zedekiah was a leader among the prophets, or else had enough clout for him to make a statement yet not have anyone call him out for it. Verse 9 says that the prophets (all 400. I suppose) were prophesying before both Ahab and Jehoshaphat.
And then comes Zedekiah, with a message of his own, plus a (stunning?) visual aid, we might say. He had already made “horns of iron”, apparently fastening them to headgear of some kind, and (boldly?) declared, “Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt push Syria until they be consumed”. Again paraphrasing Vance Havner, not only was Zedekiah a false prophet, but even worse, he was putting on an act!
Now, of course, if any other “prophesying” took place before Micaiah arrived, we’re not told about it. Maybe there wasn’t anything worth recording—maybe, some of the people were either stunned or surprised at Zedekiah’s message, reinforced by his horned helmet, a visual aid!
All of this material was needed to help set the stage for Zedekiah’s false prophecy. Only he knows why he uttered those words of that first message. But now he and the others are waiting for Micaiah to appear and give his message. As we’ll see, Zedekiah wasn’t impressed.
2 Zedekiah and the one true prophet
Text, 2 Chronicles 18:12-27, KJV: 12 And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good. 13 And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.
14 And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand. 15 And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the LORD? 16 Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace.
17 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?
18 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 Ramothgilead? 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.
23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee? 24 And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself. 25 Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son; 26 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. 27 And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, then hath not the LORD spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, all ye people.
While the 400 prophets, including Zedekiah, were prophesying before the two kings, one of Ahab’s staff had gone to find Micaiah, the true prophet, We don’t know anything about this Micaiah except that he lived in the Ten Tribes; his father’s name was Imlah, which means “full” or “abundant (https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3229.htm)”; and he was currently a guest of Samaria’s home for unwanted prophets. Of course, the staffer sent to escort (!) Micaiah asked him to, more or less, tailor his message, maybe give the kings something they want to hear.
We can give this man some partial credit, at least: even though he may not have wanted to all Micaiah would say, he didn’t want to see Micaiah suffer any longer. I remember hearing or reading somewhere that being kept in solitary confinement (there is no mention of Micaiah being secured with anyone else) is worse than outright punishment. To suffer with hurt, eventually the pain goes away, but to suffer alone is tough. I think we can agree about that.
Even so, Micaiah was a man of principle as well as a man of God and told the staffer, “I’ll speak what the LORD gives me to speak.” If more preachers would do this, we might be better off!
Now Micaiah comes and stands before the kings. He may not have known Jehoshaphat, but it seems he surely knew Ahab. And Ahab knew Micaiah—after all, Ahab had complained to Jehoshaphat that Micaiah prophesied nothing but evil against him! I mean, if you hear the same thing more than once or twice, wouldn’t it be worth taking some time to find out why?
Right on cue, Micaiah gets asked the same question Ahab had given the other 400 prophets. Now, then, how is he going to answer? At first, he gives the same answer, the same message, as the first batch of prophets: “Go and prosper!” After all, wasn’t that what the staffer had asked Micaiah to do? And that’s what he did! Everybody should be happy, right?
At least two people weren’t happy, though. Ahab was upset (there could have been other emotions) and sensed Micaiah wasn’t being truthful (or, something). For one of the few times recorded in Scripture, Ahab asked for the truth! Even though he had moments before accused Micaiah of prophesying nothing but evil, Ahab now wants the truth? Had to be there, I guess!
Micaiah proceeds to give the real message from the LORD, how that Ahab was bound for certain destruction. The LORD had called a council of all spirits—the good and the bad—to decide how Ahab would fall in the battle (killed in action, in other words). Eventually, as Micaiah related, there was one spirit (identity unknown) who said, “I’ll be a lying spirit in the mouths of all the other prophets” The LORD then said, in so many words, “Make it happen.” Micaiah closed his message by saying, “You’re right, Ahab, the LORD has spoken evil against you.”
Let me hasten to add that, even in Ahab’s case, the LORD would have forgiven Ahab had Ahab repented of his sins then and there. Think about it: you’ve just heard a message from the One True God, telling you, “You are going to die”, but do nothing about it? True, Ahab had faced God’s judgment once before and repented (see 1 Kings 21:27-29) but not this time. He “saved face” by what he did next, but he lost his life and even worse, he probably lost his soul.
Before Ahab could make any kind of action against Micaiah, here came Zedekiah again with a message of his own. I can imagine Zedekiah, walking—stalking or stomping?—up to Micaiah, ready to make things miserable for him. Sure enough, he came up to Micaiah and “smote [him] on the cheek”. That was more than a polite slap on the face, as according to the Cambridge Bible commentary (https://biblehub.com/commentaries/cambridge/2_chronicles/18.htm), Zedekiah gave Micaiah “an insulting blow”. John Gill made the comment that Zedekiah’s deed here was :in contempt of him (https://biblehub.com/commentaries/gill/1_kings/22.htm):
Even worse than the slap, though, was the sarcasm. There are some people, both male and female (the only two legitimate genders, by the way) who can’t stand or refuse to accept any kind of real or perceived criticism. Micaiah had probably not heard Zedekiah’s message but Zedekiah had heard everything Micaiah had to say. And he didn’t like it.
Zedekiah then asked (demanded to know?),” Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?” Other translations give the sense of that sentence as “Did the Spirit of the LORD leave me to speak to you?” Zedekiah was either sincere but sincerely wrong, or, he was knowingly prophesying a lie but didn’t want anyone else to know about it.
This incident closes with Micaiah being taken (returned?) to prison, receiving only bread and water for an unspecified period of time. Someone once remarked that it’s better to have bread and water with God’s favor than a banquet with the Devil’s favor. Micaiah’s final prophecy was that if Ahab returned in peace, as Ahab had bragged would happen, then the LORD had not spoken to and through him.
As we see in the last verses of the chapter (omitted to save space), Ahab did die in battle, thus proving Micaiah was right. We don’t know what ever happened to him or Zedekiah but we can probably guess he was never welcomed at the king’s court again.
May the LORD give us wisdom and discernment so that we can find and avoid all false teachers. They may not be wearing horns of iron, like this Zedekiah, but preachers and teachers like him are still here. Know the Lord, know the Word, and know the truth so that you’ll be aware and protected from false prophets like this Zedekiah!
Scripture quotations taken from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV)
