30 lines
2 KiB
Markdown
30 lines
2 KiB
Markdown
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title = "2 Chronicles 18:1–8"
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date = "2025-02-07"
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### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/2Chronicles18.1-8)
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While Jehoshaphat had been doing well, this chapter marks the beginning of his decline.
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Verse 1 tells us he made a marriage alliance with Ahab the king of Israel.
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That is, Jeshophat's son Jehoram married Ahab's daughter Athaliah (whose mother was Jezebel).
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These names aren't important now, but time marches on and they will be later.
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As part of the alliance, Jehoshaphat makes a state visit to Samaria, Israel's capital.
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Ahab asks him to help take back the city of Ramoth-gilead, which Syria had taken over previously.
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Jehoshaphat agrees, but then asks if they can inquire of the Lord what they should do and how they should go.
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He really should have done that first, before any dealings with Ahab at all.
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Ahab calls together four hundred prophets who all give the same prediction: go and be successful.
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Now, if these were indeed prophets of God, we should expect them to have the same message; the Lord is consistent and truthful.
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However, Jehoshaphat is suspicious and asks if there is anyone else who can ask of the Lord.
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I am suspicious too.
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These prophets are not the same as the 450 priests of Baal defeated and killed at Mt. Carmel, but *maybe* they are the "400 prophets of Asherah who ate at Jezebel's table". ([_1 Kings 18:16_](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/1Kings18.16))
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The Mt. Carmel incident should have happened before this (1 Kings 22 is our parallel passage, which comes after 1 Kings 18), but while Elijah invited both groups of prophets to the god contest, the text only mentions the prophets of Baal showing up.
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Whatever reason Jehoshaphat had for not trusting the 400 prophets, Ahab admits there is a prophet of Yahweh, but says Micaiah only ever says bad things about him.
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Even still, Micaiah is summoned to give the kings their answer from the Lord.
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* * *
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Let us be wise in who we yoke ourselves to, so that we do not follow fools into their destruction.
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