2 Chronicles 18:1-8

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Lyle Mantooth 2025-02-07 09:04:34 -05:00
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title = "2 Chronicles 18:18"
date = "2025-02-07"
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### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/2Chronicles18.1-8)
While Jehoshaphat had been doing well, this chapter marks the beginning of his decline.
Verse 1 tells us he made a marriage alliance with Ahab the king of Israel.
That is, Jeshophat's son Jehoram married Ahab's daughter Athaliah (whose mother was Jezebel).
These names aren't important now, but time marches on and they will be later.
As part of the alliance, Jehoshaphat makes a state visit to Samaria, Israel's capital.
Ahab asks him to help take back the city of Ramoth-gilead, which Syria had taken over previously.
Jehoshaphat agrees, but then asks if they can inquire of the Lord what they should do and how they should go.
He really should have done that first, before any dealings with Ahab at all.
Ahab calls together four hundred prophets who all give the same prediction: go and be successful.
Now, if these were indeed prophets of God, we should expect them to have the same message; the Lord is consistent and truthful.
However, Jehoshaphat is suspicious and asks if there is anyone else who can ask of the Lord.
I am suspicious too.
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))
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.
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.
Even still, Micaiah is summoned to give the kings their answer from the Lord.
* * *
Let us be wise in who we yoke ourselves to, so that we do not follow fools into their destruction.