29 lines
2 KiB
Markdown
29 lines
2 KiB
Markdown
+++
|
||
title = "2 Chronicles 18:1–8"
|
||
date = "2025-02-07"
|
||
+++
|
||
|
||
### [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.
|