📖 1 Kings — Chapter 22 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
1 Kings 22:1 RAnd they continued three years without war between Syria and Israel.
1 Kings 22:2 And it came to pass Rin the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel.
1 Kings 22:3 And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that RRamoth in Gilead is ours, and we be Tstill, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria?
1 Kings 22:4 And he said unto Jehoshaphat, RWilt thou go with me to battle to Ramothgilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.
1 Kings 22:5 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, REnquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.
1 Kings 22:6 Then the king of Israel gathered Rthe prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
1 Kings 22:7 And Jehoshaphat said, RIs there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?
1 Kings 22:8 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is Ryet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
1 Kings 22:9 Then the king of Israel called an RTofficer, and said, Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah.
1 Kings 22:10 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, Rhaving put on their robes, in a Tvoid place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.
1 Kings 22:11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him Rhorns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them.
1 Kings 22:12 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, RGo up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the king’s hand.
1 Kings 22:13 And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, RBehold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good.
1 Kings 22:14 And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, Rwhat the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak.
1 Kings 22:15 So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
1 Kings 22:16 And the king said unto him, How many times Rshall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD?
1 Kings 22:17 And he said, RI saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.
1 Kings 22:18 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, RDid I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?
1 Kings 22:19 And he said, RHear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.
1 Kings 22:20 And the LORD said, Who shall RTpersuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.
1 Kings 22:21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.
1 Kings 22:22 And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be Ra lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.
1 Kings 22:23 Now therefore, Rbehold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.
1 Kings 22:24 But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and Rsmote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?
1 Kings 22:25 And Micaiah said, RBehold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go Tinto an inner chamber to hide thyself.
1 Kings 22:26 And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son;
1 Kings 22:27 And say, Thus saith the king, RPut this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.
1 Kings 22:28 And Micaiah said, RIf thou return at all in peace, the LORD hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you.
1 Kings 22:29 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.
1 Kings 22:30 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, TI will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but Rput thou on thy robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle.
1 Kings 22:31 But the king of Syria commanded his Rthirty and two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel.
1 Kings 22:32 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it is the king of Israel. And Rthey turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out.
1 Kings 22:33 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, Rthat they turned back from pursuing him.
1 Kings 22:34 And a certain man drew a bow RTat a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the Tjoints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am Twounded.
1 Kings 22:35 And the battle Tincreased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and Rdied at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the Tmidst of the chariot.
1 Kings 22:36 And Rthere went a proclamation throughout the host about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his own country.
1 Kings 22:37 So the king died, and Twas brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria.
1 Kings 22:38 And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; Rand the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the word of the LORD which he spake.
1 Kings 22:39 Now Rthe rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
1 Kings 22:40 So Ahab Rslept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.
1 Kings 22:41 And RJehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.
1 Kings 22:42 Jehoshaphat was Rthirty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
1 Kings 22:43 And Rhe walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the LORD: nevertheless the high places were not taken away; for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places.
1 Kings 22:44 And Jehoshaphat Rmade peace with the king of Israel.
1 Kings 22:45 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he shewed, and how he warred, Rare they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
1 Kings 22:46 And Rthe remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land.
1 Kings 22:47 There was then Rno king in Edom: a deputy was king.
1 Kings 22:48 RJehoshaphat Tmade ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber.
1 Kings 22:49 Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not.
1 Kings 22:50 And Jehoshaphat Rslept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.
1 Kings 22:51 Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned Rtwo years over Israel.
1 Kings 22:52 And Rhe did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin:
1 Kings 22:53 For Rhe served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the LORD God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
1 Kings 22:1–28 — Micaiah refuses to flatter the king
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Ahab seeks allies for Ramothgilead, and many prophets predict success. Micaiah commits to speaking what the LORD says and describes Israel scattered without a shepherd. His vision exposes deception surrounding Ahab’s counsel. Ahab imprisons him. The difficult vision must not become permission to lie; its warning is openly given to the king.
Key Truth: Seek truth rather than only voices that agree with you.
Check What You Remember
1. Which king of Judah joined Ahab? (1 Kings 22:2)
Find it in 1 Kings 22:2 (KJV).
2. Which prophet refused to promise only favorable words? (1 Kings 22:14)
Find it in 1 Kings 22:14 (KJV).
3. To what were leaderless Israelites compared? (1 Kings 22:17)
Find it in 1 Kings 22:17 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
1 Kings 22:29–40 — Ahab’s disguise cannot prevent his death
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Ahab enters battle in disguise, but an arrow strikes him between armor joints. He dies that evening, and the army disperses. The washing of his chariot recalls the announced word about his blood. Political planning and disguise have not made God’s warning disappear.
Key Truth: Avoiding the appearance of danger does not replace listening to truth.
Check What You Remember
1. At which place did the kings fight? (1 Kings 22:29)
Find it in 1 Kings 22:29 (KJV).
2. What weapon wounded Ahab? (1 Kings 22:34)
Find it in 1 Kings 22:34 (KJV).
3. Who succeeded Ahab? (1 Kings 22:40)
Find it in 1 Kings 22:40 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
1 Kings 22:41–53 — Two reigns and continuing choices
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Jehoshaphat’s reign is described as doing right while leaving high places, and his shipping venture fails. Jehoram succeeds him in Judah. Ahaziah rules Israel and continues the idolatry of his parents and Jeroboam. The book closes with contrasting choices that prepare the reader for 2 Kings.
Key Truth: Each generation must respond to God rather than merely repeat its inheritance.
Check What You Remember
1. How many years did Jehoshaphat reign? (1 Kings 22:42)
Find it in 1 Kings 22:42 (KJV).
2. Who succeeded him in Judah? (1 Kings 22:50)
Find it in 1 Kings 22:50 (KJV).
3. Which false god did Ahaziah serve? (1 Kings 22:53)
Find it in 1 Kings 22:53 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
2 Timothy 4:3 — This warning describes people choosing teachers according to their own desires.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
Whose correction do you find hardest to hear? Ask God for willingness to receive truth even when it challenges a desired plan.
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. Why does Jehoshaphat ask for another prophet after hearing the group?
2. What principle does Micaiah state before answering the kings?
3. What does the vision of sheep without a shepherd indicate?
4. How does Ahab’s disguise contrast with the way he is wounded?
5. What qualification remains in Jehoshaphat’s favourable assessment?
Notes
Write what you want to remember, questions to explore, or Scriptures to look up later. Your saved notes are private to your account.
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