1 Kings - Chapter 22

The Amazing Bible. Book Club

This last chapter of 1 Kings ends with the death of king Ahab of Israel. His death was predicted at the end of chapter 21 because in their last battle with Ben-Hadad of Aram, he made a pact with the king instead of killing him, Ben-Hadad promised to give all the cities that used to belong to Israel back, plus Ahab had access to sell trade in Damascus. Since Ahab spared his life, a prophet told Ahab it would be his life for Ben-Hadad's life. In chapter 22 we learned that Ahab and all his sons would be put to death because of what he and Jezebel did in having Naboth killed and taking his vineyard, so Ahab knows it is coming. King Ahab and King of Judah, Jehoshaphat, worked together to take Ramoth Gilead, a border city of Israel and Aram, which obviously Ben-Hadad never gave back to Israel. Israel's prophets told the kings they would succeed, but Jehoshaphat asked if there was a prophet of the Lord that they could ask. He could tell a difference. King Ahab called for Micaiah, which he hated, because this prophet always spoke negatively to Ahab, but they called him anyway. When he came before the kings, he eventually told them the truth, Ahab would die in battle, and the people would scatter to their own homes. Then he added a vision of the Lord sitting on his throne before his hosts, and He asked, "Who will entice Ahab to attack Ramoth Gilead so he will die?" One of them responded, "I'll have his prophets lie to him!" At this, one of Ahab's prophets struck Micaiah who was then taken to prison until the king returned from battle. He cried out as he was taken, "If you ever return safely, the Lord has not spoken through me. Mark my words, all you people!" They went to battle, but Ahab dressed in a disguise, and had Jehoshaphat dressed in his kingly robes. Ben-hadad's men chased Jehoshaphat, but when they realized he was not the King of Israel, they turned the other way. An unnamed bowman, randomly drew his bow, and the arrow struck king Ahab between his armor. He died, and his blood flowed out onto the floor of his chariot, the one he had made a pact with Ben-hadad. Then they cleaned the chariot, so the blood flowed and the dogs licked it up, just like they did for the vineyard owner, Naboth. The Lord kept his word. 1 Kings ends with the new kings of the divided kingdom, Jehoshaphat's son, Jehoram, became king of Judah, and Ahab and Jezebel's son, Ahaziah, became king of Israel, but only for two years because, "He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, because he walked in the ways of his father and mother..."