1 Kings 22:12

And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver [it] into the king's hand.

And all the prophets {H5030} prophesied {H5012} so, saying {H559}, Go up {H5927} to Ramothgilead {H7433}{H1568}, and prosper {H6743}: for the LORD {H3068} shall deliver {H5414} it into the king's {H4428} hand {H3027}.

All the prophets prophesied the same thing: "Go up and attack Ramot-Gil'ad. You will succeed, for ADONAI will hand it over to the king."

And all the prophets were prophesying the same, saying, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and prosper, for the LORD will deliver it into the hand of the king.”

And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper; for Jehovah will deliver it into the hand of the king.

Commentary

1 Kings 22:12 presents a pivotal moment in the reign of King Ahab of Israel, showcasing the danger of false prophecy and the allure of convenient truths. This verse captures the unanimous affirmation of 400 prophets, who, eager to please Ahab and align with his military ambitions, declare success in the planned campaign against Ramoth-gilead.

Context

King Ahab, allied with King Jehoshaphat of Judah, desired to reclaim the city of Ramoth-gilead from the Syrians. Before embarking on war, Jehoshaphat wisely insisted on consulting a prophet of the LORD. Ahab gathered his own prophets, a large group who, in this verse, collectively and emphatically predicted victory. Their message, "Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver [it] into the king's hand," perfectly echoed Ahab's desires and plans. This scene sets the stage for the dramatic confrontation with the true prophet, Micaiah, who would later deliver God's actual, far less palatable, message (1 Kings 22:17).

Key Themes

  • False Prophecy and Deception: The verse powerfully illustrates how a large group of prophets can be unified in error, speaking what is popular or what the leader wants to hear, rather than God's truth. These prophets claimed divine authority ("the LORD shall deliver"), but their words were not from God. This highlights the ever-present challenge of discerning true spiritual messages.
  • Human Desire vs. Divine Will: Ahab's desire for military success at Ramoth-gilead clearly influenced the prophecies. The prophets acted as echo chambers for the king's ambitions, rather than as conduits for God's independent will.
  • The Peril of Uncritical Affirmation: The overwhelming consensus of the 400 prophets made their message seem credible, yet it was fundamentally misleading. This serves as a warning against accepting popular opinion or agreeable messages without critical spiritual examination.

Linguistic Insights

The use of "the LORD" (Hebrew: YHWH) by these prophets is significant. It indicates they were not worshipping foreign deities but were presumably prophets of Yahweh, yet they were speaking a lie in His name. This makes their deception even more insidious, as it masqueraded under the guise of divine authority. The phrase "prosper" (Hebrew: tsalach) means to advance, succeed, or be fortunate, reinforcing the positive outlook they presented.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a timeless reminder for believers today:

  • Seek Truth Over Comfort: Be wary of voices, whether religious or secular, that only affirm your existing desires or tell you what you want to hear. True wisdom and spiritual growth often come from messages that challenge or correct.
  • Cultivate Discernment: Develop a strong foundation in God's Word to discern between genuine biblical teaching and misleading doctrines. Just as King Jehoshaphat sought a true prophet, we should seek God's authentic voice through His scripture and prayer.
  • Beware of Groupthink: A large number of people believing something does not automatically make it true. The consensus of the crowd can be profoundly wrong, especially when it contradicts established divine principles.

The story of Ramoth-gilead ultimately demonstrates the tragic consequences of ignoring God's true word in favor of convenient falsehoods, culminating in Ahab's death in battle (1 Kings 22:34).

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 35:22

    Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.

  • 1 Kings 22:6

    Then the king of Israel gathered the 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 22:15

    ¶ 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 22:32

    And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it [is] the king of Israel. And they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out.

  • 1 Kings 22:36

    And there 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.
← Back