1 Kings 22:15

KJV

¶ 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.

KJV (with Strong's)

So he came {H935} to the king {H4428}. And the king {H4428} said {H559} unto him, Micaiah {H4321}, shall we go {H3212} against Ramothgilead {H7433}{H1568} to battle {H4421}, or shall we forbear {H2308}? And he answered {H559} him, Go {H5927}, and prosper {H6743}: for the LORD {H3068} shall deliver {H5414} it into the hand {H3027} of the king {H4428}.

Complete Jewish Bible

When he reached the king, the king asked him, "Mikhay'hu, should we go up and attack Ramot-Gil'ad; or should we hold off?" He answered, "Go up, you will succeed, ADONAI will hand it over to the king."

Berean Standard Bible

When Micaiah arrived, the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should we refrain?” “Go up and triumph,” Micaiah replied, “for the LORD will give it into the hand of the king.”

American Standard Version

And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go up and prosper; and Jehovah will deliver it into the hand of the king.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Kings 22:15 introduces the prophet Micaiah's initial, highly ironic response to King Ahab's inquiry about going to battle against Ramoth-gilead. In a scene charged with political pressure and false prophecy, Micaiah mimics the unanimous, yet deceptive, counsel of Ahab's 400 court prophets, sarcastically affirming that the Lord will grant the king success. This seemingly positive declaration, delivered with a knowing tone, serves to expose the king's true motives—not to seek divine guidance, but to receive validation for his predetermined military campaign—and sets the stage for Micaiah to deliver the genuine, albeit grim, word of the Lord.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a crucial turning point within the broader narrative of [1 Kings 22](/1_kings/22 "1 Kings 22 - Ahab's Final Battle"). King Ahab of Israel, allied with King Jehoshaphat of Judah, seeks to reclaim Ramoth-gilead from Aram. Before consulting Micaiah, Ahab has already gathered 400 of his own prophets who, in unison, declare victory ([1 Kings 22:6](/1_kings/22-6 "1 Kings 22:6 - The Four Hundred Prophets' Affirmation")). Jehoshaphat, however, senses the absence of genuine divine authority and insists on seeking a true prophet of the Lord ([1 Kings 22:7](/1_kings/22-7 "1 Kings 22:7 - Jehoshaphat Requests a True Prophet")). Micaiah, notorious for never prophesying favorably concerning Ahab ([1 Kings 22:8](/1_kings/22-8 "1 Kings 22:8 - Ahab's Disdain for Micaiah")), is reluctantly summoned. The messenger sent to retrieve Micaiah even attempts to sway him to align his prophecy with the others ([1 Kings 22:13](/1_kings/22-13 "1 Kings 22:13 - The Messenger's Warning to Micaiah")). It is against this backdrop of overwhelming pressure for a positive outcome that Micaiah delivers his initial, deeply ironic, and deliberately ambiguous response in 1 Kings 22:15.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the mid-9th century BCE, a period of shifting alliances and conflicts between Israel and its Aramean (Syrian) neighbors. Ramoth-gilead was a strategically vital city in Transjordan, frequently contested by Israel and Aram due to its control over trade routes and defensive positions. The custom of consulting prophets, both true and false, was prevalent in the ancient Near East, with kings often maintaining court prophets who would offer counsel, sometimes under duress or for political expediency. The alliance between Ahab and Jehoshaphat was unusual, signaling a temporary rapprochement between the northern and southern kingdoms, likely driven by the common threat from Aram. The presence of 400 prophets in Ahab's court underscores the institutionalization of prophecy and the potential for it to be manipulated to serve royal interests rather than divine truth. Micaiah's solitary stand against this multitude highlights the perilous position of a true prophet who dared to speak God's unvarnished word to power.
* **Key Themes:** 1 Kings 22:15 introduces several profound themes that resonate throughout the chapter and the broader Deuteronomistic History. **Irony and Sarcasm** are immediately evident in Micaiah's opening words, as he deliberately echoes the false prophets' pronouncement, forcing Ahab to confront the hollowness of his own desires for a favorable prophecy. This sets the stage for the theme of **Discerning Truth**, emphasizing the critical need to distinguish between flattery and genuine divine revelation, especially when the latter is uncomfortable. The verse also subtly introduces the **Courage of a True Prophet**, as Micaiah, despite the messenger's warning ([1 Kings 22:13](/1_kings/22-13 "1 Kings 22:13 - The Messenger's Warning to Micaiah")) and Ahab's known animosity ([1 Kings 22:8](/1_kings/22-8 "1 Kings 22:8 - Ahab's Disdain for Micaiah")), prepares to deliver God's unpopular message. Ultimately, it foreshadows the theme of **Divine Sovereignty** over human will and political maneuvering, as God's plan for Ahab's demise will unfold despite the king's attempts to manipulate prophecy.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Prosper (Hebrew, _tsalach'_):** This verb (צָלַח) typically signifies success, prosperity, or making good progress. It is often used in contexts of military victory (e.g., [Judges 14:6](/judges/14-6 "Judges 14:6 - Samson's Spirit-Empowered Victory")) or general well-being. Here, Micaiah's use of "Go, and prosper" is a direct, sarcastic mimicry of the false prophets' pronouncements, stripping the word of its true positive connotation and imbuing it with a sense of impending doom through irony. The word choice itself is not negative, but its delivery and the context make it a vehicle for a biting, critical message.
* **Deliver (Hebrew, _natan_):** The verb (נָתַן) is a very common Hebrew word meaning "to give," "to place," or "to deliver." In this context, "the LORD shall deliver [it] into the hand of the king" would normally imply a transfer of control leading to victory. However, in Micaiah's ironic statement, it foreshadows a "delivery" not of triumph, but of judgment and defeat. The city of Ramoth-gilead will indeed be "delivered" into the king's hand, but only in the sense that it will be the place of his demise, a grim fulfillment of the word through a reversal of its apparent meaning.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"¶ So he came to the king."**: This brief opening clause establishes Micaiah's arrival before Ahab, setting the scene for the prophetic confrontation. It signals the moment of truth, where the king, having heard from his 400 court prophets, now confronts the one prophet he truly fears because Micaiah speaks the unvarnished truth.
* **"And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear?"**: Ahab's question is ostensibly a request for divine counsel, but his prior actions (consulting 400 prophets, his known animosity towards Micaiah) reveal it to be a veiled demand for affirmation. He presents a binary choice: attack or refrain, implicitly seeking a "go" answer to validate his already decided military campaign against Ramoth-gilead. The question is a test, not a genuine inquiry for God's will.
* **"And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver [it] into the hand of the king."**: This is the core of Micaiah's ironic response. He uses the exact language of the false prophets, mimicking their confident, positive pronouncement. The phrase "Go, and prosper" would normally be a blessing, and "the LORD shall deliver [it] into the hand of the king" a promise of victory. However, Micaiah's tone, demeanor, and Ahab's immediate recognition of the sarcasm (as evidenced by his subsequent demand for the "truth" in [1 Kings 22:16](/1_kings/22-16 "1 Kings 22:16 - Ahab Demands the Truth from Micaiah")) reveal that this is a cutting indictment. It's a prophetic taunt, exposing Ahab's self-deception and the superficiality of the other prophets.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in 1 Kings 22:15 is **Irony**, specifically **Verbal Irony** and **Dramatic Irony**. Micaiah's words, "Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver [it] into the hand of the king," are spoken with an apparent meaning (success) that is the opposite of their intended, underlying meaning (disaster). This verbal irony is immediately recognized by Ahab, indicating a shared understanding of the prophet's sarcastic tone. Furthermore, the scene is rich in **Dramatic Irony**, as the reader, having witnessed Ahab's character and Micaiah's reputation, understands the true, grim implications of Micaiah's "positive" prophecy, even before Micaiah explicitly reveals the vision of Israel scattered like sheep without a shepherd ([1 Kings 22:17](/1_kings/22-17 "1 Kings 22:17 - Micaiah's Vision of Defeat")). The prophet's initial response also creates significant **Dramatic Tension**, building anticipation for the true, unpopular word that Micaiah is known for delivering. This calculated ambiguity serves to highlight the stark contrast between genuine divine revelation and the flattering, yet deceptive, counsel of Ahab's false prophets.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Kings 22:15 serves as a profound theological statement on the nature of truth, divine sovereignty, and the perilous path of self-deception. Micaiah's ironic prophecy underscores that God's truth often runs counter to human desires and popular opinion. It highlights the danger of seeking validation for preconceived plans rather than genuinely seeking God's will. The Lord's ultimate control over events, even through the agency of deceptive spirits and the king's own stubbornness, is subtly introduced here, setting the stage for the more explicit revelation of divine judgment that follows. This passage warns against the allure of "smooth words" that promise success without demanding moral or spiritual alignment, emphasizing the critical importance of discerning authentic prophetic voices from those that merely flatter or confirm biases.

* [Deuteronomy 18:20-22](/deuteronomy/18-20 "Distinguishing True and False Prophets")
* [Jeremiah 14:14](/jeremiah/14-14 "False Prophets Speak Lies")
* [Ezekiel 13:3](/ezekiel/13-3 "Woe to Foolish Prophets")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Micaiah's initial, ironic prophecy in 1 Kings 22:15 offers a timeless lesson for believers today: the truth, particularly God's truth, is not always what we want to hear, but it is always what we need to hear. This passage challenges us to cultivate a posture of humility and genuine inquiry when seeking counsel, whether from spiritual leaders, trusted friends, or even our own conscience. It warns against the human tendency to surround ourselves with voices that merely affirm our pre-existing desires or plans, rather than those that might challenge us to a deeper alignment with God's will. Discerning truth requires spiritual sensitivity, a willingness to confront uncomfortable realities, and the courage to act upon God's word even when it leads down a difficult or unpopular path. Like Ahab, we can be tempted to seek validation for our own agenda, but true wisdom lies in seeking God's unvarnished truth, even if it means sacrificing our own comfort or perceived success.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **Am I truly open to God's will, or am I primarily seeking validation for my own plans when I pray or seek counsel?**
* **How do I discern between counsel that is genuinely from God and counsel that merely appeals to my desires or biases?**
* **What "unpopular truths" might God be trying to communicate to me through circumstances, His Word, or wise counsel that I am resisting?**
* **In what areas of my life might I be surrounding myself with "yes-men" rather than those who will speak difficult but necessary truths?**

### FAQ
**Why did Micaiah initially give an ironic answer instead of the direct truth?**

Answer: Micaiah's ironic answer in 1 Kings 22:15 served multiple purposes. Firstly, it was a biting **sarcasm** intended to expose King Ahab's true motives. Ahab wasn't genuinely seeking God's will; he was seeking validation for his predetermined war against Ramoth-gilead, having already received unanimous "yes" prophecies from his 400 court prophets ([1 Kings 22:6](/1_kings/22-6 "The Four Hundred Prophets' Affirmation")). Micaiah's mimicry of their flattering words forced Ahab to confront the hollowness of his own inquiry. Secondly, it created a dramatic moment, compelling Ahab to demand the "truth" ([1 Kings 22:16](/1_kings/22-16 "Ahab Demands the Truth from Micaiah")), thereby ensuring that the subsequent, genuine prophecy could not be dismissed as readily. It highlighted the contrast between the superficiality of the false prophets and Micaiah's commitment to delivering God's authentic, albeit unpopular, message.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Micaiah, standing alone against 400 false prophets and a king bent on self-deception, foreshadows the ultimate Prophet, Jesus Christ, who consistently spoke God's unvarnished truth, even when it was unpopular, challenging, and led to His rejection. Just as Micaiah's ironic "Go, and prosper" exposed the superficiality of Ahab's court and the king's unwillingness to hear the truth, Jesus often used parables and challenging statements to reveal the true motives of His hearers and expose spiritual blindness. He was the one who proclaimed the difficult truths about the cost of discipleship ([Luke 14:27](/luke/14-27 "Carrying the Cross")), the necessity of repentance ([Luke 13:3](/luke/13-3 "Repent or Perish")), and the narrow way to life ([Matthew 7:13-14](/matthew/7-13 "The Narrow Gate")). Unlike the false prophets who promised peace when there was no peace, Christ, the Lamb of God, truly delivered Himself into the hands of humanity, not for worldly prosperity but for the ultimate spiritual victory over sin and death ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "Jesus, the Lamb of God")). His "delivery" was not an ironic demise but a redemptive sacrifice that truly prospered all who believe, ushering in the kingdom of God that the false prophets of old could never genuinely offer ([Hebrews 9:28](/hebrews/9-28 "Christ's Second Coming for Salvation")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Kings 3:13

And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab.

Judges 10:14

Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.

Matthew 26:45

Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take [your] rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Ecclesiastes 11:9

Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these [things] God will bring thee into judgment.

1 Kings 18:27

And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he [is] a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, [or] peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.

2 Chronicles 18:14

And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.