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.

And when he was come {H935} to the king {H4428}, the king {H4428} said {H559} unto him, Micaiah {H4318}, shall we go {H3212} to Ramothgilead {H7433}{H1568} to battle {H4421}, or shall I forbear {H2308}? And he said {H559}, Go ye up {H5927}, and prosper {H6743}, and they shall be delivered {H5414} into your hand {H3027}.

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, they will be handed over to you."

When Micaiah arrived, the king asked him, โ€œMicaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should we refrain?โ€ โ€œGo up and triumph,โ€ Micaiah replied, โ€œfor they will be given into your hand.โ€

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

Commentary

Context of 2 Chronicles 18:14

This verse is a pivotal moment in the narrative concerning King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah. The two kings had formed an alliance, and Ahab sought to reclaim the city of Ramoth-Gilead from the Syrians. Before going to battle, Jehoshaphat insisted on consulting a prophet of the Lord, despite Ahab's reluctance. Ahab had already gathered 400 of his own prophets, who uniformly prophesied victory and success for the king. However, Jehoshaphat was not satisfied and pressed Ahab to consult a true prophet of the Lord, leading to Micaiah's summons.

When Micaiah is brought before the kings, having been urged by the messenger to speak favorably like the other prophets (2 Chronicles 18:12), King Ahab directly asks him the same question he posed to the 400 false prophets: "Micaiah, shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear?"

Key Themes and Messages

  • Sarcastic Truth-Telling: Micaiah's initial response, "Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand," is deeply ironic and sarcastic. He mimics the flattering, false prophecy given by Ahab's 400 prophets. This is immediately evident to King Ahab, who recognizes the prophet's tone and intent, as revealed in the very next verse (2 Chronicles 18:15). Micaiah uses this feigned agreement to highlight the absurdity and danger of seeking pleasant lies over uncomfortable truth.
  • The Contrast Between False and True Prophecy: This verse starkly contrasts the nature of true divine communication with human-pleasing flattery. The false prophets spoke what the king wanted to hear, but Micaiah, a true prophet, first exposes their deceit by imitation before delivering God's actual, often unwelcome, message. This narrative is also found in the parallel account in 1 Kings 22:15.
  • Divine Sovereignty and Human Stubbornness: Despite clear divine warnings (which follow this verse), King Ahab's determination to pursue his desired outcome leads to his downfall. This highlights the theme that God's will ultimately prevails, even when humans resist the truth.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV rendering "Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand" uses strong, positive language. In Hebrew, the phrase "Go up and prosper" (ืขึฒืœึตื” ื•ึฐื”ึทืฆึฐืœึทื—, 'aleh v'hatzlah) is literally an encouragement to succeed. However, the crucial insight here is not a hidden linguistic nuance but the dramatic context. Micaiah's tone, demeanor, and the king's immediate reaction (demanding him to speak "nothing but the truth") confirm that this was spoken with heavy irony, not genuine blessing. It's a verbal mirroring of the false prophets' words, meant to provoke Ahab into asking for the real message.

Practical Application

Micaiah's ironic prophecy in 2 Chronicles 18:14 serves as a timeless warning about the danger of seeking only comfortable affirmations. It encourages us to:

  • Seek Truth Over Comfort: Be wary of voices, whether personal or spiritual, that always tell you what you want to hear. True guidance from God's Word or faithful servants often challenges, convicts, and calls for difficult choices.
  • Cultivate Discernment: Learn to distinguish between genuine, God-inspired counsel and flattery or human opinion. This requires a deep understanding of Scripture and a reliance on the Holy Spirit's guidance.
  • Embrace Unpopular Truth: Sometimes, God's truth is not popular or convenient, but it is always ultimately for our good. Like Micaiah, we may be called to speak or embrace truths that go against the prevailing current. The consequences of ignoring truth, as seen with Ahab, can be severe.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 22:15

    ยถ 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 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.

  • 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.

  • Lamentations 4:21

    ยถ Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Uz; the cup also shall pass through unto thee: thou shalt be drunken, and shalt make thyself naked.

  • Ecclesiastes 11:1

    ยถ Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.

  • Amos 4:4

    Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, [and] your tithes after three years:

  • Amos 4:5

    And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim [and] publish the free offerings: for this liketh you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.
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