2 Chronicles 18:22

Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee.

Now therefore, behold, the LORD {H3068} hath put {H5414} a lying {H8267} spirit {H7307} in the mouth {H6310} of these thy prophets {H5030}, and the LORD {H3068} hath spoken {H1696} evil {H7451} against thee.

So now ADONAI has put a deceiving spirit in the mouths of these prophets of yours; meanwhile, ADONAI has ordained disaster for you."

So you see, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of these prophets of yours, and the LORD has pronounced disaster against you.โ€

Now therefore, behold, Jehovah hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets; and Jehovah hath spoken evil concerning thee.

Commentary

Context

This powerful verse is spoken by the prophet Micaiah to King Ahab of Israel, in the presence of King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Ahab was seeking prophetic counsel regarding whether to go to war against Ramoth-gilead. Earlier, four hundred of Ahab's prophets had unanimously declared victory, flattering the king with promises of success. However, Jehoshaphat, discerning their lack of divine authenticity, requested a true prophet of the LORD. Micaiah, known for speaking uncomfortable truths, was reluctantly summoned. After initially giving a sarcastic affirmation of the other prophets' words, Micaiah, under pressure, revealed the true vision from God: a heavenly council where a "lying spirit" volunteered to deceive Ahab's prophets so that Ahab would go to his doom at Ramoth-gilead. This verse, 2 Chronicles 18:22, is Micaiah's direct explanation of the divine permission behind the false prophecies, culminating in the declaration of God's impending judgment against Ahab. A parallel account can be found in 1 Kings 22:23.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty in Judgment: This verse profoundly illustrates God's ultimate control, even over forces of deception. While God is not the author of evil, He can permit or orchestrate circumstances, including the actions of a "lying spirit," to bring about His righteous judgment on those who reject His truth. It underscores that even the plans of wicked spirits are subject to God's overarching will.
  • The Danger of False Prophets: The 400 prophets represent those who speak what people want to hear, rather than God's challenging truth. Their lies, though divinely permitted for a specific judgment, highlight the peril of seeking counsel that merely affirms one's desires rather than guiding to righteousness.
  • Consequences of Rejecting Truth: Ahab's persistent rejection of God's genuine prophets and his preference for flattering lies ultimately led to his downfall, as prophesied by Micaiah. The "evil" spoken against him refers to the disaster and defeat that awaited him.
  • God's Unwavering Justice: Despite the appearance of deception, the underlying theme is God's justice being executed. Ahab's long history of idolatry and wickedness (e.g., the incident with Naboth's vineyard, 1 Kings 21:19) made him ripe for divine judgment, which was brought about through this prophetic deception.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "lying spirit" (Hebrew: ืจื•ึผื—ึท ืฉึถืืงึถืจ, *ruach sheqer*) refers to a spirit of falsehood or deceit. It's crucial to understand that God does not *create* evil or *lie* Himself. Rather, He permits or sends (in the sense of dispatching or allowing) a spirit already inclined to falsehood to achieve His sovereign purposes of judgment. This concept highlights God's ultimate control over all spiritual forces, even those that are malevolent, to accomplish His righteous will.

The word "evil" (Hebrew: ืจึธืข, *ra'*) in "the LORD hath spoken evil against thee" refers to calamity, disaster, or misfortune, not moral wickedness. It signifies the decreed judgment or punishment that God has determined for Ahab, a consequence of his persistent disobedience and rejection of God's ways.

Practical Application

This passage serves as a powerful reminder for believers today to exercise discernment in spiritual matters. We must be cautious of voices, whether from within or without, that only affirm our desires or tell us what we want to hear, especially if those messages contradict established biblical truth. True wisdom often comes from uncomfortable truths that challenge us to align with God's will. The story of Ahab and Micaiah encourages us to seek God's unvarnished truth, even when it's difficult, and to remember that God remains sovereign over all circumstances, even in the midst of deception, ultimately bringing His purposes to pass.

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

  • Ezekiel 14:9 (4 votes)

    And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.

  • Isaiah 19:14 (4 votes)

    The LORD hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken [man] staggereth in his vomit.

  • Job 12:16 (3 votes)

    With him [is] strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver [are] his.

  • 2 Chronicles 25:18 (2 votes)

    And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that [was] in Lebanon sent to the cedar that [was] in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that [was] in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.

  • Mark 14:20 (2 votes)

    And he answered and said unto them, [It is] one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish.

  • Mark 14:21 (2 votes)

    The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.

  • Micah 2:3 (2 votes)

    Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye go haughtily: for this time [is] evil.