2 Chronicles 18:24

And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.

And Micaiah {H4321} said {H559}, Behold, thou shalt see {H7200} on that day {H3117} when thou shalt go {H935} into an inner {H2315} chamber {H2315} to hide {H2244} thyself.

Mikhay'hu said, "You'll find out the day you go into an inside room, trying to hide."

Micaiah replied, “You will soon see, on that day when you go and hide in an inner room.”

And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.

Commentary

2 Chronicles 18:24 recounts a dramatic confrontation between a true prophet of God, Micaiah, and a false prophet, Zedekiah son of Chenaanah, during a pivotal moment in Israelite history.

Context

This verse is part of a larger narrative detailing King Ahab of Israel's desire to recapture Ramoth-Gilead from the Syrians. Ahab, along with King Jehoshaphat of Judah, consults 400 of Ahab's prophets, who unanimously predict victory. However, Jehoshaphat, seeking a word from the true God, insists on hearing from another prophet. This leads to the summoning of Micaiah, who initially gives a sarcastic positive prophecy before delivering the unpopular, yet truthful, message of defeat and Ahab's death. Zedekiah, a prominent false prophet who had made iron horns symbolizing victory, physically assaults Micaiah, challenging the source of his prophetic authority. This scene is also recorded in the parallel account in 1 Kings 22:24.

Key Themes

  • The Conflict Between Truth and Falsehood: This verse starkly illustrates the clash between genuine divine revelation, spoken by Micaiah, and deceptive, self-serving prophecies, represented by Zedekiah and the 400 prophets. Zedekiah's violent act is a physical manifestation of the spiritual opposition to truth.
  • Persecution of God's Prophets: Micaiah is struck on the cheek, a grave insult and an attempt to discredit and silence him, for daring to speak God's unpopular truth. This highlights a recurring theme throughout biblical history where those who faithfully deliver God's message often face hostility and suffering (see Jeremiah 20:2).
  • The Nature of Spiritual Authority: Zedekiah's arrogant question, "Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?", reveals his false claim to divine inspiration and his inability to recognize the true Spirit at work in Micaiah. This challenges the listener to consider how true spiritual authority is recognized – not by popularity or outward display, but by alignment with God's revealed will and the consequences of prophecy.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "smote Micaiah on the cheek" signifies a public act of contempt and humiliation. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, striking someone on the cheek was a profound insult, intended to shame and demoralize the recipient. It was a demeaning gesture, aiming to strip Micaiah of his dignity and prophetic authority in the eyes of the kings and the assembled people.

Practical Application

This account serves as a powerful reminder for believers today:

  • Discernment is Crucial: We must constantly exercise discernment to distinguish between truth and deception, especially when confronted with popular or comforting messages that contradict God's revealed Word (1 John 4:1).
  • Courage to Speak Truth: Like Micaiah, we are called to speak truth, even when it is unpopular, costly, or brings opposition. The call to faithfulness often involves standing against the tide.
  • Opposition is Expected: Those who genuinely follow God's Spirit and speak His truth should not be surprised when they face ridicule, insult, or even hostility, just as Micaiah did. This is part of the cost of discipleship (Matthew 5:11).

The story of Micaiah and Zedekiah in 2 Chronicles 18:24 underscores the eternal battle between truth and falsehood, urging believers to align themselves with God's Spirit and His unchanging Word.

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

  • Jeremiah 29:21

    Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, of Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and of Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, which prophesy a lie unto you in my name; Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall slay them before your eyes;

  • Jeremiah 29:22

    And of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captivity of Judah which [are] in Babylon, saying, The LORD make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire;

  • Jeremiah 29:32

    Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed: he shall not have a man to dwell among this people; neither shall he behold the good that I will do for my people, saith the LORD; because he hath taught rebellion against the LORD.

  • Isaiah 26:20

    ¶ Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.

  • 1 Kings 20:30

    But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and [there] a wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand of the men [that were] left. And Benhadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber.

  • Jeremiah 28:16

    Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD.

  • Jeremiah 28:17

    So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.
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