2 Chronicles 18:25

Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;

Then the king {H4428} of Israel {H3478} said {H559}, Take {H3947} ye Micaiah {H4321}, and carry him back {H7725} to Amon {H526} the governor {H8269} of the city {H5892}, and to Joash {H3101} the king's {H4428} son {H1121};

The king of Isra'el said, "Seize Mikhay'hu, and take him back to Amon the governor of the city and Yo'ash the king's son.

And the king of Israel declared, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son,

And the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son;

Commentary

2 Chronicles 18:25 records King Ahab of Israel's immediate and angry response to the prophet Micaiah, who had just delivered an unwelcome but true prophecy concerning Ahab's impending doom in battle.

Context

This verse is part of a crucial confrontation detailed in 2 Chronicles chapter 18 (and parallel in 1 Kings chapter 22). King Ahab of Israel, allied with King Jehoshaphat of Judah, was preparing to go to war against Ramoth-gilead. Before the battle, Jehoshaphat insisted on inquiring of the Lord. Ahab gathered 400 of his own prophets, who all enthusiastically predicted victory. However, Jehoshaphat was skeptical and asked if there was another prophet of the Lord. Reluctantly, Ahab mentioned Micaiah, whom he despised because, as Ahab stated, "he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but always evil" (2 Chronicles 18:7).

When Micaiah finally arrived, he delivered a stark warning: Israel would be "scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd" (2 Chronicles 18:16), indicating Ahab's death. Furthermore, Micaiah revealed a divine vision where a deceiving spirit was sent to entice Ahab's 400 false prophets into speaking falsehoods, leading Ahab to his downfall. This direct and unflattering truth infuriated King Ahab, leading to the command in verse 25.

Key Themes

  • Rejection of Truth: Ahab's command exemplifies his refusal to accept divine truth when it contradicts his desires. He preferred the comfortable lies of his 400 prophets over the hard truth from God's messenger.
  • Persecution of Prophets: Micaiah's immediate arrest and imprisonment demonstrate the common fate of true prophets who dared to speak God's unvarnished word to powerful, unrepentant leaders.
  • The Courage of a True Prophet: Micaiah stood firm in his prophetic duty, knowing the personal cost. His courage in the face of royal wrath serves as a powerful example of faithfulness.
  • Divine Sovereignty: Even Ahab's act of imprisonment, though seemingly a punishment, played into God's sovereign plan to bring about Ahab's judgment, as Micaiah's warning would be vindicated shortly (2 Chronicles 18:34).

Linguistic Insights

The KJV text of this verse is straightforward, directly conveying Ahab's command. The Hebrew for "Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back" (קְחוּ אֶת־מִיכָיְהוּ וַהֲשִׁיבֻהוּ) emphasizes the immediate and forceful nature of the king's order, a clear act of judicial punishment for what Ahab perceived as insubordination and negative prophecy.

Practical Application

This verse offers timeless lessons for believers today:

  1. Courage in Speaking Truth: Like Micaiah, we are called to speak truth, even when it is unpopular or comes at a personal cost. This applies to confronting sin, upholding biblical principles, and sharing the Gospel.
  2. Discerning Falsehood: The narrative highlights the importance of discerning between true and false teaching. Not every message that sounds positive or popular is from God. We must test all things against God's revealed Word (1 John 4:1).
  3. God's Unchanging Word: Despite rejection and persecution, God's word ultimately prevails. Ahab's attempt to silence Micaiah did not prevent the prophecy from coming to pass, reminding us that God's plans cannot be thwarted.
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 18:8

    And the king of Israel called for one [of his] officers, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.

  • Jeremiah 38:6

    Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that [was] in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon [there was] no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.

  • Jeremiah 38:7

    Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin;

  • 2 Chronicles 34:8

    ¶ Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land, and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God.

  • Jeremiah 37:15

    Wherefore the princes were wroth with Jeremiah, and smote him, and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe: for they had made that the prison.

  • Jeremiah 37:21

    Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah into the court of the prison, and that they should give him daily a piece of bread out of the bakers' street, until all the bread in the city were spent. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.

  • Acts 24:25

    And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
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