2 Chronicles 18:26

And say, Thus saith the king, Put this [fellow] in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.

And say {H559}, Thus saith {H559} the king {H4428}, Put {H7760} this fellow in the prison {H1004}{H3608}, and feed {H398} him with bread {H3899} of affliction {H3906} and with water {H4325} of affliction {H3906}, until I return {H7725} in peace {H7965}.

Say, 'The king says to put this man in prison; and feed him only bread and water, and not much of that, until I come back in peace.'"

and tell them that this is what the king says: β€˜Put this man in prison and feed him only bread and water until I return safely.’”

and say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.

Commentary

2 Chronicles 18:26 records King Ahab's furious response to the prophet Micaiah, who dared to speak an unfavorable word from the Lord. This verse is a stark illustration of human resistance to divine truth when it conflicts with personal desires or plans.

Context

This verse is set during a pivotal moment in the reign of King Ahab of Israel, who, alongside King Jehoshaphat of Judah, was preparing to go to war against Ramoth-gilead. Jehoshaphat, a righteous king, insisted they first inquire of the Lord. Ahab gathered 400 of his own prophets, who all prophesied success and victory. However, Jehoshaphat remained unconvinced and pressed for a true prophet of the Lord. Reluctantly, Ahab sent for Micaiah, a prophet he despised because "he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but always evil." True to form, after initially giving a sarcastic positive prophecy, Micaiah delivered a vision directly from God, revealing that the 400 prophets were speaking a lying spirit and that Ahab would surely fall in battle. Enraged by this unwelcome truth, Ahab issued the command found in this verse, ordering Micaiah's imprisonment and severe deprivation.

Key Themes

  • Rejection of Truth: Ahab's command highlights his willful rejection of God's authentic message in favor of flattering falsehoods. This demonstrates a dangerous spiritual blindness and a preference for personal comfort over divine guidance.
  • Persecution of God's Messengers: Micaiah's fate is a classic example of how those who speak God's unvarnished truth often face hostility, imprisonment, and suffering from those in power who dislike the message. This echoes the experiences of many prophets throughout biblical history.
  • Divine Sovereignty: Despite Ahab's attempts to silence Micaiah and defy the prophecy, God's word ultimately prevailed. Ahab's subsequent death in the battle of Ramoth-gilead, as foretold by Micaiah, underscores God's ultimate control over human affairs.
  • The Nature of True Prophecy: Micaiah stands in stark contrast to the 400 false prophets, demonstrating that true prophecy often confronts, rather than confirms, human desires, and carries a cost for the messenger.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "bread of affliction" (Hebrew: lehem lachats) and "water of affliction" (Hebrew: mayim lachats) is significant. The word lachats (ΧœΧ—Χ₯) implies distress, oppression, pressure, or narrowness. It goes beyond mere scarcity; it signifies intentionally imposed hardship and suffering designed to break the spirit or punish. Ahab wasn't just putting Micaiah on rations; he was subjecting him to a diet of severe oppression, hoping to silence or punish him for speaking the truth. The irony of Ahab's statement, "until I return in peace," is profound, as Micaiah had just prophesied that Ahab would *not* return in peace, but would die in battle.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a powerful reminder for believers today:

  • Embrace Uncomfortable Truth: Like Ahab, we can be tempted to surround ourselves with voices that tell us what we want to hear, rather than what we need to hear. This verse encourages us to seek and embrace God's truth, even when it challenges our assumptions or plans.
  • Discernment is Crucial: The contrast between Micaiah and the 400 false prophets highlights the ongoing need for spiritual discernment to test all prophecies and teachings.
  • The Cost of Faithfulness: For those called to speak God's truth, there may be a cost, just as there was for Micaiah. This verse encourages faithfulness and courage in declaring God's word, regardless of the consequences.
  • God's Word Prevails: Ultimately, no human power can thwart God's sovereign plan or silence His truth. Ahab's fate demonstrates that God's word, though challenged, will always come to pass.
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 β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 16:10

    Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for [he was] in a rage with him because of this [thing]. And Asa oppressed [some] of the people the same time.

  • Psalms 10:5

    His ways are always grievous; thy judgments [are] far above out of his sight: [as for] all his enemies, he puffeth at them.

  • Jeremiah 20:2

    Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that [were] in the high gate of Benjamin, which [was] by the house of the LORD.

  • Jeremiah 20:3

    And it came to pass on the morrow, that Pashur brought forth Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then said Jeremiah unto him, The LORD hath not called thy name Pashur, but Magormissabib.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:23

    Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I [am] more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

  • Psalms 102:9

    For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,

  • Luke 3:19

    But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,
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