2 Chronicles 18:5

Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver [it] into the king's hand.

Therefore the king {H4428} of Israel {H3478} gathered together {H6908} of prophets {H5030} four {H702} hundred {H3967} men {H376}, and said {H559} unto them, Shall we go {H3212} to Ramothgilead {H7433}{H1568} to battle {H4421}, or shall I forbear {H2308}? And they said {H559}, Go up {H5927}; for God {H430} will deliver {H5414} it into the king's {H4428} hand {H3027}.

So the king of Isra'el assembled the prophets, 400 men. "Should we attack Ramot-Gil'ad?" he asked them, "Or should I hold off?" They said, "Attack. God will hand it over to the king."

So the king of Israel assembled the prophets, four hundred men, and asked them, “Should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should we refrain?” “Go up,” they replied, “and God will deliver it into the hand of the king.”

Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the hand of the king.

Commentary

2 Chronicles 18:5 presents a pivotal moment in the reign of King Ahab of Israel, where he consults a large assembly of prophets regarding an impending military campaign. This verse highlights the immediate, seemingly unanimous counsel he receives, which proves to be dangerously deceptive.

Context

This verse is set against the backdrop of an unusual alliance between two Israelite kingdoms: King Ahab of Israel (the Northern Kingdom), known for his wickedness and idolatry, and King Jehoshaphat of Judah (the Southern Kingdom), who generally sought the Lord. The two kings had formed a bond, and Ahab persuaded Jehoshaphat to join him in a military expedition to reclaim Ramoth-gilead from the Arameans (Syrians), a strategic city on the eastern border that had been contested for years. You can read about the formation of this alliance in 2 Chronicles 18:1-3.

Before engaging in battle, Jehoshaphat, being a more righteous king, insisted that they first inquire of the Lord. In response, Ahab gathered these 400 "prophets." It's crucial to understand that these were likely not true prophets of Yahweh, but rather court prophets who told the king what he wanted to hear, or perhaps even prophets of Baal or Asherah, whose worship Ahab had widely promoted in Israel (1 Kings 16:30-33). Their unanimous declaration—"Go up; for God will deliver [it] into the king's hand"—was a direct affirmation of Ahab's desires, designed to please him.

Key Themes

  • The Allure of False Prophecy: The verse vividly portrays the danger of seeking counsel that confirms one's own desires rather than seeking the truth. The 400 prophets offered a comforting, politically expedient message, even if it was ultimately false.
  • Spiritual Discernment: Jehoshaphat's subsequent unease (implied by his request in the following verse for "a prophet of the LORD besides") underscores the critical need for spiritual discernment when receiving guidance, especially when it is overwhelmingly positive or aligns too perfectly with personal ambition.
  • Divine Sovereignty and Judgment: While these prophets were false, later in the chapter, the true prophet Micaiah reveals that a deceiving spirit was sent by God to entice Ahab to his doom (2 Chronicles 18:18-22). This highlights how God can use even deception as an instrument of judgment against those who persist in wickedness.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "prophets" is nevi'im (נְבִיאִים), which simply means "spokesmen" or "those who speak." The critical distinction, which Jehoshaphat implicitly recognizes, is whether they are speaking on behalf of the Lord (Yahweh) or another deity, or simply speaking out of their own minds or for personal gain. These 400 were not speaking for the true God, despite their claim that "God will deliver it."

Practical Application

This passage serves as a timeless warning for leaders and individuals alike. It emphasizes the importance of:

  • Seeking Truth Over Comfort: Be wary of counsel that always affirms your preconceived notions or desires. True wisdom often comes from those who are willing to challenge your assumptions.
  • Discernment in Counsel: Not all advice, even if presented with spiritual language, is from God. Test the spirits (1 John 4:1) and compare counsel with God's revealed Word.
  • The Consequences of Rejecting Truth: Ahab's preference for flattery over genuine prophetic insight ultimately led to his downfall. This underscores the serious consequences of ignoring God's true messengers in favor of convenient lies.
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 18:20 (2 votes)

    Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith?

  • 2 Chronicles 18:21 (2 votes)

    And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And [the LORD] said, Thou shalt entice [him], and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do [even] so.

  • Jeremiah 28:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, [and] in the fifth month, [that] Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which [was] of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,

  • Jeremiah 28:17 (2 votes)

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

  • 2 Kings 3:13 (2 votes)

    And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab.

  • Jeremiah 42:20 (2 votes)

    For ye dissembled in your hearts, when ye sent me unto the LORD your God, saying, Pray for us unto the LORD our God; and according unto all that the LORD our God shall say, so declare unto us, and we will do [it].

  • 1 Kings 18:19 (2 votes)

    Now therefore send, [and] gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.