2 Chronicles 18:11

And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver [it] into the hand of the king.

And all the prophets {H5030} prophesied {H5012} so, saying {H559}, Go up {H5927} to Ramothgilead {H7433}{H1568}, and prosper {H6743}: for the LORD {H3068} shall deliver {H5414} it into the hand {H3027} of the king {H4428}.

All the prophets prophesied the same thing: "Go up and attack Ramot-Gil'ad. You will succeed, because ADONAI will hand it over to the king."

And all the prophets were prophesying the same, saying, โ€œGo up to Ramoth-gilead and prosper, for the LORD will deliver it into the hand of the king.โ€

And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper; for Jehovah will deliver it into the hand of the king.

Commentary

This verse from 2 Chronicles 18:11 captures a pivotal moment in the alliance between King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah, highlighting the pervasive nature of false prophecy in Ahab's court.

Context

The scene described in 2 Chronicles 18 unfolds as King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah prepare to wage war against the Syrians to reclaim Ramoth-Gilead. Jehoshaphat, a righteous king, wisely requests that Ahab first inquire of the LORD. In response, Ahab gathers 400 of his prophets, who collectively and uniformly declare a favorable outcome for the battle. This verse specifically records their unanimous, flattering, and ultimately deceptive message: "Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver [it] into the hand of the king." This chorus of agreement sets the stage for the stark contrast presented by Micaiah, the lone true prophet, whose message would contradict the prevailing optimistic (but false) narrative.

Key Themes

  • False Prophecy and Deception: The verse powerfully illustrates the danger of listening to a multitude of voices that tell you what you want to hear, rather than the unvarnished truth. These prophets were either self-deceived or intentionally misleading Ahab, possibly fearing his wrath if they delivered an unfavorable message.
  • Flattery vs. Truth: The prophets' message was designed to please King Ahab, promising success and victory. This highlights the human tendency to prefer comforting lies over challenging truths, especially for those in positions of power.
  • Unanimity Does Not Equal Truth: The fact that "all the prophets prophesied so" underscores that widespread agreement does not validate a message if it is not rooted in divine truth. The consensus was a dangerous delusion.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "prophesied" is nava (ื ึธื‘ึธื), which simply means "to speak by inspiration." In this context, it is a false or self-generated inspiration, not divine. The word "prosper" is tsalach (ืฆึธืœึทื—), meaning to succeed, advance, or be profitable. The false prophets confidently used this term to guarantee Ahab's success, a promise that would prove tragically untrue.

Practical Application

This passage serves as a timeless warning about the importance of spiritual discernment. In an age of abundant information and diverse opinions, believers are called to:

  • Discern Voices: Not every voice claiming authority or divine inspiration is trustworthy. We must test what is said against the unchanging Word of God (1 John 4:1).
  • Seek Truth Over Comfort: It is tempting to surround ourselves with those who affirm our desires, but true wisdom often comes from those who speak God's challenging truth, even when it's unpopular.
  • Value God's Word: The ultimate standard for truth is the Bible itself. Personal opinions, popular trends, or even charismatic speakers should always be weighed against the clear teachings of Scripture.
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

  • Proverbs 24:24 (2 votes)

    He that saith unto the wicked, Thou [art] righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:

  • Proverbs 24:25 (2 votes)

    But to them that rebuke [him] shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

  • 2 Peter 2:1 (2 votes)

    ยถ But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

  • 2 Peter 2:3 (2 votes)

    ยถ And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

  • Revelation 19:20 (2 votes)

    And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

  • Micah 3:5 (2 votes)

    Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.

  • Revelation 16:13 (2 votes)

    And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs [come] out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.