ſeven thouſand and ſeven hundred he-goats. ; Who had been SubjeQs to this Kingdom ever ſince David's Time, but, ir ſeems, had neglected this Duty in the Times of his Predeceffors, bur now were moved by their own Fears to perform it. k Either becauſe he had upon ſome juſt occaſion waged War againft thers, and ſubdued them ; though the Particulars of it be notdeſcribed in Scripture : Or, becauſe, they voluncarily put them- ſelves under his Protection, in Recompence whereof they ſent him thoſe Preſents: Or, only as a free Acknowledgment of their Reſpects to him. . 12 And Jehoſhaphat waxed great exceedingly ; and he built in Judah || caſtles and cities of ſtore.
13 And he tad much buſineſs in the cities of Judah 7: and the men of war, mighty men of valour ere 1n Jeruſalem. IPartly to repairand fortifie them, and furniſh them with al] aeceffary Proviſions: and partly to purge our all the Relicks and Secds of Idolatry and Injuſtice, which were more ſecretly and ſubrilly managed in the Cities than in the Countrey, and which were firſt and moſt in the Cities, and thence ſpread their Infe&ion into the Countrey about them. See Jer. 2. 28.
14 And theſe are the number of them according to the houſe of their fathers. Of Judah the captains of thouſands. Adnahthe chief, and with him mighty mer of valour, three hundred thouſand.
E--- i5 And fnext to him m was Jehohanan the captain,
Heb: #: and with himtwo hundred and fourfcore thouſand. bu hand. m Either 3. After his death, as his Succeſſor in the ſame Com-
mand. And the like is ſuppoſed concerning Jehozabad, v.18. Or, rather 2. Next to him in placeand Authority ; or, at leaſt, in Pow- er and the Numbers of his Hoſt. S IN
16 And next him, as Amaſiah the ſon of Zichri, who willingly offered himſelf» unco the LORD,and with him two hundred thouſand mighty zen of valour.
» As Voluntiers and Auxiliaries, to be ready upon Occaſion. as the Service of God and the King ſhould require. Poſſibly theſe or moſt of them were the Strangers which had come out of [74:1 into the Kingdom of Jadab in 42's days, and probably fince that in his Time. |
17 Andof Benjamin, Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him armed men wich bow and ſhield,” two hundred thouſand.
18 And next him was Jehozabad, and with him an hundred and fourſcore thouſand, ready prepared for
the war. ' 19 Theſe waited on the king o, beſides thoſe whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah.
o Theſe above-mentioned were the Trained Bands or Auxiharies : whoſe chief Officers waited upon the King toreceive his Commands, and to raiſe, and bring in all, or part of their Forces, to the ſervice of the King and Kingdom, as need required. |
I! G1, -
Dalaccs.
©S H AP. XVEIEL.
Gehoſhaphat joined m affinity with Ahab, is perſwaded to go with him againft Ramoth gilead, 1 3, Ahab, ſeduced by falſe prophets, according to the word of M:cajah, u ſtain chere, 4 34»
Ow Jehoſhaphat had riches and honour in abun-
dance, and joined affinity with Ahab #.
a For Joram his eldeſt Son married Athaliah, Ababs Daughter, ><. 21. 6. 2 Kings 8. 18, This Chapter is for ſubſtance the ſame with 1 Kings 22. where it is explained.
2 * And Þ after ceriain years he went down to Ahab
* rKings to Samaria : and Ahab killed ſheep and oxen for him in + Hb abundance, and for the people that he bad with him, \ + the ex and perfwaded | him to go up with him to Ramoth- of years. gilead. t. Heb. 3 And Ahab king of Iſrael ſaid unto Jehoſhaphat king _ of Judah, Wilt thou go: with me to Ramoth-gilead ? r. lived : BG And he anſwered him, I amas thou art, and my people C-mpare as thy people, and we will be with thee in the war. Mat:zo;21, 4 AndJehoſbaphat ſaid untothe king of Ifrael, Inquire, T pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.
5 Therefore the king of Iſrael gathered together of
Prophets, four hundred men, and ſaid unto them, Shall
N I CL & %
we g0 to Ramoth-gilead to batte}, or ſhall I forbear ?
And they ſaid, Go up, for God will deliver ir into the
kings hand.
6 Bur Jehoſhaphat ſaid, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD + beſides, that we might enquire of him ?
7 And the king of Ifrae! ſaid unto Jehoſhaphar, f Heb.;z There js yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the © 4 ; LORD : but I hate him, for he never propheſieth good unto me, bur always evil: the fame js Micajah the ſon of Jimla, and Jehoſhaphart ſaid, Let not the king ſay ſo.
8 And the king of Ifraelcalled for one of his || offi | and ſaid, f Fetch quickly Micajah the fr —_— *1 Or,
9 And the king of Iſrael, and Jzholhaphar king of vi Judah, fat either of chem on his throne, clothed in heir haſten, robes, and they fat in a || void place, at the entring in | of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets prophelied before them.
Io And Zedekiah the ſon of Chenaanah hath made him horns of icon, and ſaid, Thus faith the LORD With theſe thou ſhalt puſh Syria, ſumed. THeb. thy
ir And all the prophets propheſfied ſo, ſaying, Go ;;;”"* up toRamoth-gilead, and proſper : for the TORD ſhall © deliver zt into the hand of the king. |
12 And the meſſenger that went to call Micajah, ſpake to him, ſaying, Behold the words of the prophets declare good ro the king || with one aſſent : let thy word cherefore, I pray thee, belike one of theirs, and ſpeak thou good. |
13 And Micajah ſaid, As the LORD liveth, even what my God faith that will I ſpeak. :
14 And when he was come to the king, the king ſaid unto him, Micajah, ſhall we go coRamoth-gilead to batrel, or ſhall I forbear ? And he ſaid, Goye up and proſper, and they ſhall be delivered into your hand.
15 And the king faid to him, How many times ſhall I adjure thee, that thou ſay nothing but the truth to me, in the Name of the LORD ?
16 Then he ſaid, I did ſee all Ifrael ſcattered upon the mountains, as ſheep that have no ſhepherd, and the LORD ſaid, Theſe have no maſter, let them return therefore, every man to his houſe in peace.
17 (And the king of Iſrael faidto Jehoſhaphat, Did I not tell thee, that he would not prophecy good unto me, || but evil ? ) : 18 Again he faid, Therefore hear the word of LORD: Ifaw the LORD ſitting upon his throne = all the hoſt of heaven ſtanding on his right hand, and on his left, .
19 And the LORD faid, Who ſhall entice Ahab king of Iſrael that he may go up and fall ar Ramoch- gilead ? and one ſpake, ſaying after this manner, and — ſaying after' that manner» :