The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 535

"it" is supplied. Is it Ramoth-Gilead or something else that is to be delivered into the hand of the king (of Israel) ? or is it the king of Israel or somethin" else to be delivered into the baud of the king (of Syria)? What kind of prophecy is°this? (3) The utterance of these prophets resembles those of the heathen oracles, the following appropriat.e samples of which are given by A. Clarke : " The Delphia oracle spoke thus of Crresus, which he understood to his own destruction: 'Crreaua, Halym penetrans, m,agnam subvertet opum vim;' which is to say,' If you march against Cyrus, he will overthrow you,' or 'you will overthrow him.' He trusted in the latter, the former took place. He was deluded, yet the oracle maintained its credit. So in the following: 'Aio te, .lEacida, Romanoa vincere posse. Ibis redibis nunquam in bello peribis.' Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, understood by this that he should conquer the Romans, against whom he was making war ; but the oracle could be thus translated: ' The Romans shall overcome thee.' He trusted in the former, made unsuccessful war, and was overcome ; and yet the juggling priest saved his credit. The latter line is capable of two opposite meanings : ' Thou shalt go, thou shalt retru·n, thou shalt never perish in war,' or, 'Thou shaU go, thou shalt 11ever return, thou shalt perish in war.''' 2. But he repeats those words with significant expression. (1) The bare repetition, with proper emphasis, of the equi- vocal words of the false prophets would be a fine stroke of irony. But when to emphasis were added tone, gesture, play of feature, the irony would become ve1-y keen. (2) This sarcasm of Micaiah is worthy to compare with that of Elijah (see eh. xviii. 27). "Go and prosper." This assurance of thy prophets is vague enough to encourage the confidence of a simpleton I 3. God uses terrible rhetoric in His wrath. (1) Irony and sarcasm are fitting weapons to be wielded against those who have neither conscience nor reason (see Prov. xxvi. 3-5). Ahab was a man of this class. Witness the logic of his hatred (ver. 8). He felt the sting (ver. 16). (2) These weapons are formidable in the bands of the Almighty (see Psa. ii. 4, 5; xxx:vii. 13; Prov. i. 24-32; Eccles. xi. 9; Mai. ii. 17 andili.1; Rom. ii. 1-9). II. TH.<lT IT COMPARES FAVOUIUBLY WITH THAT OF HIS COMPETITORS, 1. It, burden is the reverse of equivocal. (1) There is in sacred prophecy a double sense, but the sound is certain. It is not a dubiousness but a manifoldness of meaning, a development, an evolution, such as we find in a seed that opens first into the blade, then into the ear, and eventually into the full corn in the ear. (2) This prophecy of Micaiah gave a distinct answer to the question of Ahab (ver. 13). The advice was to forbear. These "sheep." The sheep is not a creature fitted for battle. They have "no shepherd." Their king, deserted by the Spirit of God, has not the qualities of a shepherd. Therefore "Let them return every man to hie house in pe!Lce." (3) But the advice contains a prophecy. It is to this effect: their king who ought to be their shepherd, shall fall at Ro.moth-Gilead, and his people shall be like sheep, "scattered upon the mountains" by the power of the enemy (compare Zeeb. xiii 7). 2. The vision ahows that all worlds are under Divine control. (1) " I saw the Lord sitting on his throne." Here was a comparison with the scene before him, described ver. 10. Allah and Jehoshaphat are enthroned as kings on the earth; but there is a King in the heavens immeasurably above them; (2) '' And all the host of heaven standing by him on the right hand and on the left." The host of heaven stood while J ebovah sat. They awaited His co=ands. Those on His "ri"'ht band" probably to render services of benevolence; those on His "left," 0 services of judgrrumt. (3) Then comes in another kind of agency (vers. 20-23). This scene is analogous to that described in the Book of Job (see Job i. 6; ii. 7). Things in heaven, things in earth, things under the earth, all serve the purposes of Divine Providence (see Job xii. 16; 2 Thess. ii. 11, 12; Rev. xx. 7, 8). (4) The way- wardness of Ahab showed how fully he was under the control of the spirit of false- hood. This is seen in his senseless resentment against Micaiah. Turning to Jehoshaphat, he said, " Dicl I not tell thee th!Lt he would prophesy no good con- cerning me, but evil? '' as if Micaiah'e own utterances could control the providence of God. Then turning to his officers he had Micaiah marched back to the prison where Ahab knew be could find him (cf. ver. 8 with vere. 26, 27). Let us give due heed to the more sure word of prophecy.-J. A. M. on. xxn. 1- -68.] THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 651