And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, 'There is one more man, Micaiah son of Imlah, who we could ask to hear from the LORD. But I hate him because he never prophesies good things about me, only bad things.' Jehoshaphat replied, 'Don't say that about him.'
King Ahab admits he hates the prophet Micaiah because Micaiah always brings him bad news from God instead of telling him what he wants to hear.
📚 Historical Context
During the divided kingdom period of ancient Israel, King Ahab ruled over the northern kingdom and was known for his idolatry and poor decisions, while King Jehoshaphat ruled the southern kingdom of Judah and sought to follow God more faithfully. As they discussed a military alliance against the Arameans, Ahab consulted prophets but expressed disdain for Micaiah, a true prophet who consistently delivered God's honest and often unfavorable messages rather than flattery. This reflects the broader biblical tension between kings who wanted affirming words and prophets who spoke divine truth.
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