John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 8. And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, there is yet one man (Micaiah the son of Imlah), by whom we may inquire of the Lord , etc.] And but one in Samaria; Elijah and Elisha were elsewhere: but I hate him, for he doth not prophesy of good concerning me, but evil ; who is thought to be the same that was several times with him when engaged in the war with the king of Syria, ( 1 Kings 20:13,22,28,35,38) and each time, excepting the last, he brought him good tidings; but because, in his last message, he told him, that, since he had let Benhadad go, his life should go for his life, and his people for his people, for that he hated him: and Jehoshaphat said, let not the king say so ; which was very modestly, though perhaps too gently, said; suggesting that the prophets of the Lord should be heard, respected, and honoured, let their message be as it would, since they spake not of their own mind and will, but what they were moved unto by the Spirit of God.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-14 - The same easiness of temper, which betrays some godly persons int friendship with the declared enemies of religion, renders it very dangerous to them. They will be drawn to wink at and countenance suc conduct and conversation as they ought to protest against with abhorrence. Whithersoever a good man goes, he ought to take his religion with him, and not be ashamed to own it when he is with thos who have no regard for it. Jehoshaphat had not left behind him, a Jerusalem, his affection and reverence for the word of the Lord, but avowed it, and endeavoured to bring it into Ahab's court. And Ahab' prophets, to please Jehoshaphat, made use of the name of Jehovah: to please Ahab, they said, God up. But the false prophets cannot so mimi the true, but that he who has spiritual senses exercised, can discer the fallacy. One faithful prophet of the Lord was worth them all Wordly men have in all ages been alike absurd in their views of religion. They would have the preacher fit his doctrine to the fashio of the times, and the taste of the hearers, and yet to add. Thus sait the Lord, to words that men would put into their mouths. They are read to cry out against a man as rude and foolish, who scruples thus to tr to secure his own interests, and to deceive others.
Original Hebrew ויאמר559 מלך4428 ישׂראל3478 אל413 יהושׁפט3092 עוד5750 אישׁ376 אחד259 לדרשׁ1875 את853 יהוה3068 מאתו853 ואני589 שׂנאתיו8130 כי3588 לא3808 יתנבא5012 עלי5921 טוב2896 כי3588 אם518 רע7451 מיכיהו4321 בן1121 ימלה3229 ויאמר559 יהושׁפט3092 אל408 יאמר559 המלך4428 כן׃3651
