Micaiah (II)

II. MICAIAH, or Michaia, Son of Imlah, of the Tribe of Ephraim, and a Prophet of the Lord. Once it happened, that Micaiah spoke to one of his Associates, in the Name of the Lord¹; at least it is generally thought that it was Micaiah, though the Scripture does not mention his Name. He ordered him to strike him, and to wound him, which the other refusing to do, Micaiah told him, that as soon as he went away, a Lion should meet him and kill him, which happened accordingly. Micaiah meeting with another, he desired the same Thing of him, which he performed to his Satisfaction. Thus the Prophet being disfigured, and not easy to be known, he threw Dust in his Face, and went to meet King Ahab.

As the King passed by, Micaiah cried out to him, saying, Lord, thy Servant being in the Battle, one put into my Hands a Prisoner of War, and ordered me to keep him, threatning that if I let him go, my Life should pay for him, or that I should pay him a Talent of Silver. And as I was in a Hurry, looking about here and there, the Prisoner on a sudden was gone, and was no where to be found. Then says Ahab to him, Thy own Mouth has pronounced thy Sentence. At which the Prophet wiping the Dust off his Face, and discovering himself to Ahab, he says to the King; Just so says the Lord to thee. Because thou hast let go a Man that was worthy of Death, thy Life shall answer for his Life, and thy People for his People. He spoke of Ben-hadad King of Syria, whom Ahab had suffered to escape when he was in his Power. But the King of Israel had no Regard to what Micaiah had said to him, and returned full of Anger to Samaria.

About three Years after², when Ahab had resolved to make War with Ben-hadad King of Syria, whom he had set at Liberty three Years before, he invited Jehoshaphat King of Judah to partake with him in this Expedition. Jehoshaphat, who happened to be then at Samaria, gave his Consent to it, but he desired that a Prophet of the Lord might be sent for, in Order to consult³him about the Success of this Undertaking. For he would not rely upon the Answers of the Prophets of Baal, who had assured Ahab of a glorious Victory. Then they caused Micaiah the Son of Imlah to come before the Kings, and desired him by the Way, that his Words might be agreeable to the Words of the other Prophets that had been consulted, who all had promised the King good Success. Micaiah answered, that as the Lord lived he would say no other Thing than what the Lord should put into his Mouth. He came then before the Kings, and Ahab having enquired of him, whether they should march against Ramoth-Gilead or no? Micaiah answered, March on and prosper, the Lord shall deliver it into thy Hands. To which the King replied, I adjure thee in the Name of the Lord to answer only according to the Truth. Then Micaiah says to him with a more serious Countenance; I saw all Israel dispersed upon the Mountains, like Sheep that have no Shepherd: And the Lord said, they have no Captain, let every one return in Peace to his own House.

Then says Ahab to King Jehoshaphat, Did not I tell you that this Man would never prophesy any Good to me, but always Evil? And Micaiah added, Hear the Word of the Lord. I saw the Lord upon his Throne, and all the heavenly Host on his Right and on his Left. And the Lord said, Who shall prevail with Ahab King of Israel to march against Ramoth-Gilead, that he may die there? And one answered one Thing, and another another. Then an evil Spirit stept forth and said, I will prevail with Ahab, by putting a Lie into the Mouth of all his Prophets. The Lord said to him, Go, and thou shalt succeed as thou hast said. To which Micaiah added, Now has the Lord put a lying Spirit in the Mouth of all thy Prophets, and has passed Sentence against thee. At the same Time Zedekiah Son of Chenaanah stepped up to Micaiah, and gave him a Blow on the Face, saying, Which Way went the Spirit of the Lord from me to speak unto thee? To whom Micaiah replied, This thou shalt see, when thou shalt pass from Chamber to Chamber to hide thy self. Then Ahab King of Israel says to his People, Take Micaiah and carry him to Amon the Governor of Samaria, and let him be fed with the Bread of Grief, and Water of Affliction1, till I return in Peace. Micaiah answered him, If thou return at all in Peace, the Lord has not spoken by me. Let all the People here present be Witnesses. The Event justified the Prediction of Micaiah; for in the Fight Ahab was shot through by an Arrow, that was shot at Random by a Syrian. After this Time we hear no more what became of Micaiah the Son of Imlah.

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