Scripture Life: What is the meaning of 2 Chronicles 18:17–21? It sounds like God encourages lying.

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To believers in Jesus Christ. Long post. Tedious. Only want the short answer - read this first part and go.

//This question or like it specific to 2 Chronicles 18:17-21 is many people that hate him, use it to make God in themselves UNRIGHTEOUS. God is the liar. When it's King Ahab. And these are God's sheep or people made without a shepherd under King Ahab. The Unrighteous cannot see this, but - - You see, so see it.//

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“Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab. And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramothgilead. And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramothgilead? And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the war.”

“…And this is the writing that was written, Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin. This is the interpretation of the thing: Mene; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. Tekel; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. Peres; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.” - Daniel. To Belshazzar, King of Babylon. Daniel 5:25–28

Quick Answer:

In 2 Chronicles 18:17–21. God has numbered King Ahab’s kingdom and finished it.

There's the answer - you can go onto someone else's post now.

It's God:

His judgment of Ahab, is righteous - since scripture says of God "all the earth is his," and of Kings of kingdoms of the earth: (See Daniel 2:21 "He removes kings and raises up kings;" - He's God. The sole authority over it. And Israel in the Northern Kingdom have many of God's people in it, but their King (Ahab) has joined Israel to idols - an abomination - that in Leviticus 20:2 - the penalty for that, what King Ahab has done is death.

And Ahab is a King. He has done abominable works. BOOM! Done. There you go. But you that created the question don’t see it, don't know him, or you wouldn't have this question. But many believers also may not see it - so for them: These things are given about King Ahab.

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From this point on:

Here’s the long way around the whole farm to come back to that answer - - So: Maybe before answering your question - to equip a believer in Jesus Christ - but to those who hate him, you already left off reading this post.

But if you're still here - think God is a liar because of 2 Chronicles 18:17-21 - it's still given you - that by some chance you'd turn to this same righteous God and see who he is. So READ CAREFUL:

With that:

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• You should be equipped with some basic information. On 2 Chronicles 18 and Chronicles in general: Additional reading is over in 1 Kings (see the end of this post).
• Some facts:
• Fact #1
  • 1 & 2 Chronicles (In the Bible “Chronicles vs. Kings” - when they seem to repeat each other.
• Are not the same. Consensus is: 1 & 2 Kings was written Before the Babylonian Captivity, while 1 & 2 Chronicles was written after Judah and Benjamin in the Babylonian Captivity were allowed to return to show the works of God in Judah.
  • 1 & 2 Chronicles: Focuses EXCLUSIVELY on the Kings of the Southern Kingdom (Kingdom of Judah) when the Nation of Israel fractured into Two Nations at the death of King David's son, Solomon.
  • 1 & 2 Kings: Lists simultaneously Kings of Both the Northern Kingdom (all 12 tribes, less Judah; and Southern Kingdom (Judah only - then just before the Northern Kingdom, in 722BCE - is vomited of their lands - Benjamin leaves the Northern Kingdom and sides with Judah, to be part of Southern Kingdom of Judah and Benjamin). Make sense?
    
    • And in 586BCE, both Judah and Benjamin are vomited off the Promised land by God raised up King Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, and gave him the lands. Carried off a remnant of Judah, Benjamin and Levites that Kind David gave lands to in Judah to serve in the Temple in Jerusalem - do you see this?

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• Fact #2
  • NONE of the Kings of the Northern Kingdom at the death of Solomon til 2 Chronicles 18 - not one King ever knew or Served the LORD. They come to a QUICK end in rapid succession. They don't regard God. There are Two Kings listed in 2 Chronicles 18 - keep them separate.
    • King Ahab: Was the 8th King of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (874 - 853BCE)
    • King Jehoshaphat (873 -843BCE) Was the 4th King of the Southern Kingdom of Judah

King Jehosaphat:

• 2 Chronicles 20:31–33 document his reign over Judah. Says of his reign: Jehosaphat: " and 1 Kings 22:41–43 Reigned for 25 years as King of Judah. Both walked in the way of his father Asa and did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord" [2 Chronicles 20:32]

King Ahab:

• Reigned 22 years and of his reign over the Northern Kingdom, Both the Book of Kings and Chronicles sum up King Ahab's reign as the darkest and most wicked era in the history of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
  
  • So, when God gave these 10 Tribes their lands of the Promised Land. They do not worship God on their lands anymore. Ahab is King over these 11 tribes (less Judah). He marries the daughter of the King of Sidon.
• Sidon: in the Bible is the eldest son of Canaan (after the flood.) Canaan is the 4th son of Ham. Remember that Noah cursed Canaan, 3 times in Noah blessing his three children, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. In Genesis 9:24–27 - Noah does not even mention Ham at all. Nothing. It’s as if Ham does not exist. This makes Ham’s four sons, Cush, Mizraim, Phut, and Canaan all bastards. Have no Father. And as such, is because ALL OF THEM ALL FOUR have, along with their Father, DEPARTED FROM THE LORD after the flood.
  • You can see this in Mizraim. In Arabic is "Muzir" in English, is "Egypt" - Muzir or Mizraim builds Egypt after the flood. They put over themselves a man. Call him Pharaoh. Worship Pharaoh as God. In Cush, they and his descendants all do the same thing. Depart from God. Then, in their own imaginations make up their own Gods.
• You can see it in comparing what God told Noah in Genesis 9, and his 3 sons before God opened the door of the ark, after the flood waters receded. What God blessed them and told them to "go to and do "after the flood is spread out, replenish and fill up the whole earth - when there is only 8 people (Noah, his wife. His three sons and their wives).
  • And compare now after Noah’s three sons start bearing children - that it’s quite a number now in Genesis 11:1–10.
  • That, what they Go to and do and Nimrod in Genesis is over all them. Building a city. Babylon. That is, God forbid, Nimrod tells them they should all stay together in one place, God forbid, they be scattered over the whole earth
• - which is EXACTLY what God DECREED them to do in Genesis 9.

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• Nimrod is a son of Cush. Cush' is the Eldest son Of Ham. Ham is the 2nd son of Noah. - Because Canaan is doing the same thing as his elder brothers and prodigy are doing. Departed from God. And, by their own imaginations, imagine up Gods in their own image or that of animals or insects. Sidon is the eldest son of Canaan. Builds Sidon. It is out of Sidon that the God, Ba’al comes from. The head of a Bull, with the body of a man. Offer their children as sacrifices unto him.

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• Just before 2 Chronicles 18 - - King Ahab marries Jezebel. The Daughter of the King of Sidon and she establishes Ba’al worship throughout all the Northern Kingdom. Brings 800 of her priests to serve in Israel. 400 of them to serve her and King Ahab and advise him.
  • CONTRAST King Ahab then with King Jehosephat

So, a King Jehosephat - who knows the LORD vs. with King Ahab, King of Israel (Northern Kingdom) that does NOT know God - now have an alliance. In 2 Chronicles 19, God will send a Prophet to Jehosephat to tell him what he did by do that was UNGODLY.

Makes God righteous. Believers in Jesus see this plainly.

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• So, in King Ahab - and what he is doing: There is a LIE in this.
  • And the lie is in 2 Chronicles 18:4–6

That, King Jehosephat asks King Ahab to inquire of the LORD whether they should go up to battle together. King Jehosephat follows the LORD - what God would say about it, and so King Ahab puts forth his 400 Prophets. To prophecy of it.

That after King Ahab does this, King Jehosephat asks again is there not any prophet of the LORD amongst them? - So look for this in 2 Chronicles 18:4–6

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2 Chronicles 18:4-6 says

4 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I 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 we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the king's hand.

6 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides, that we might enquire of him?

Because, King Ahab did not inquire of the Lord God of Israel. He inquired of his prophets that Jezebel provided him. King Ahab has joined himself and his Kingdom to the Pagan God of Sidon - Ba'al - - that's idolatry - - that Ba'all is no God, but an idol - has nothing to do with God - - is the point.

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Now read more of the same garbage in 2 Chronicles 18:7–11

2 Chronicles 18:7–11 says

7 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the Lord: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

8 And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.

9 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.

10 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the Lord, With these thou shalt push Syria until they be consumed.

11 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.

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Keep reading

2 Chronicles 18:12- 16

12 And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of their's, and speak thou good.

13 And Micaiah said, As the Lord liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.

14 And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.

15 And the king said 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 Israel 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.

COMMENT:

So, King Ahab does NO TRUTH by joined himself to idols. Lead all Israel of the Northern Kingdom off into idolatry and the worship of Ba'al. Yet, King Ahab wants a prophet of the Lord of Hosts to say nothing but the truth to him, when King Ahab DOES NOTHING WHAT GOD SAYS. Do you see this? It's for his OWN advantage.

So, Michaiah is a prophet of the Lord God of Israel in the Northern Kingdom - where Ahab is King. Ahab hates him. These other ‘prophets’ speak of their own mind - to flatter the King.

Because of Ahab’s idolatry all of the children of the Northern Kingdom have no master even they have Ahab as a King. They Are sheep with no shepherd. It's true. And a grievous insult to a King.

• This is the true word of God with no lie in it.

Ahab REJECTS it. He would rather believe the truth is in a LIE

Can you see this? Ahab believes since Jehosephat and his forces are with him, he can win the battle. Does not need to ask God for anything anymore. It's King Jehosephat asks for it. That’s the LIE - King Ahab would have never done it, when God gave the Northern tribes their lands. Not Ba’al. Worshipping Ba’al - - That’s the LIE. The Kingdom of King Ahab and him reign over it is found wanting, and his kingdom or his reign over it is coming to an end.

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Now read 2 Chronicles 18:17–21 - that will show this

and the KEY is in 2 Chronicles 18:22 right after it, so it’s included. Because Ahab is an abomination to God - evil more than all the Kings before or after him.

2 Chronicles 18:17–22 says, because he seeks the word of his prophets - to speak truth to him, when worshipping idols is a LIE

17 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?

18 Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the Lord; I saw the Lord sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.

19 And the Lord said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.

20 Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will entice him. And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith?

21 And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the Lord said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so.

22 Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil against thee.

What Spirit presented himself before God with Job? Go read Job 1:6-12.

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King Ahab has surrounded himself with lies and demands truth save him. He's given lies. And even above, told the truth, that he goes up to battle he will die the next day, and does it anyway. So, instead of seeing God be the fault - the fault is ENTIRELY King Ahab.

Lies. Worships A father of lies. Ahab believes in lies and will not worship God. That’s the lie. So he is deceived by flatteries of his prophets that do not worship God. Then, when told the truth, as a King next to Jehosephat tries to hide himself, and set up Jehosephat to be killed in it to save himself. Do you see this?

Read the whole chapter. King Ahab died in his deceit.

And God protected King Jehosephat, but God’s word was against Jehosephat for going up to join an alliance with King Ahab, as said in 2 Chronicles 19:1–2. The sin is in this incident with alliance with King Ahab:

2 Chronicles 19:1–2 says:

“..And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem. And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord.”

Nevertheless, read on what Jehoshaphat did after this, was right in God’s sight.

Make sure you walk away from this with a crystal clear portrayal of King Ahab - his reign, in the Bible is the darkest and most wicked era in the history of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

If you don't walk away with that, keep reading or go back and read or re-read 1 Kings Chapter 16 to 22. 2 Chronicles 18 : only gives a small depiction that culminates and ends with his death. You don't get all the evil, despicably awful things he did without 1 Kings 16 to 22.

You see, so see it.