1 Kings22:28

Translation

But MICAIAH said, “If you ever return whole, YHVH (read Adonai) has not spoken by me.” Then he said, “Pay attention

you people and obey.”

Paraphrase

Then WHO IS LIKE YH responded, “if you return from this battle whole and healthy, it will be clear that YHVH (read Adonai) has not spoken through me.” Then he added, “Pay careful attention, people, to what has gone on here today and learn from it.”

Footnotes

1

The Hebrew word for “listen, pay attention,” carries with it the idea of obeying.

AHAB DOUBTED HIS OWN PROPHETS

After this Ahab went into battle dressed in a disguise. He wanted Jehoshaphat to be the only one on their side that looked like a king. This tells us that he secretly worried that the prophet of YHVH might be right. He was wounded in battle and died that evening.

NOTICE THE USE OF NAMES IN THIS NARRATIVE

Most of the people who served King Ahab had names that reflect a Yahwistic upbringing. My favorite name in this passage is Joash, which means “fired by YHVH” or “Set on fire by YHVH.” That’s the kind of fire I want in my life! But unfortunately, we know that none of the people Ahab had gathered around him were living for God. This was part of the confusion that the demon-gods had purposefully caused. They wanted Ahab and the dwellers of the Northern tribes to think they were still OK with the Creator God, even while they dabbled in other religions.