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difficulty in understanding his words (ver. 24). If they sounded like a satirical reproof
of Micaiah's presumption in arrogating to himself that he alone had really the Spirit
of Jehovah, while all the others had not that inspiration - as if the Spirit of Jehovah
had gone from him to Micaiah - they also convey to us yet another meaning.
Zedekiah must have known that he had not a message from Jehovah,^75 and he had
imagined that Micaiah's prophecy would be as self-originated as had been his own.
But the words which he heard left on him no doubt that Micaiah had truly spoken
from Jehovah, and the resentment at feeling that this was so, and that Micaiah, not
himself, was the organ chosen by God, awakened within him feelings which found
expression in angry words and still angrier deed. It was a spirit like that of Simon
Magus - only intensified and manifested in manner congruous to Old Testament
times. And this also explains the reply of Micaiah, which was directed against the
words of Zedekiah. He should "see," quite perceive, the real difference between the
true and the false prophet, when he would experience its results. Then, when his
prediction would not only remain unfulfilled, but appear by the side of the warning
of the true prophet, as having been false and misleading, would he in utter disgrace
seek to hide himself from the sight of all men, and to escape that punishment of his
crime which the survivors from the battle would no doubt inflict.
Not a few in that assembly must have understood the real meaning of the words of
Zedekiah. But the majority would prefer to give them an interpretation more
consonant with their mood, or at least more convenient. It might seem to them - to
adopt the language of many among ourselves when inconvenient truth is in question -
that the whole matter had now degenerated into a wrangle between opposing and
rival theologians. At any rate, the time for all such talk had passed, and that for
action come. Ramoth-Gilead was theirs; truly and fairly, by the law of God and of
man, let theologians say what they pleased in exaltation of their respective schools
and dogmas. And the two kings were united in an alliance against the Syrians that
could not be unsuccessful: all was propitious, let them go up - make a sudden raid
upon the stronghold, and take what was their own. And to mark how deeply he
resented, and was able to punish what he regarded as an act of rebellion, Ahab
ordered Micaiah to be taken back to the custody of Amon, the governor of the city.
With him the name of Joash, the king's son, perhaps only a royal prince, was
combined, probably in order to indicate that Micaiah was a state prisoner. And as
such he was to be treated with special severity.
Thus far Ahab possessed the requisite power; but when he added: "Until I come in
peace," he uttered a distinct challenge. To this, by whomsoever made - be he prince
or private person, and howsoever made, whether in public or in private, or even in
inward opposition to God's revealed truth, there is only this answer: "He that sitteth
in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision." But Micaiah could
(^)