1 Kings 22 Chapter Introduction

Structure and Formatting

This chapter describes the death of Ahab, whom the author had said in 21:25 was the worst of all the Israelite kings. Yahweh warned Ahab through the prophet Micaiah that if he went to battle against Ramoth Gilead, he would be killed there. But Ahab listened instead to the false prophets who promised he would win a great victory there. He attacked the city and was mortally wounded, bled profusely, and died. When his soldiers brought his chariot back to Samaria, the dogs licked up his blood, just as Yahweh had told Elijah to predict in 21:19. The chapter concludes with brief accounts of two other kings.

1. Micaiah predicts that Ahab will die at the battle of Ramoth Gilead (22:1–28)
2. Ahab is killed at the battle of Ramoth Gilead (22:29–40)
3. Summary of the reign of Jehoshaphat (22:41–50)
4. Introduction to the reign of Azariah (22:51–53)

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

What did Jehoshaphat shout out?

In 22:32–33, the author describes how the Aramean soldiers saw Jehoshaphat in his royal robes and thought he was Ahab, whom they had specific orders to pursue and kill. But Jehoshaphat shouted something out, and when the Arameans heard it, they realized he was not Ahab, so they left him and continued to look for Ahab. What would Jehoshaphat have shouted out that made the Arameans realize this? Many interpreters suggest that he shouted out the Judean battle cry in order to rally his soldiers in his defense. The historical narrative in the Bible records how armies of this time had their battle cries. For example, in Judges 7:20, the Israelite soldiers under Gideon’s command shout out, “A sword for Yahweh and for Gideon!” So Jehoshaphat likely shouted out something that the Arameans recognized or understood as the Judean battle cry, and this indicated to them that this king was Jehoshaphat, not Ahab.