Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 22:21
And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.
21. And there came forth a spirit ] The Hebrew has ‘ the spirit’ as is noted on the margin of the R.V. It seems therefore to imply some definite power which imparted to prophets their gifts; the prophetic spirit. That God allowed this power to delude Ahab was because of the king’s persistence in evil. God therefore gives him over to it, and causes the prophets whom he has chosen for himself, to the rejection of Micaiah and such as he, to be the instruments of his destruction. Thus when Isaiah is sent to rebellious Israel (Isa 6:10) his mission is described as of this nature. God says to him ‘Make the heart of this people fat and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes, lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts.’ In this wise and with like effect comes the spirit from God into the mouths of Ahab’s four hundred.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
A spirit – The spirit – which some explain as the evil spirit – i. e. Satan; others as simply the spirit who should persuade.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
An evil spirit came out of the knot or company of them, standing possibly on the left hand, and presented himself before the throne, as having something to say to the Lord.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And there came forth a spirit,…. Not from the heavenly host on the right hand or the left, for they are pure and holy spirits, and impeccable, and cannot lie or deceive; but the evil spirit, Satan, the father of lies, the old deceiver, who came forth from his own place and his own company:
and stood before the Lord presented himself before him, as Satan did, Job 1:6,
and said, l will persuade him; or prevail upon him; evil spirits love to be employed in doing harm to men, they go about seeking whom they may devour. This could not be the spirit of Naboth, as the Jews say q, seeking revenge on Ahab; that was in a state of happiness, could not move from thence, and be capable of sinning.
q T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 89. 1. & 102. 2. Targum in 2 Chron. xviii. 20.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(21) A spirit.It should be the spirit. The definite article is explained by some, perhaps rather weakly, as simply anticipatory of the description which follows. Others take the phrase to signify the spirit of prophecy, a kind of emanation from the Godhead, looked upon as the medium of the prophetic inspiration, which is an expression conceivable, but certainly unprecedented. Perhaps without introducing into this passage the distinct idea of the Satan, i.e., the enemy, which we find in Job 1, 2; 1Ch. 21:1; Zec. 3:1-2. it may be best to interpret it by the conception, common to all religions recognising the terrible existence of evil in the world, of a spiritual power of evil (called euphemistically, the spirit) overruled to work out the judgments of God. The absolute subordination of such spirits of evil in every notice of them in the Old Testament precludes all danger of the monstrous dualism of so many Eastern religions. The reference of the power of divination to such spirits is found in the New Testament also. (See Act. 16:16-18.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
21. There came forth a spirit Literally, the spirit; that is, the particular spirit that served as the agent of Divine judgment in this judicial blinding of Ahab’s heart. This spirit was but one of that vast host of evil powers whose ministry so largely affects the children of disobedience. This scene before the throne of the Lord is in perfect keeping with that recorded in Job 1:6-12. it is not merely vision and parable, but, in harmony with other Scriptures, opens to us the knowledge of a vast host of unseen spirits, going to and fro seeking whom they may destroy, (2 Peter 5:8,) yet all held in check, and often, if not always, used by Jehovah himself to execute his wise and holy purposes.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Ki 22:21. There came forth a spirit That evil being, named Satan, was little known to the Jewish people till their captivity; and then this history was taught openly as a security against the doctrine of the two principles.
The Jewish law-giver, where he so frequently enumerates and warns the Israelites of the snares and temptations which would draw them to transgress the law of God, never mentions this chief foe of heaven. Nay, when the form of that sacred history which Moses composed, obliged him to treat of Satan’s first grand machination against mankind, he entirely hides this wicked spirit under the animal which he made his instrument; but as the fulness of time drew near, they were made more and more acquainted with this their arch-enemy. When Ahab, for the crimes and follies of the people, was suffered to be infatuated, we have the account in the words of Micaiah above. Satan is not here recorded by name; and so we must conclude the people were yet permitted to know little of his history: however, this undertaking sufficiently declared his nature.
REFLECTIONS.Micaiah now appears before the kings and courtiers, alone, indeed, but not unsupported; God was with him, therefore could he not be moved.
1. Ahab puts the same question to him that he had before put to his own prophets; and Micaiah, who had heard their answer, and knew the king’s mind, answered him in their very words; but with such a tone and gesture, as evidently bespoke contempt of his prophets, and the vanity of their prophecy. Note; It is folly which deserves to be ridiculed, to ask advice of others, when you are determined to follow your own opinion.
2. Ahab, perceiving the irony of his answer, conjures him, without further delay, to speak his mind; and this he does freely and boldly. He saw all Israel scattered like sheep on the hills near Ramoth-gilead, and their shepherd wanting; intimating, that Ahab should fall in the battle, and Israel be defeated. Note; Sinners cannot be too plainly warned of their danger.
3. Exasperated at such a declaration, which he interpreted only as the prophet’s malice and ill-will against him, he turns to the too credulous Jehoshaphat, to divert him from attending to such a prophecy. But Micaiah confirms it by the vision, wherein he describes Ahab’s determined ruin. Note; (1.) The greatest kindness shewn in faithful rebuke to men’s souls, is often perversely misinterpreted into selfish anger, or dislike of their persons. (2.) God ruleth over all: the greatest are but worms of earth; and, however men spurn at it, his counsel must stand. (3.) God does, without impeachment of his glory, permit Satan to tempt sinners, and sometimes gives them up to be led captive by him at his will. (4.) The sinner abandoned of God rushes on his ruin, as the horse rusheth into the battle.
4. Zedekiah cannot bear such a keen reflection, and with insolent effrontary, in the king’s presence, strikes Micaiah over the face, and treats with contempt his prophecy, as if himself alone had the spirit, who could not contradict his own inspirations. Note; (1.) The bitterest enemies of God’s true prophets are the teachers of lies. These, to support their own credit with the people, seek by every base suggestion and oppression, to prevent the influence of the truth, lest the shame of their nakedness should appear. (2.) Confusion will shortly cover the wicked, and those who will not take God’s warning must feel his wrath.
5. Ahab seconds his prophet’s abuse, commits the innocent Micaiah to prison, and bids him be hardly treated till his return in peace, which he speaks of with confidence; designing then to execute him for a false prophet. Micaiah is very ready to rest his life on this issue; and they part thus, never to meet again. Note; (1.) The career of persecutors is often stopped short. (2.) They have little reason to promise themselves peace, who are declaring war against God in the person of his prophet.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
1Ki 22:21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.
Ver. 21. And there came forth a spirit. ] An evil spirit, haply, from the left hand of God’s throne.
I will persuade him.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
a spirit = the spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
1Ki 22:23, Job 1:6, Job 1:7, Job 2:1
Reciprocal: 2Sa 16:10 – so let him 2Ch 18:21 – General Psa 78:49 – by sending Mic 2:11 – a man Act 5:3 – why Act 19:15 – General Rev 22:15 – whosoever
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
22:21 And there came forth a spirit, and {q} stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.
(q) Here we see that though the devil is always ready to bring us to destruction, yet he has no more power than God gives him.