Expert: J.M.J. West - 5/17/2008

Question
King Ahab and King Jehosphaphat was deciding whether to go to war with the Syrians over Ramoth-gilead.  there were false prophets lying and encouraging them to go to war and then there was the on true prophet, Micaiah.  Zedekiah walked over and slapped Micaiah on the face and said, "When did the Spirit of the Lord leave me and speak to you?"  Micaiah replied, "you will have the answer to your question when you find yourself hiding in an inner room."  Please explain these two verses to me because I do not quite understand them.

Answer
Hello Valerie, thanks for the question.

Zedekiah was a false prophet who was pandering to the kings to tell them what they wanted.  This is why he slapped Micaiah (the real prophet).

Zedekiah had fashioned bulls horns (pagan symbolism) and placed them on his head saying "The LORD says, 'With these you shall gore Aram until you have destroyed them.'"

All the other prophets agreed with him and when it came to Micaiah, the messenger said "Look now, the prophets are unanimously predicting good for the king. Let your word be the same as any of theirs; predict good."

"As the LORD lives," Micaiah answered, "I shall say whatever the LORD tells me."  He refused to tell them what they wanted (though he did respond sarcastically at first (cf. v. 15).  Micaiah was jailed, and to this he said to the king:  "If ever you return in safety, the LORD has not spoken through me."

In the Old Testament, false prophets were put to death.  They were shown to be false when what they prophesied did not come true.  Micaiah knew that he'd be vindicated, and that Zedekiah would find himself hiding for his life.

Hopefully that helps!

Pax Christi,

-J.M.J. West