2 Chronicles 18 · a question people ask
Does 2 Chronicles tell this story in the same words as 1 Kings?
Much of it in nearly the same words, and in places not. Three places, side by side. Micaiah's oath: "As the LORD lives, I will say what my God says" (18:13); in 1 Kings, "As the LORD lives, what the LORD says to me, that I will speak" (1 Kings 22:14). Micaiah's last word on the vision: "the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets" (18:22); in 1 Kings, "the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets" (1 Kings 22:23). The Hebrew of 18:22 has no word for all there. And Jehoshaphat's cry: 2 Chronicles says, "But Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them to depart from him" (18:31); 1 Kings says only, "Jehoshaphat cried out" (1 Kings 22:32), and goes on, "When the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him" (1 Kings 22:33), as 2 Chronicles does in 18:32. Neither book says why they differ, and these notes set the verses side by side without explaining them.
The verses
“Micaiah said, “As the LORD lives, I will say what my God says.””
“Micaiah said, “As the LORD lives, what the LORD says to me, that I will speak.””
““Now therefore, behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets; and the LORD has spoken evil concerning you.””
“Now therefore, behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; and the LORD has spoken evil concerning you.””