1 Kings 22:8
And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the Lord: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
Study Note
Study Note
Ahab's admission that he 'hates' Micaiah ben Imlah 'because he does not prophesy good concerning me but evil' is one of the most candid confessions of motivated rejection of prophetic truth in the Hebrew Bible. The scene exposes the structural corruption of court prophecy: the four hundred prophets (v. 6) represent institutionalized validation of royal policy, while Micaiah represents the minority tradition of prophetic independence that defines classical prophecy from Amos onward. Jehoshaphat's intervention — 'let not the king say so' — functions as a partial model of prophetic receptivity even while the narrative demonstrates that his coalition with Ahab compromises it. The passage is foundational for biblical theology's distinction between true and false prophecy and for understanding why genuine prophecy typically opposes rather than confirms institutional power.
Other Translations
And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Jehovah, Micaiah the son of Imlah: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
And the king of Israel saith unto Jehoshaphat, `Yet--one man to seek Jehovah by him, and I have hated him, for he doth not prophesy concerning me good, but evil--Micaiah son of Imlah;' and Jehoshaphat saith, `Let not the king say so.'
And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, There is still one man by whom we may get directions from the Lord, Micaiah, son of Imlah; but I have no love for him, for he is a prophet of evil to me and not of good. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
Cross References
There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.
I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is …
Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom …
Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us …
Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, obeyed not the …
But Baruch the son of Neriah setteth thee on against us, for to deliver us into the hand of the …
Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death: for thus he …
For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All …
Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, …