King James Version

What Does 2 Chronicles 18:19 Mean?

“And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead ? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.”

2 Chronicles 18:19 · KJV

Context

17

And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil? but evil: or, but for evil

18

Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.

19

And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead ? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.

20

Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith?

21

And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the LORD said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so.

Read 2 Chronicles 18 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.

This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Danger of ungodly partnerships despite personal faithfulness. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immediate divine retribution—kings who seek God prosper, while those who forsake Him face judgment. This pattern provides instruction for the post-exilic community on the conditions for God's blessing.

The account demonstrates God's covenant faithfulness despite human unfaithfulness. Even in judgment, God preserves a remnant and offers restoration through repentance. The repeated cycle of apostasy, judgment, and restoration reveals both human sinfulness and divine mercy. References to the temple, proper worship, and priestly service emphasize the Chronicler's concern for correct religious observance.

Theologically, these accounts point beyond immediate history to God's ultimate purposes through the Davidic line. Despite repeated failures, God preserves David's dynasty, anticipating the perfect King who will reign in righteousness. The pattern of judgment for sin and restoration through repentance prefigures the gospel message of salvation through Christ.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This passage occurs during the divided monarchy period when Judah existed separately from northern Israel. The Chronicler writes from a post-exilic perspective, addressing the restored community in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile (539 BCE onward). His emphasis on temple worship, proper religious observance, and God's covenant faithfulness speaks directly to the needs of his audience who had just rebuilt the temple and were reestablishing their identity as God's people.

The historical context demonstrates both God's judgment on persistent sin and His readiness to restore those who genuinely repent. The Chronicler omits most northern kingdom material, focusing on Judah and the Davidic line to emphasize God's faithfulness to His covenant promises. Archaeological discoveries from sites like Lachish, Beersheba, and Jerusalem corroborate the biblical accounts of various kings' reigns and building projects.

Understanding the Chronicler's post-exilic perspective is crucial—he's not merely recording history but applying past lessons to his contemporary audience, showing that the same principles of seeking God, maintaining proper worship, and covenant faithfulness that determined blessing or judgment in the past still apply.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this verse illustrate the principle of divine retribution (blessing for obedience, judgment for sin)?
  2. What specific applications does this passage have for maintaining spiritual faithfulness in contemporary Christian life?
  3. How does this account point to God's ultimate purposes through the Davidic line and the coming Messiah?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 19 words
אֹמֵ֥ר1 of 19

“And one spake”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָ֗ה2 of 19

“And the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

מִ֤י3 of 19
H4310

who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix

יְפַתֶּה֙4 of 19

“Who shall entice”

H6601

to open, i.e., be (causatively, make) roomy; usually figuratively (in a mental or moral sense) to be (causatively, make) simple or (in a sinister way)

אֶת5 of 19
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

אַחְאָ֣ב6 of 19

“Ahab”

H256

achab, the name of a king of israel and of a prophet at babylon

מֶֽלֶךְ7 of 19

“king”

H4428

a king

יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל8 of 19

“of Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

וְיַ֕עַל9 of 19

“that he may go up”

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

וְיִפֹּ֖ל10 of 19

“and fall”

H5307

to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)

בְּרָמ֣וֹת11 of 19

“at Ramothgilead”

H7433

ramoth-gilad, a place east of the jordan

גִּלְעָ֑ד12 of 19
H1568

gilad, a region east of the jordan; also the name of three israelites

אֹמֵ֥ר13 of 19

“And one spake”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

זֶ֚ה14 of 19
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

אֹמֵ֥ר15 of 19

“And one spake”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

כָּֽכָה׃16 of 19

“after that manner”

H3602

just so, referring to the previous or following context

וְזֶ֖ה17 of 19
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

אֹמֵ֥ר18 of 19

“And one spake”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

כָּֽכָה׃19 of 19

“after that manner”

H3602

just so, referring to the previous or following context

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 2 Chronicles. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

2 Chronicles 18:19 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 2 Chronicles 18:19 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ezekiel 14:91 Kings 22:202 Chronicles 25:19James 1:13-142 Thessalonians 2:11-122 Chronicles 25:8

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