Reading for August 19th

Read 1 Kings 22.1-12.
In 22.1-53: The prophecy of Miciah.
In verse 2: As in ch. 20, the king of Israel in this story was originally not identified.
The identification as Ahab is secondary and probably incorrect.
In verse 3: Ramoth-gilead was an important site east of the Jordan river.
In verse 5: The fact that Jehoshaphat wants to inquire of the Lord reflects the author's positive view of him.
The king of Israel is depicted as an enemy of the true prophet, Micaiah.
In verse 6: The prophets are probably court prophets who were sustained by the king.
It is not clear whether they even worshippers of the Lord (Yahweh).
In fact, the number four hundred recalls the prophets of Baal in 18.19.
Their oracle appears favorable to the king, but it could be ambiguous since they do not say which king will be given the victory.
In verse 7: Jehoshaphat is skeptical of the quick answer and unanimity of the 400 prophets, so her requests another prophet of the Lord, one who is a true prophet of Yahweh but not associated with the 400 court prophets.
In verse 8; The fact that Micaiah ... never prophesies anything favorable about the king but only disaster is an indication that Micaiah is a true prophet, since prophets often opposed kings.
In verse 10: A threshing floor was a broad, flat area where grain was separated from the hull.
Kings as often pictured in the Bible as sitting enthroned outside in similar settings.
(1 Sam 14.2, 22.6).
In verse 11: Prophets inthe Bible often carried out symbolic acts lik the one described here 9Jer 13; Ezek 4).
Nothing is known outside this story about Zedekiah.
But his name ("the righteousness of Yahweh) indicates that he was a worshipper of the Lord (Yahweh).
Comments or Questions..