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Chapter 22 completes the reign of Ahab. There had been no war with Syria for 3 years, not sense the defeat of Ben-hadad. One day when King Jehoshaphat of Judah was visiting King Ahab, Ahab remembered that the Syrians still occupied the city of Ramoth-gilead. He asked Jehoshaphat if he would join him to try to get the city back. Jehoshaphat said that he would. But first, He would have to ask the Lord and see what He wanted him to do.
Well Ahab summoned 400 pagan prophets. They were probably the prophets of Ashe'rah, the Egyptian god, spoken of back in Chapter 18, who along with the 450 prophets of Baal, were summoned to Mt. Carmel where Elijah put them to shame, and where he killed the 450 prophets of Baal.
So these 400 were summoned by Ahab to Samaria and asked, "Shall we attack Ramoth-gilead?" the pagan prophets agreed that they should attack but Jehoshaphat asked, "Isn't there a Prophet of the Lord in Israel?", and Ahab said yes, but I hate him. He never has anything good to say for me. So Ahab sent for the Prophet Micaiah. When the King's messenger found Micaiah, he urged him to go along with the pagan prophets, but Micaiah could only say what the Lord told him to say.
When Micaiah arrived and was questioned by the King, he responded sarcastically. "Sure, go right ahead". "Attack that Syrians at Ramoth-gilead." But Ahab was not fooled, he knew that Micaiah was only saying what he thought the King wanted to hear, so he questioned him again. This time Mocaiah spoke for the Lord. "Israel will be scattered upon the mountains like sheep without a shepherd and their King will be dead." And the Lord said, "But who will convince Ahab to go to Ramoth-gilead and die?". And an Angel spoke up and said, "I will go as a "lying spirit" in the mouths of his pagan prophets."
Then Ahab had Micaiah put into prison with orders to give only enough water and bread to keep him alive. Then Ahab and Jehoshaphat went out to battle the Syrians. They fought all day and Ahab was mortally wounded and when he died the troops knew it was all over so they returned home.
Ahab's body was taken to Samaria and buried. His chariot and armor were washed off at the pool of Samaria where prostitutes bathed and the dogs came and licked the king's blood just as it had been prophesied.
Jehoshaphat returned home to Judah. He had been King of Judah for 25 years. He became King when he was 35 years old. He obeyed the Lord and closed all the houses of male prostitution. He died and was buried in Jerusalem.
At the death of Ahab, his son Ahaziah became 8th. King of Israel and reigned for 2 years (853-852). He was considered a bad king for he followed in the footsteps of his father, Ahab.
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