What does 2 Chronicles 18:20-21 mean?
"Sure, here is the King James Version (KJV) of 2 Chronicles 18:20-21: 20 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. 21 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 18:20-21
2 Chronicles 18:20-21 in the King James Version reads, "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."
This passage comes from the Old Testament of the Bible, specifically from the book of 2 Chronicles. The passage focuses on the story of Ahab, the king of Israel, and his decision to go into battle against Ramoth-gilead. Ahab seeks counsel from the prophets, and initially, they all tell him to go to battle as it will be successful.
However, Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, is concerned that Ahab is only consulting prophets who will tell him what he wants to hear. Ahab reassures him and brings forward Micaiah, a prophet of the Lord, to give his judgment as well. Micaiah, knowing the true will of the Lord, prophesies that the battle will lead to Ahab's death. This is where the verses in question come into play.
The verses depict a scene where a spirit, representing the will of the Lord, stands before the Lord and offers to entice Ahab into going into battle. The Lord grants permission for the spirit to go and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all of Ahab's prophets. This ultimately results in Ahab being led to his demise, as Micaiah's prophecy comes to pass.
The themes present in this passage are the sovereignty of God, the consequences of false prophecy, and the importance of seeking and heeding true counsel. The passage serves as a warning about the dangers of relying on false or misleading advice, as well as the ultimate control and judgment of the Lord.
The context of the passage is important to understand its significance. Ahab was a king known for his wickedness and his refusal to follow the ways of the Lord. His alliance with Jehoshaphat, who was a righteous king, was seen as an attempt to gain legitimacy and unity through a political marriage. The passage serves as a reminder of the inevitable consequences of disobedience and the futility of seeking false counsel while neglecting the true word of the Lord.
From a symbolic standpoint, the passage represents the spiritual warfare that is constantly at play in the world. It illustrates the battle between truth and deception, emphasizing the need for discernment and the importance of being rooted in the word of God. The lying spirit in the passage can be seen as a representation of the deceit and temptation that can lead people astray, while the Lord's sovereignty and ultimate control over the situation is a reminder of His power and authority.
In conclusion, 2 Chronicles 18:20-21 presents a powerful and cautionary narrative about the consequences of seeking false counsel and the sovereignty of the Lord. The passage serves as a reminder of the importance of discernment, seeking true wisdom, and being aligned with the will of God. It also serves as a warning against the dangers of self-deception and the potential consequences of disobedience.
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2 Chronicles 18:20-21 Artwork
2 Chronicles 18:20-21 - "Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will entice him. And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? 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."
"Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will entice him. And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? 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." - 2 Chronicles 18:20-21
2 Chronicles 20:21
2 Chronicles 20:18
2 Chronicles 21:18 - "¶ And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease."
2 Chronicles 18:20 - "Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith?"
2 Chronicles 20:18 - "And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD."
"¶ And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease." - 2 Chronicles 21:18
2 Chronicles 21:20 - "Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired. Howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings."
2 Chronicles 20:21 - "And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever."
2 Chronicles 18:21 - "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."
"Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith?" - 2 Chronicles 18:20
2 Chronicles 18:9
2 Chronicles 18:9
2 Chronicles 21:9
2 Chronicles 20:37
2 Chronicles 11:20
2 Chronicles 20:28
1 Chronicles 21:20 - "And Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat."
1 Peter 2:20-21
2 Chronicles 30:20 - "And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people."
1 Chronicles 2:20 - "And Hur begat Uri, and Uri begat Bezaleel."
1 Chronicles 21:18 - "¶ Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite."
2 Chronicles 20:28 - "And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD."
2 Chronicles 4:21 - "And the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, made he of gold, and that perfect gold;"
"And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD." - 2 Chronicles 20:18
2 Kings 14:18 - "And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"
2 Chronicles 20:13 - "And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children."
2 Kings 20:21 - "And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead."
2 Kings 21:20 - "And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh did."