Ahab and Jehosophat (1 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 18)

Jehosophat's son married Ahab's daughter. This may have been what God had originally wanted to reunify the two countries as the punishment of Solomon was to be temporary. The marriage did not reunify the countries, but it did result in a military alliance.

There was peace between Israel and Syria for 3 years. We also don't know when the event with Naboth's vineyard occurred. But it sounds like their was peace and calm with Elijah away.

One day, Jehosophat is visiting Ahab when Ahab proposes a joint military strike to retake Ramoth-Gilead. Jehosophat agrees but wants to know what God says before sending the troops.

Ahab brings in his 400 prophets (I guess he has surrounded himself with hundreds of Baal/Ashereth prophets again). These prophets promise him victory. Jehosophat realizes that none of them are prophets for God, so he asks for one. Ahab is aware of one, Micaiah. Where is Elijah? We don't know.

Ahab's problem with Micaiah is that he never has good things to say. We don't know for sure, but Micaiah may have been one of the prophets that interacted with Ahab in the previous chapters (i.e., the prophet who disguised himself as an injured soldier) during Elijah's absence.

Micaiah is instructed to only promise victory, which he does in a sarcastic manor. When pressed further, he then explains that in a vision he saw the people of Israel scattered like sheep without a shepherd. Then, Ahab tells Jesophat, "see, he only has bad things to say.".

Micaiah then gives an interesting account of a heavenly discussion that is reminiscent of Job 1-2. There in the heavens, God asks for suggestions among the spirits to entice Ahab to attack Ramoth-Gilead. One spirit suggested that he could fill the mouths of Ahab's prophets with lies. God agreed to this suggestion and tells the spirit to do it. This story prompts one of the other prophets, perhaps their leader, to strike Micaiah.

Ahab then orders Micaiah arrested and bound until Ahab comes back safely. As if that would help.

Ahab and Jehosophat lead a joint military strike at Ramoth-Gilead. The Syrians go after Jehosophat thinking that he is Ahab. God saves Jehosophat the Syrians realize he is not Ahab. Ahab dresses like a common chariot soldier and is struck by a random arrow. He dies at sunset.

His chariot was washed back in Samaria and dogs came to lick the blood, in fulfillment of Elijah's prophecy.

Ahab's son Ahaziah becomes the next king of Israel. He practiced Baal worship and had a short 2 year reign. If the rest of Elijah's prophecies come true, his reign will end very badly.