d
it, as appears by his adjuring Micheas, in the following verse, to tell
him the truth in the name of the Lord.

22:16. But the king said to him: I adjure thee again and again, that
thou tell me nothing but that which is true, in the name of the Lord.

22:17. And he said: I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, like
sheep that have no shepherd; and the Lord said: These have no master:
let every man of them return to his house in peace.

22:18. (Then the king of Israel said to Josaphat: Did I not tell thee,
that he prophesieth no good to me, but always evil?)

22:19. And he added and said: Hear thou, therefore, the word of the
Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the army of heaven
standing by him on the right hand and on the left:

22:20. And the Lord said: Who shall deceive Achab, king of Israel, that
he may go up, and fall at Ramoth Galaad? And one spoke words of this
manner, and another otherwise.

The Lord said, etc... God standeth not in need of any counsellor; nor
are we to suppose that things pass in heaven in the manner here
described: but this representation was made to the prophet, to be
delivered by him in a manner adapted to the common ways and notions of
men.

22:21. And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and
said: I will deceive him. And the Lord said to him: By what means?

22:22. And he said: I will go forth, and be a lying spirit, in the mouth
of all his prophets. And the Lord said: Thou shalt deceive him, and
shalt prevail: go forth, and do so.

Go forth, and do so... This was not a command, but a permission: for God
never ordaineth lies; though he often permitteth the lying spirit to
deceive those who love not the truth. 2 Thess. 2.10. And in this sense
it is said in the following verse, The Lord hath given a lying spirit in
the mouth of all thy prophets.

22:23. Now, therefore, behold the Lord hath given a lying spirit in the
mouth of all thy prophets that are here, and the Lord hath spoken evil
against thee.

22:24. And Sedecias, the son of Chanaana, came, and struck Micheas on
the cheek, and said: Hath then the spirit of the Lord left me, and
spoken to thee?

22:25. And Micheas said: Thou shalt see in the day when thou shalt go
into a chamber within a chamber to hide thyself.

Go into a chamber, etc... This happened when he heard the king was
slain, and justly apprehended that he should be punished for his false
prophecy.

22:26. And the king