The sixth of the minor prophets and son of Imlah, Micaiah the Elder prophesied the defeat and death of King Ahab despite the false oracles of the priests of Baal. Imprisoned for his frankness, he was released after the fulfillment of his prophecy during the siege of Ramoth. He is traditionally buried in Samaria.
Guided reading
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SAINT MICAIAH THE ELDER, PROPHET
Historical context and royal alliance
In 916 BC, King Jehoshaphat of Judah allied with King Ahab of Israel against Syria and requested to consult the divine will before the battle.
(Year of the world 3138; before Jesus Christ 916).
Micah the Elder, son of Imlah, was the sixth of the twelve minor pro phets. Jehoshaphat, k Josaphat, roi de Juda King of Judah, a religious prince allied with Ahab. ing of Judah, who was a religious and God-fearing prince, having gone with his troops to the aid of Ahab, king Achab, roi d'Israël King of Israel marked by idolatry and impiety. of Israel, who was waging w ar against t roi de Syrie Region of origin of the saints. he king of Syria, persuaded him to consult, before setting out on the campaign, the will of the Lord. Ahab, who joined idolatry to impiety, assembled his prophets, that is to say the priests of his idols, and asked for their advice: they advised him to enter the campaign and assured him that the Lord would deliver into his hands the city of Ramoth-Gilea Ramoth de Galaad Levitical city of the tribe of Gad, site of the battle. d (a Levitical city of the tribe of Gad) which he intended to besiege.
The Prophetic Vision of Micaiah
Summoned to the court, Micaiah reveals a vision of the throne of God where a lying spirit is sent to deceive Ahab's false prophets and lead the king to his ruin.
However, Jehoshaphat, little reassured by the fallacious promises of Ahab's prophets, suggested to that prince to seek the advi ce of the prophet Micaiah prophète Michée de Samarie The sixth of the twelve minor prophets of the Old Testament. of Samaria, whom he knew to be instructed in the secrets of Jehovah. He was brought; when he was in the presence of the two kin prêtres de Baal Pagan deity whose priests oppose Micaiah. gs and the priests of Baal, he pronounced the oracles of the Almighty thus: "I saw the Lord sitting on His throne and surrounded by all the heavenly host who said: Who is it that will seduce Ahab to persuade him to march against Ramoth, so that he may perish there? Then the seducing spirit came forward and told the Lord that he would take it upon himself to seduce Ahab. — How will you do it? the Lord said to him. — The spirit replied: I will go and put a lie in the mouth of all his prophets. — The Lord said: You will indeed seduce him and you will have the advantage over him. — The Lord has therefore today put a spirit of lying in the mouth of all your prophets who are here, and He has pronounced your sentence."
Persecution, punishment and liberation
Micaiah is imprisoned for his frankness, but his prophecy is fulfilled: Ahab dies in battle and Micaiah is finally released.
The frankness of Micaiah excited the anger of the priests of the idols and the fury of the king; the former slapped him with contempt, the latter had him locked in a narrow prison (978 BC), intending, upon his return from his expedition, to have him put to death; but both soon expiated their crimes. The priests of Baal, convicted of lying, suffered much at the hands of the Jews, and Ahab, too confident in the oracles of his idols, lost his life in the battle he waged against the Syrians: an arrow pierced his heart. They washed his chariot and the reins of his horses in the pool where the dogs licked his blood, following the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of the prophet Elijah. Meanwhile, Micaiah was prophète Élie Prophet who announced the punishment of Ahab. set at liberty. It is believed that after his death he was buried in Samaria, in Palestine (a city des Samarie, en Palestine Presumed burial place of Micah. troyed under Vespasian).
Distinction and sources
The text highlights the necessary distinction from Micah of Moresheth and cites hagiographic sources such as the Acta Sanctorum.
One must not confuse, as the Greeks have sometimes done, Saint Micah the Elder with Saint Mic ah of Moresheth, whose l saint Michée de Morasthi Another prophet of the same name commemorated on January 15. ife we provided on January 15.
Baillet: Lives of the Saints of the Old Testament; Acta Sanctorum Acta Sanctorum Monumental hagiographic collection by the Bollandists. , August 14.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Consulted by Kings Jehoshaphat and Ahab before the war against Syria
- Denunciation of the spirit of falsehood among the prophets of Baal
- Imprisonment by King Ahab
- Liberation after the death of Ahab in battle
- Burial in Samaria
Miracles
- Vision of the throne of God and the heavenly host
- Gift of accurate prophecy regarding the death of Ahab
Quotes
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I saw the Lord sitting on his throne and surrounded by all the heavenly host
Source text (Volume 9)