And the LORD said unto him,
By what means?
And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said,
You shall persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.
All Commentaries on 1 Kings 22:22 Go To 1 Kings 22
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
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 Thessalonians ii. 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. (Challoner)
What is translated in the imperative, denotes frequently what will come to pass, though it be displeasing to God. (Calmet)
He permits it, therefore, only by not exerting his power to prevent the execution. (Haydock)
The devils can do nothing without such a permission. Achab deserved to be deceived by the false prophets, as he would not hearken to a true one. (St. Augustine, contra Jul. v. 4., and q. 53. inter. 83.)
