Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Kings 22:17

"And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and Jehovah said, These have no master; let them return every man to his house in peace." — 1 Kings 22:17 (ASV)

Thus adjured, Micaiah completely changes his tone. Ahab could not possibly mistake the meaning of his vision, especially since the metaphor of “sheep and shepherd” for a king and his people was familiar to the Israelites from the prayer of Moses in Numbers 27:17.