Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Kings 22:13

"And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets [declare] good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak thou good." — 1 Kings 22:13 (ASV)

Observe now. —In the whole history, as especially in the words of the officer, there is evidence of the strange confusion of ideas, so common in superstition at all times. This confusion is that while people in some sense believe in the inspiration of the prophets as coming from God, they yet fancy that they can direct this inspiration as they wish. Accordingly, they imagine that prophets can be bribed, beguiled, or coerced to “prophesy smooth things.” The most extreme form of this infatuation is exemplified in Simon Magus. He believed that the Apostles were the medium for conferring the highest spiritual gifts from God, and yet madly persuaded himself that this power could be bought for money (Acts 8:18–19).

The natural result is a mingled awe and contempt, such as Balak feels for Balaam. The delusion is, of course, silenced at once by such declarations as the stern reply of Micaiah, which even Balaam could convey (Numbers 22:18). But, as all false religions and corruptions of true religion show, it is never rooted out, except by real spiritual knowledge of God and of His dealings with the soul.