John Gill Commentary 1 Kings 22

And they continued three years without war between Syria and Israel . ] From the time that Benhadad made a covenant with Ahab; not three full years, but part of them: it was threatened by Elijah from the Lord, that Ahab's life should go for Benhadad's, because he had let him go, (1 Kings 22:42) , but because of his humiliation, as is thought by Ben Gersom and others, it was respited for those three years; and now an opportunity and occasion would be given for the fulfilment of what was threatened.

And it came to pass in the third year
Of the peace, before it was expired:

that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel ;
to Ahab, from Jerusalem to Samaria, reckoned thirty two miles ^F13 ; either to make peace with him, and put an end to the wars which subsisted between Israel and Judah since the division of the kingdom, (1 Kings 22:44) or to contract an affinity with him, by marrying his son to a daughter of Ahab, (2 Kings 8:18 2 Kings 8:26) or rather after peace was made, and that strengthened by the marriage; and so he went merely to pay a visit, as he judged he might then with great safety.

And he and all his retinue were entertained by Ahab in a very sumptuous and liberal manner, (2 Chronicles 18:1 2 Chronicles 18:2) .

FOOTNOTES:

• F13: Bunting's Travels p. 178. near 40, Rainold. Praelect. 31. col. 266.

(And the king of Israel said to his servants
His nobles, those of his privy council, his ministers of state; or "had said" ^F14 , some little time before Jehoshaphat came:

know you that Ramoth in Gilead is ours
a city of refuge beyond Jordan, in the tribe of Gad, and so of course must belong to the kingdom of Israel, of which see (Joshua 20:8)

and we are still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria?)
neither demand it, nor take any measures to oblige him to deliver it up; representing it as a great omission, and as a piece of negligence and slothfulness, or cowardice.

FOOTNOTES:

• F14: (rmayw) "et dixerat", Junius & Tremellius.

Ver. 4 And he said to Jehoshaphat, will you go with me to battle to Ramothgilead ? this affair being lately canvassed at the council board, and very much on Ahab's mind, he puts this question to Jehoshaphat, his visitor, relation, and ally; wisely considering that his own forces were small, and that to have such an auxiliary might be of great advantage to him:

and Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses ; meaning, that he and his soldiers, foot and horse, were at his service.

And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, inquire, I pray
you, at the word of the Lord today .
] Being a pious and religious prince, he did not choose to go into a war at once, without consulting the Lord by his prophets, whether it was his will and pleasure they should engage in it, and should prosper; and he was desirous of having this done immediately, before they proceeded any further.