Bible Strands
1 Kings 22:24
Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah went up, struck Micaiah in the face, and demanded, “Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go when He departed from me to speak with you?”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Zedekiah son of Kenaanah strikes the prophet Micaiah on the face during a royal military council. He demands to know which direction the Spirit of the LORD went when it left him to speak with Micaiah.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַ/יַּכֶּ֥ה (va/i.ya.Keh) literally means "and he struck," recording the physical blow Zedekiah delivers to Micaiah's face. The proper noun צִדְקִיָּ֣הוּ (tzid.ki.Ya.hu) identifies the aggressor as Zedekiah, son of Kenaanah.
The thread — This physical assault mirrors later biblical confrontations where religious authority is met with violence, including the high priest Ananias ordering Paul to be struck in Acts 23:2 and the prophetic call to offer one's cheek to strikers in Lamentations 3:30. The imagery of a rod striking the cheek also appears in Micah 5:1.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to observe that those who rely on deception will resort to physical intimidation when confronted with unvarnished truth. It demands recognition that spiritual authority cannot be extracted through coercion or violence.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the Lord from me to speak unto thee?
Cross-references
- Acts 23:2 At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.
- Lamentations 3:30 Let him offer his cheek to the one who would strike him; let him be filled with reproach.
- Micah 5:1 Now, O daughter of troops, mobilize your troops; for a siege is laid against us! With a rod they will strike the cheek of the judge of Israel.
- 1 Kings 22:11 Now Zedekiah son of Chenaanah had made for himself iron horns and declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘With these you shall gore the Arameans until they are finished off.’”
- 2 Chronicles 18:23 Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah went up, struck Micaiah in the face, and demanded, “Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go when He departed from me to speak with you?”
- Isaiah 50:5 The Lord GOD has opened My ears, and I have not been rebellious, nor have I turned back.
- Jeremiah 28:10 Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke off the neck of Jeremiah the prophet and broke it.
- Jeremiah 29:26 ‘The LORD has appointed you priest in place of Jehoiada, to be the chief officer in the house of the LORD, responsible for any madman who acts like a prophet—you must put him in stocks and neck irons.
- Matthew 5:39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also;
- Matthew 26:68 and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit You?”