And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.

1 KINGS 22:10KJV
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1 Kings 22:10 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 22:10 mean?

1 Kings 22:10 describes the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, sitting in their royal robes on their thrones at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, while all the prophets are prophesying before them. This scene shows both kings publicly holding court together and listening to the prophets’ messages.

The setting is a formal, public place—the city gate—where important decisions and judgments were often made in ancient Israel. The verse highlights the seriousness of the occasion, with both kings dressed in royal garments and seated on thrones, while a group of prophets delivers their messages in front of them. This gathering sets the stage for the events that follow, where the kings seek guidance about going to battle.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 22:10

  • "throne" (כִּסֵּא, kisse): This word refers to a royal seat, emphasizing the authority and dignity of both kings as they sit in judgment or consultation.
  • "robes" (בֶּגֶד, beged): The use of this word points to the kings wearing their official garments, underlining the formality and public nature of the meeting.
  • "place" (גֹּרֶן, goren): This word often means a threshing floor, but here it likely refers to an open space at the city gate, showing that the meeting is held in a prominent, accessible location.
  • "prophets" (נָבִיא, navi): The prophets are not just present but are actively "prophesying" (נָבָא, nava) before the kings, indicating a dramatic display meant to influence the royal decision.

Why 1 Kings 22:10 matters

  • This verse clears up that the kings are not meeting in private but are holding a very public and official assembly, which adds weight to the decisions being made.
  • The detail that all the prophets are prophesying together hints at a strong, possibly unified message, which becomes important as the story unfolds and questions of true versus false prophecy arise.
  • The scene connects to the wider narrative by setting up the tension between the kings’ desire for reassurance and the genuine word of God, which comes into focus in the following verses.

Where else these words appear

“place” Hebrew H1637 · used in 36 verses

  • Genesis 50:10 And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days.
  • Ruth 3:14 And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.
  • 1 Chronicles 21:22 Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this threshingfloor, that I may build an altar therein unto the LORD: thou shalt grant it me for the full price: that the plague may be stayed from the people.

“Jehoshaphat” Hebrew H3092 · used in 75 verses

  • 2 Samuel 8:16 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
  • 2 Kings 3:7 And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up: I am as thou art, my people as thy people, and my horses as thy horses.
  • 2 Chronicles 18:31 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.

“Samaria” Hebrew H8111 · used in 101 verses

  • 1 Kings 13:32 For the saying which he cried by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass.
  • 2 Kings 13:1 In the three and twentieth year of Joash the son of Ahaziah king of Judah Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years.
  • 2 Chronicles 28:9 But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven.

“prophesied” Hebrew H5012 · used in 102 verses

  • Numbers 11:25 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.
  • Jeremiah 20:6 And thou, Pashur, and all that dwell in thine house shall go into captivity: and thou shalt come to Babylon, and there thou shalt die, and shalt be buried there, thou, and all thy friends, to whom thou hast prophesied lies.
  • Ezekiel 13:16 To wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord GOD.