1 Kings is a book of stories. It is also a book of history; it deals with real people, real events and a highly particularized cultural milieu. As a narrative record, it recounts the story of Solomon (1-11), Jeroboam (11:26-14:20), Elijah (17-19) and Ahab (20:1-22:40).

Today's text is sandwiched between two accounts of Ahab's wars with the Arameans. Chapter 20 recounts a successful campaign against Israel's enemy but concludes with a prophetic rebuke of Ahab for making a treaty with King Ben-hadad and allowing him to return to his home. The second account (chapter 22:1-40) discloses the resounding defeat of Ahab's armies at the hands of the Arameans, a disaster which was preceded by a stinging rebuke from the prophet Micaiah who predicted the outcome. In this battle, Ahab loses his life.…