Extrabiblical Sources

Josephus, a Jewish historian writing in the first century ad, believed that Micaiah is the unnamed prophet in 1 Kgs 20:35–43 who prophesies against Ahab for releasing and making a covenant with Ben-Hadad of Syria after defeating him (Whiston, Josephus, 278). There is support for this tradition in the Talmud, as well (b. Sanhedrin, 89b).

Zucker suggests that Micaiah might have been the attendant who was with Elijah during the contest with the prophets of Baal. Rabbinic literature offers support for this view, and a Midrash names Micaiah as one of Elijah’s four students (Zucker, “The Prophet Micaiah,” 159.)

Both or either of these traditions would explain why Ahab attempted to avoid inquiring of Micaiah when pressed by Jehoshaphat. Ahab acknowledged that he hated Micaiah, saying “he never prophesies good concerning me, only evil” (1 Kgs 22:8; 2 Chr 18:7). Clearly, the two had met before.