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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The source R' Aryeh is referring to is in Melahim I
22, not 18.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>I believe that R'Aryeh's reading is mistaken.
See Radak (on pasuk 20) who says that Mikhayhu ben Yimla is speaking
figuratively and that he did not see the spirit volunteer to go mislead the
false prophets. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>From context, it seems pretty clear that Ahav has a
stable of prophets that he keeps around to tell him what he wants to hear, and
Mikhayhu ben Yimla is mocking their "prophecy" by ascribing it to a spirit in
the Heavenly Court (identified by Hazal as the spirit of Navot) that
sets out to deliberately deceive them. In fact, read carefully, Mikhayhu's
choice of images is meant to caricature the ridiculous scene of 400 false
prophets doing a street theater rendition of prophecy for Ahav on the
threshing floor by comparing it to the true judgment of the Heavenly Court as to
Ahav's guilt. Hazal's identification of the spirit with Navot is
meant to show us that Ahav is being punished for the sin of kerem
Navot. (The Malbim has a nice analysis of how the false testimony
that killed Navot is being repaid by the false prophecy of the phony
prophets.) It is hard to see how the spirit of Navot could literally be a
prophecy (true *or* false) in anyone's brain or mouth. Clearly the use of
the image is figurative.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Kol tuv,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Simi Peters</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>