2 Chronicles 18:7
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל אֶֽל־יְהֹושָׁפָ֡ט עֹ֣וד אִישׁ־אֶחָ֡ד לִדְרֹושׁ֩ אֶת־יְהוָ֨ה מֵֽאֹתֹ֜ו וַאֲנִ֣י שְׂנֵאתִ֗יהוּ כִּֽי־֠אֵינֶנּוּ מִתְנַבֵּ֨א עָלַ֤י לְטֹובָה֙ כִּ֣י כָל־יָמָ֣יו לְרָעָ֔ה ה֖וּא מִיכָ֣יְהוּ בֶן־יִמְלָ֑א וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ יְהֹ֣ושָׁפָ֔ט אַל־יֹאמַ֥ר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ כֵּֽן׃
Framing the Dialogue: וַיֹּאמֶר … וַיֹּאמֶר
The verse is framed by two sequential narrative verbs:
- וַיֹּאמֶר — Qal wayyiqtol 3ms of אָמַר (“he said”), the typical narrative past form introducing speech
First spoken by מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל (King of Yisraʾel), and then by יְהֹושָׁפָט (Yehoshafat), king of Yehudah. This sets up a contrast of tone: cynicism versus restraint.
The Elusive Prophet: עֹוד אִישׁ־אֶחָד לִדְרֹושׁ אֶת־יְהוָה
עֹוד — “yet, still,” introduces an alternative possibility.
- אִישׁ־אֶחָד — “one man,” an indefinite subject
- לִדְרֹושׁ אֶת־יְהוָה — “to inquire of YHWH,” an infinitive construct phrase expressing purpose
The king acknowledges a remaining prophet, yet his attitude immediately turns sour.
Hostility and Negation: וַאֲנִי שְׂנֵאתִיהוּ כִּי־אֵינֶנּוּ מִתְנַבֵּא …
שְׂנֵאתִיהוּ — Qal perfect 1cs + 3ms suffix of שׂ־נ־א, “I hate him.”
- אֵינֶנּוּ מִתְנַבֵּא — present tense with negative particle אֵין, literally “he is not prophesying”
- מִתְנַבֵּא — Hitpael participle ms of נ־ב־א, “prophesy,” reflexive or passive nuance: “he does not keep prophesying (for good)”
The king’s grammar reveals ongoing rejection — not a one-time offense, but habitual opposition to the prophet’s words.
Contrasting Purposes: לְטֹובָה … לְרָעָה
These infinitive phrases reflect expectations of prophecy:
- לְטֹובָה — “for good” (from ט־ו־ב)
- לְרָעָה — “for evil” (from ר־ע־ע)
The king expects prophets to affirm his plans — not rebuke them. The grammar exposes his flawed theology: truth must be pleasing, or it is rejected.
The Rebuke: אַל־יֹאמַר הַמֶּלֶךְ כֵּן
אַל — the negative particle for jussive or volitional forms.
- יֹאמַר — Qal jussive 3ms of אָמַר, “let him not say”
- כֵּן — “thus,” i.e., “such a thing” (a pejorative attitude)
Yehoshafat’s response is grammatically restrained but ethically firm — a subtle rebuke that the king should not dismiss a prophet of YHWH so lightly.
Parsing Table: Key Forms in 2 Chronicles 18:7
| Hebrew Word | Root | Form | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| שְׂנֵאתִיהוּ | שׂ־נ־א | Qal perfect 1cs + 3ms suffix | “I hated him” — personal hostility |
| מִתְנַבֵּא | נ־ב־א | Hitpael participle (ms) | “Prophesying” — habitual action |
| אַל־יֹאמַר | אָמַר | Qal jussive (3ms) | “Let him not say” — gentle rebuke |
| אֵינֶנּוּ | — | Negative existential + pronoun | “He is not” — verbal negation of action |
The Grammar of Rejection and Restraint
This verse is a masterclass in Biblical Hebrew nuance: between two kings, one cynical and the other God-fearing, Hebrew grammar lets tone, negation, and verbal aspect carry theological weight. The choice of participles, jussives, and infinitives shows how syntax can reflect the soul: some reject truth they don’t like; others insist that truth must be heard — whether it flatters or not.
