Chenaanah כְּנַעֲנָה
False prophet who opposed Micaiah
Who is Chenaanah in the Bible?
Chenaanah was the father of Zedekiah, a false prophet during the reign of King Ahab of Israel in the 9th century BCE. Zedekiah son of Chenaanah is featured prominently in 1 Kings 22:11, 22:24 and 2 Chronicles 18:10, 18:23, where he appears among Ahab's court prophets encouraging the king to attack the Arameans at Ramoth-gilead. He fashioned iron horns as a symbolic prophecy, claiming Ahab would use them to gore his enemies to victory. When the true prophet Micaiah contradicted this false prophecy and warned of Ahab's defeat, Zedekiah struck Micaiah on the cheek and challenged his authority. The biblical account presents Chenaanah's son as a cautionary example of false prophecy and religious deception, contrasting sharply with Micaiah's faithful proclamation of God's true word despite opposition.
Biography
Zedekiah son of Chenaanah was a false prophet who lived during the reign of King Ahab of Israel. He is mentioned in the context of the battle at Ramoth-gilead, where he, along with other false prophets, encouraged Ahab to go to war against the Arameans. Zedekiah made iron horns and claimed that Ahab would gore the Arameans until they were destroyed. When the true prophet Micaiah prophesied Ahab's defeat, Zedekiah struck him on the cheek and questioned the source of his prophecy. Micaiah responded by saying that Zedekiah would go into an inner chamber to hide when his false prophecy was exposed. The biblical account portrays Zedekiah as a false prophet who opposed God's true message delivered through Micaiah.
Family
In Scripture
2 biblical books1 Kings 2 verses
- 1 Kings 22:11
"Now Zedekiah son of Chenaanah had made for himself iron horns and declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘With these you shall gore the Arameans until they are finished off.’”"
- 1 Kings 22:24
"Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah went up, struck Micaiah in the face, and demanded, “Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go when He departed from me to speak with you?”"
2 Chronicles 2 verses
- 2 Chronicles 18:10
"Now Zedekiah son of Chenaanah had made for himself iron horns and declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘With these you shall gore the Arameans until they are finished off.’”"
- 2 Chronicles 18:23
"Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah went up, struck Micaiah in the face, and demanded, “Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go when He departed from me to speak with you?”"
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | כְּנַעֲנָה |