22:6 prophets . . . about four hundred men. The prophets whose words are recorded in the Scriptures are only a fraction of the total number of people who called themselves prophets in those times (18:19; 2 Kin. 3:13; Jer. 28). Prophets were also common in other societies of the ancient Near East.

they said, “Go up.” Most of the Israelite prophets were eager to please their patrons, usually the kings, by pronouncing flatteries and agreeable messages (Jer. 28:1–4; Amos 7:10–13).