It took me long enough, but way back in
post #80 on page 4, I had asked about all the malach (angels) who were surrounding Hashem who shouted in joy at the creation of the world and I think that
@Ehav4Ever responded with something about that being metaphysical symbolic language representing various elements of reality.
However, I have a similar question about
1 Kings 22:19–23:
Therefore,
what in the world is going on here???
Again, English translation issues. You have the wrong starting point. First, you have to starting at verse 1 and all the way through the end of the chapter. It explains what is happening, and is the context for the statements you are asking about. Further, the ONLY way for you to understanding what you asking about is to know that a Navi is and how Nevuah works. W/O this can't understand what in the original "the Hebrew." Otherwise you don't have the basis for what is being disucssed. For example, the Rambam explains nevuah in this way. (Note, every listed below is the definition for a navi, yet for the sake of your question I have highlighted a few areas that pertain to your question.
Mishnah Torah - Hilchoth Yesodei HaTorah
It is [one] of the foundations of [our] faith that Hashem conveys nevuah/prophecy to man.
Nevuah/prophecy is bestowed only upon a very wise sage of a strong character, who is never overcome by his natural inclinations in any regard. Instead, with his mind, he overcomes his natural inclinations at all times. He must [also] possess a very broad and accurate mental capacity.
A person who is full of all these qualities and is physically sound [is fit for nevuah/prophecy]. When he enters the Pardes and is drawn into these great and sublime concepts, if he possesses an accurate mental capacity to comprehend and grasp [them], he will become holy. He will advance and separate himself from the masses who proceed in the darkness of the time. He must continue and diligently train himself not to have any thoughts whatsoever about fruitless things or the vanities and intrigues of the times.
Instead, his mind should constantly be directed upward, bound beneath [Hashem's] throne [of Glory, striving] to comprehend the holy and pure forms and gazing at the wisdom of the Holy One, blessed be He, in its entirety, [in its manifold manifestations] from the most elevated [divine inspirationual] form until the navel of the earth, appreciating His greatness from them. [After these preparations,] the divine divine inspiration will immediately rest upon him.
There are a number of levels among the Navi/prophets. Just as with regard to wisdom, one sage is greater than his colleague, so, too, with regard to nevuah/prophecy, one Navi/prophet is greater than another. They all, [however, share certain commonalities]. They receive Navi/prophetic visions only in a visionary dream or during the day after slumber has overtaken them, as [Numbers 12:6] states: "I make Myself known to him in a vision. I speak to him in a dream."
When any of them prophesy, their limbs tremble, their physical powers become weak, they lose control of their senses, and thus, their minds are free to comprehend what they see, as [Genesis 15:12] states concerning Abraham: "and a great, dark dread fell over him." Similarly, Daniel [10:8] states: "My appearance was horribly changed and I retained no strength."
When the divine inspiration rests upon him, his soul becomes intermingled with the angels called ishim, and he will be transformed into a different person and will understand with a knowledge different from what it was previously. He will rise above the level of other wise men, as [the Navi/prophet, Samuel] told Saul [I Samuel 10:6]: "[The divine inspiration of Hashem will descend upon you] and you shall prophesy with them. And you will be transformed into a different person."
There are a number of levels among the Navi/Navi/prophets. Just as with regard to wisdom, one sage is greater than his colleague, so, too, with regard to nevuah/nevuah/prophecy, one Navi/Navi/prophet is greater than another. They all, [however, share certain commonalities]. They receive Navi/Navi/prophetic visions only in a visionary dream or during the day after slumber has overtaken them, as [Numbers 12:6] states: "I make Myself known to him in a vision. I speak to him in a dream."
When any of them prophesy, their limbs tremble, their physical powers become weak, they lose control of their senses, and thus, their minds are free to comprehend what they see, as [Genesis 15:12] states concerning Abraham: "and a great, dark dread fell over him." Similarly, Daniel [10:8] states: "My appearance was horribly changed and I retained no strength."
When a Navi/Navi/prophet is informed of a message in a vision, it is granted to him in metaphoric imagery. Immediately, the interpretation of the imagery is imprinted upon his heart, and he knows its meaning.
For example, the ladder with the angels ascending and descending envisioned by the patriarch, Jacob, was an allegory for the empires and their subjugation [of his descendants]. Similarly, the creatures Ezekiel saw, the boiling pot and the rod from an almond tree envisioned by Jeremiah, the scroll Ezekiel saw, and the measure seen by Zechariah [were all metaphoric images]. This is also true with regard to the other Navi/Navi/prophets.
Some would relate the allegory and its explanation as these did. Others would relate only the explanation. At times, they would relate only the imagery without explaining it, as can be seen in some of the prophecies of Ezekiel and Zechariah.
All of the prophecies come in the form of metaphoric imagery and allegories.
All the Navi/Navi/prophets do not prophesy whenever they desire. Instead, they must concentrate their attention [upon divine inspirationual concepts] and seclude themselves, [waiting] in a happy, joyous mood, because nevuah/nevuah/prophecy cannot rest upon a person when he is sad or languid, but only when he is happy.
Therefore, the Navi/Navi/prophets' disciples would always have a harp, drum, flute, and lyre [before them when] they were seeking nevuah/nevuah/prophecy. This is what is meant by the expression [I Samuel 10:5]: "They were prophesying" - i.e., following the path of nevuah/nevuah/prophecy until they would actually prophesy - as one might say, "So and so aspires to greatness."
Those who aspire to nevuah/prophecy are called "the disciples of the Navi/prophets." Even though they concentrate their attention, it is possible that the Divine Presence will rest upon them, and it is possible that it will not rest upon them.
All the statements made above describe the path of nevuah/prophecy of all the early and later Navi/prophets, with the exception of Moses, our teacher, the master of all Navi/prophets.
What is the difference between Moses' nevuah/prophecy and that of all the other Navi/prophets? [Divine insight is bestowed upon] all the [other] Navi/prophets in a dream or vision. Moses, our teacher, would prophesy while standing awake, as [Numbers 7:89] states: "When Moses came into the Tent of Meeting to speak to Him, he heard the Voice speaking to him."
[Divine insight is bestowed upon] all the [other] Navi/prophets through the medium of an angel. Therefore, they perceive only metaphoric imagery and allegories. Moses, our teacher, [would prophesy] without the medium of an angel, as [Numbers 12:8] states: "Mouth to mouth I speak to him," and [Exodus 33:11] states: "And Hashem spoke to Moses face to face." [Numbers 12:8] states: "He gazes upon the image of Hashem" - i.e., there was no metaphor. Rather, he would perceive the matter in its fullness, without metaphor or allegory. The Torah testifies concerning him [Numbers 12:8]: ["I speak to him...] manifestly, without allegory." His appreciation of nevuah/prophecy would not be through metaphor, but through open revelation, appreciating the matter in its fullness. All the [other] Navi/prophets are overawed, terrified, and confounded [by the revelations they experience], but Moses, our teacher, would not [respond in this manner], as [Exodus 33:11] relates: "[Hashem spoke to Moses...] as a man speaks to a friend" - i.e., just as a person will not be awe-struck from hearing his friend's words, so, too, Moses' mental power was sufficient to comprehend the words of nevuah/prophecy while he was standing in a composed state.
All the [other] Navi/prophets cannot prophesy whenever they desire. Moses, our teacher, was different. Whenever he desired, the ruah haqodesh/divine inspiration would envelop him, and nevuah/prophecy would rest upon him. He did not have to concentrate his attention to prepare himself [for nevuah/prophecy], because his [mind] was always concentrated, prepared, and ready [to appreciate divine inspirationual truth] as the angels [are]. Therefore, he would prophesy at all times, as [Numbers 9:8] states: "Stand and hear what Hashem will command you."
He was promised this by Hashem, as [implied by Deuteronomy 5:27-28]: "Go and tell them: `Return to your tents,' but you stand here together with Me." This should be interpreted to mean: When nevuah/prophecy departs from all the [other] Navi/prophets, they return to their "tents" - i.e., the needs of the body like other people. Therefore, they do not separate themselves from their wives. Moses, our teacher, never returned to his original "tent." Therefore, he separated himself from women and everything of that nature forever. He bound his mind to the Eternal Rock. [Accordingly,] the glory never left him forever. The flesh of his countenance shone, [for] he became holy like the angels.
There is the possibility that a Navi/prophet will experience nevuah/prophecy for his own sake alone - i.e., to expand his mental capacities and to increase his knowledge - [allowing him] to know more about the lofty concepts than he knew before.
It is also possible that he will be sent to one of the nations of the world, or to the inhabitants of a particular city or kingdom, to prepare them and to inform them what they should do or to prevent them [from continuing] the evil which they are doing.
Meaning: Are things basically going to be the same after mashiach arrives since risky 'free will' will continue to exist?