2 Chronicles 18

1 Now Jehoshaphat had an abundance of riches and honor, and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage.

2 And some years later he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria, where Ahab sacrificed many sheep and cattle for him and the people with him and urged him to march up to Ramoth-gilead.

3 Ahab king of Israel asked Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth-gilead?” And Jehoshaphat replied, “I am as you are, and my people are your people; we will join you in the war.”

4 But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire first for the word of the LORD.”

5 So the king of Israel assembled the prophets, four hundred men, and asked them, “Should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should we refrain?” “Go up,” they replied, “and God will deliver it into the hand of the king.”

6 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not still a prophet of the LORD here of whom we can inquire?”

7 The king of Israel answered, “There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me, but only bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” “The king should not say that!” Jehoshaphat replied.

8 So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, “Bring Micaiah son of Imlah at once.”

9 Dressed in royal attire, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying before them.

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.’”

11 And all the prophets were prophesying the same, saying, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and triumph, for the LORD will deliver it into the hand of the king.”

12 Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah instructed him, “Behold, with one accord the words of the prophets are favorable to the king. So please let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.”

13 But Micaiah said, “As surely as the LORD lives, I will speak whatever my God tells me.”

14 When Micaiah arrived, the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should we refrain?” “Go up and triumph,” Micaiah replied, “for they will be delivered into your hand.”

15 But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear not to tell me anything but the truth in the name of the LORD?”

16 So Micaiah declared: “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These people have no master; let each one return home in peace.’”

17 Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he never prophesies good for me, but only bad?”

18 Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right and on His left.

19 And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one suggested this, and another that.

20 Then a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ ‘By what means?’ asked the LORD.

21 And he replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ ‘You will surely entice him and prevail,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’

22 So you see, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of these prophets of yours, and the LORD has pronounced disaster against you.”

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?”

24 Micaiah replied, “You will soon see, on that day when you go and hide in an inner room.”

25 And the king of Israel declared, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son,

26 and tell them that this is what the king says: ‘Put this man in prison and feed him only bread and water until I return safely.’”

27 But Micaiah replied, “If you ever return safely, the LORD has not spoken through me.” Then he added, “Take heed, all you people!”

28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.

29 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

30 Now the king of Aram had ordered his chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.”

31 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “This is the king of Israel!” So they turned to fight against him, but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him. God drew them away from him.

32 And when the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

33 However, a certain man drew his bow without taking special aim, and he struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So the king said to his charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded!”

34 The battle raged throughout that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans until evening. And at sunset he died.

1 ¶ Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.

2 And after [certain] years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that [he had] with him, and persuaded him to go up [with him] to Ramothgilead.

3 And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramothgilead? And he answered him, I [am] as thou [art], and my people as thy people; and [we will be] with thee in the war.

4 ¶ And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.

5 Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver [it] into the king's hand.

6 But Jehoshaphat said, [Is there] not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?

7 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, [There is] yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same [is] Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

8 And the king of Israel called for one [of his] officers, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.

9 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in [their] robes, and they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.

10 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt push Syria until they be consumed.

11 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver [it] into the hand of the king.

12 And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets [declare] good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.

13 And Micaiah said, [As] the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.

14 And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.

15 And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the LORD?

16 Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master; let them return [therefore] every man to his house in peace.

17 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee [that] he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?

18 Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and [on] his left.

19 And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.

20 Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith?

21 And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And [the LORD] said, Thou shalt entice [him], and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do [even] so.

22 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee.

23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?

24 And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.

25 Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;

26 And say, Thus saith the king, Put this [fellow] in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.

27 And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, [then] hath not the LORD spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, all ye people.

28 ¶ So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.

29 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle.

30 Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that [were] with him, saying, Fight ye not with small or great, save only with the king of Israel.

31 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It [is] the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them [to depart] from him.

32 For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him.

33 And a [certain] man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: therefore he said to his chariot man, Turn thine hand, that thou mayest carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.

34 And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel stayed [himself] up in [his] chariot against the Syrians until the even: and about the time of the sun going down he died.

1 And Jehoshaphat had great riches and honour, and befriended Ahab.

2 And he went down to Ahab to Samaria in two years. And Ahab slew for him, and for the people that were with him, many sheep and oxen. And he persuaded him to go up to Ramoth in Gilead.

3 And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Go with me to Ramoth in Gilead. And he said unto him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people: we will go with thee to battle.

4 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Ask the word of the LORD this day.

5 And the king of Israel gathered the prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramoth in Gilead to battle, or shall I leave it? And they said: Go up, and God will deliver them into the king's hand.

6 And Jehoshaphat said: Is there not yet a prophet of the LORD here, that we should inquire of him?

7 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet a man to inquire of the LORD of him: but I am displeased with him, because he knoweth me no good, but all evil; even Micaiah the son of Jemla. And Jehoshaphat said, The king speaketh not so.

8 And the king of Israel called one of his chamberlains, and said, Bring quickly Micaiah the son of Jemla.

9 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat every man in his seat clothed with garments: and they sat in the place before the door, at the gate of Samaria: and all the prophets prophesied before them.

10 And Zidekiah the son of Caenas made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Herewith shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou destroy them.

11 And all the prophets also prophesied so, saying: Go up, and thou shalt prosper: the LORD shall deliver them into the hand of the king.

12 And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets are good for the king with one accord: let thy word also be as one, and speak good.

13 And Micah said, As the LORD liveth, what my God shall say, that will I speak.

14 And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micah, shall we go up to Ramoth in Gilead to battle, or shall I leave it? And he said, Yea, go up; ye shall prosper: it shall be given into your hand.

15 And the king said unto him, I charge thee again that thou tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD.

16 And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep having no shepherd. And the LORD said, Have these no LORD? Let them return every one in peace.

17 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Said I not unto thee, He knoweth me no good, but evil?

18 And he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.

19 And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab king of Israel to go up and fall at Ramoth in Gilead? And when this said so, and that said otherwise.

20 And a spirit came forth, and stood before the Lord, and said: I will persuade him. And the LORD said unto him, With what?

21 And he said: I will go forth, and be a false spirit in all his prophets' mouths. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and shalt perform it: go thou, and do so.

22 Now, behold, the LORD hath put a false spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee.

23 And Zidekiah the son of Caenas came near, and smote Micaiah on the beacon, and said, By what way hath the Spirit of the LORD departed from me, that he speaketh by thee?

24 And Micah said, Behold, thou shalt see, when thou comest into the innermost chamber, that thou shalt hide thyself.

25 And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and let him dwell with Amon the governor, and with Joash the king's son,

26 And say, Thus saith the king, Put this man in prison, and feed him with bread and with water of affliction, until I come again in peace.

27 And Micah said, If thou return in peace, the LORD hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hear, all ye nations.

28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth in Gilead.

29 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and come into battle: but thou hast thy garments on. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and they came to battle.

30 But the king of Syria had commanded his chief horsemen: Ye shall not fight against small nor against great, but against the king of Israel alone.

31 And when the chief horsemen saw Jehoshaphat, they thought it was the king of Israel, and went about to fight upon him. But Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him, and God turned them away from him.

32 For when the chief horsemen saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned away from him.

33 And a man drew his bow about, and shot the king of Israel between the armour and the hengel. And he said unto his charioteer, Turn thine hand, and bring me out of the army: for I am sore.

34 And the battle increased in the day. And the king of Israel stood in his chariot against the Syrians until the even, and died when the sun was down.