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.
