1
And Jehoshaphat had yet great wealth and glory, and he connected himself by marriage with the house of Ahab.
2
And he went down after a term of years to Ahab to Samaria: and Ahab slew for him sheep and calves, in abundance, and for the people with him, and he much desired him to go up with him to Ramoth of the country of Gilead.
3
And Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth of the country of Gilead? And he said to him, As I am, so also art thou, as thy people, so also is my people with thee for the war.
4
And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, Seek, I pray thee, the Lord today.
5
And the king of Israel gathered the prophets, four hundred men, and said to them, Shall I go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up, and God shall deliver it into the hands of the king.
6
And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides, that we may inquire of him?
7
And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man by whom to inquire of the Lord; but I hate him, for he does not prophesy concerning me for good, for all his days are for evil: this is Micaiah the son of Imlah. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
8
And the king called a eunuch, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah.
9
And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, and clothed in their robes, sitting in the open space at the entrance of the gate of Samaria: and all the prophets were prophesying before them.
10
And Zedekiah son of Chenaanah made for himself iron horns, and said, Thus saith the Lord, With these thou shalt thrust Syria until it be consumed.
11
And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and thou shalt prosper; and the Lord shall deliver it into the hands of the king.
12
And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, Behold, the prophets have spoken favorably concerning the king with one mouth; let now, I pray thee, thy words be as the words of one of them, and do thou speak good things.
13
And Micaiah said, As the Lord lives, whatever God shall say to me, that will I speak.
14
And he came to the king, and the king said to him, Micaiah, shall I go up to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go up, and thou shalt prosper, and they shall be given into your hands.
15
And the king said to him, How often shall I solemnly charge thee that thou speak to me nothing but truth in the name of the Lord?
16
And he said, I saw Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep without a shepherd: and the Lord said, These have no commander; let each return to his home in peace.
17
And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Said I not to thee, that he would not prophesy concerning me good, but evil?
18
But he said, Not so. Hear ye the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven stood by on his right hand and on his left.
19
And the Lord said, Who will deceive Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up, and fall in Ramoth-gilead? And one spoke this way, and another spoke that way.
20
And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will deceive him. And the Lord said, Whereby?
21
And he said, I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the Lord said, Thou shalt deceive him, and shalt prevail: go forth, and do so.
22
And now, behold, the Lord has put a false spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the Lord has spoken evil against thee.
23
Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah drew near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said to him, By what way passed the Spirit of the Lord from me to speak to thee?
24
And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go from chamber to chamber to hide thyself.
25
And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the captain, the king’s son;
26
and ye shall say, Thus said the king, Put this fellow into the prison house, and let him eat the bread of affliction, and drink the water of affliction, until I return in peace.
27
And Micaiah said, If thou do at all return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me. And he said, Hear, all ye 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, Disguise me, and I will enter into the battle: and do thou put on my raiment. So the king of Israel disguised himself, and entered into the battle.
30
Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that were with him, saying, Fight neither against small nor great, but only against 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: and they compassed him about to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord delivered him; and God turned them away from him.
32
And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned away from him.
33
And a man drew a bow with a good aim, and smote the king of Israel between the lungs and the breastplate: and he said to the charioteer, Turn thy hand, drive me out of the battle, for I am wounded.
34
And the battle turned in that day; and the king of Israel remained on the chariot against Syria until evening, and died at sunset.