2 Chronicles 18

1Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor, and he made a marriage alliance with Ahab.

2After some years he went down to Ahab in Samaria. Ahab slaughtered many sheep and cattle for him and for the people with him, and he urged him to go up against Ramoth-gilead.

3Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?” He answered him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people. We will be with you in the battle.”

4But Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “First inquire for the word of Yahweh.”

5So the king of Israel gathered the prophets, four hundred men, and said to them, “Should we go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or should I refrain?” They said, “Go up, for God will give it into the king’s hand.”

6But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not another prophet of Yahweh here whom we may inquire of?”

7The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man through whom we may inquire of Yahweh, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good about me, but always evil. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” Jehoshaphat said, “The king should not say that.”

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

9Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, dressed in their robes. They were sitting at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying before them.

10Zedekiah son of Chenaanah had made horns of iron for himself, and he said, “This is what Yahweh says: With these you will gore the Arameans until they are destroyed.”

11All the prophets were prophesying the same thing: “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and triumph. Yahweh will give it into the king’s hand.”

12The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, “Look, the prophets are all speaking favorably to the king with one voice. Let your word be like one of theirs, and speak favorably.”

13But Micaiah said, “As Yahweh lives, whatever my God says, that is what I will speak.”

14When he came to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, should we go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or should I refrain?” He answered, “Go up and triumph; they will be given into your hand.”

15But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of Yahweh?”

16Then he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains like sheep that have no shepherd. And Yahweh said, ‘These have no master. Let each of them go home in peace.’”

17The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good about me, but only evil?”

18Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of Yahweh: I saw Yahweh sitting on his throne, with all the host of heaven standing on his right and on his left.

19Yahweh said, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ One said one thing, and another said another.

20Then the spirit came forward and stood before Yahweh and said, ‘I will entice him.’ Yahweh asked him, ‘How?’

21He said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ Yahweh said, ‘You will entice him, and you will succeed. Go and do it.’

22So now Yahweh has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these prophets of yours, and Yahweh has decreed disaster against you.”

23Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah came up and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “Which way did the Spirit of Yahweh pass from me to speak to you?”

24Micaiah said, “You will see on the day you go into an inner room to hide.”

25Then the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah and bring him back to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son,

26and say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this man in prison and feed him scant rations of bread and water until I return safely.’”

27Micaiah said, “If you ever return safely, Yahweh has not spoken through me.” Then he said, “Listen, all you peoples!”

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

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

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

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

32When the chariot commanders saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

33But someone drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the plates of his armor. The king said to his chariot driver, “Turn around and get me out of the battle, for I am wounded.”

34The battle grew fierce that day, and the king of Israel was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans until evening. Then at sunset he died.