1
Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.
2
And after[a] certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahabkilledsheep 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 Ahabking of Israelsaid unto Jehoshaphatking 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 Jehoshaphatsaid 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 prophetsfourhundredmen, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramothgileadtobattle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the king'shand.
6
But Jehoshaphatsaid, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire[b] of him?
7
And the king of Israelsaid unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet oneman, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never prophesiedgood unto me, but alwaysevil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphatsaid, Let not the kingsay so.
8
And the king of Israelcalled for one of his officers,[c] and said, Fetch quicklyMicaiah the son of Imla.
9
And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphatking of Judahsateither 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 prophetsprophesiedbefore them.
10
And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt pushSyria until they be consumed.
11
And all the prophetsprophesied 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 callMicaiahspake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with oneassent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.
13
And Micaiahsaid, As the LORDliveth, even what my Godsaith, that will I speak.
14
And when he was come to the king, the kingsaid unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramothgileadtobattle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.
15
And the kingsaid 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 Israelscattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORDsaid, These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace.
17
And the king of Israelsaid to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesygood unto me, but evil?
18
Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORDsitting upon his throne, and all the host of heavenstanding on his right hand and on his left.
19
And the LORDsaid, Who shall enticeAhabking of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead*? And one spakesaying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.
20
Then there came out a spirit, and stoodbefore the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORDsaid unto him, Wherewith?
21
And he said, I will go out, and be a lyingspirit 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 lyingspirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spokenevil against thee.
23
Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smoteMicaiah upon the cheek, and said, Whichwaywent the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?
24
And Micaiahsaid, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou shalt go into an innerchamber to hide thyself.
25
Then the king of Israelsaid, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king'sson;
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 Micaiahsaid, If thou certainlyreturn in peace, then hath not the LORDspoken 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 Israelsaid unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israeldisguised 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 chariotssawJehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORDhelped him; and Godmoved them to depart from him.
32
For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the chariotsperceived 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,[d] and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: therefore he said to his chariotman,Turn thine hand, that thou mayest carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.
34
And the battleincreased that day: howbeit the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariotagainst the Syrians until the even: and about the time of the sun going down he died.