8
The king of Isra'el said to Y'hoshafat, "Yes, there is still one man through whom we can consult ADONAI, Mikhay'hu the son of Yimlah; but I hate him, because he doesn't prophesy good things for me, but bad!" Y'hoshafat replied, "The king shouldn't say such a thing."
9
Then the king of Isra'el called an officer and said, "Quickly! Bring Mikhay'hu the son of Yimlah."
10
Now the king of Isra'el and Y'hoshafat the king of Y'hudah were each sitting on his throne, dressed in their royal robes, on a threshing-floor at the entrance to the gate of Shomron; and all the prophets were there, prophesying in their presence.
11
Tzidkiyah the son of Kena'anah had made himself some horns out of iron and said, "This is what ADONAI says: 'With these you will gore Aram until they are destroyed.'"
12
All the prophets prophesied the same thing: "Go up and attack Ramot-Gil'ad. You will succeed, for ADONAI will hand it over to the king."
13
The messenger who had gone to call Mikhay'hu said to him, "Here, now, the prophets are unanimously predicting success for the king. Please let your word be like the word of one of them - say something good."
14
But Mikhay'hu answered, "As ADONAI lives, whatever ADONAI says to me is what I will say."
15
When he reached the king, the king asked him, "Mikhay'hu, should we go up and attack Ramot-Gil'ad; or should we hold off?" He answered, "Go up, you will succeed, ADONAI will hand it over to the king."
16
The king said to him, "How many times do I have to warn you to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of ADONAI?"
17
Then he said, "I saw all Isra'el scattered over the hills like sheep without a shepherd; and ADONAI said, 'These men have no leader; let everyone go home in peace.'"
18
The king of Isra'el said to Y'hoshafat, "Didn't I tell you that he wouldn't prophesy good things about me, but bad?"
19
Mikhay'hu continued: "Therefore hear the word of ADONAI. I saw ADONAI sitting on his throne with the whole army of heaven standing by him on his right and on his left.
20
ADONAI asked, 'Who will entice Ach'av to go up to his death at Ramot-Gil'ad?' One of them said, 'Do it this way,' and another, 'Do it that way.'
21
Then a spirit stepped up, stood in front of ADONAI and said, 'I will entice him.'
22
ADONAI asked, 'How?' and he answered, 'I will go and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.' ADONAI said, 'You will succeed in enticing him. Go, and do it.'
23
So now ADONAI has put a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours; meanwhile, ADONAI has ordained disaster for you."
24
Then Tzidkiyah the son of Kena'anah came up, slapped Mikhay'hu in the face and said, "And how did the Spirit of ADONAI leave me to speak to you?"
25
Mikhay'hu said, "You'll find out the day you go into an inside room, trying to hide."
26
The king of Isra'el said, "Seize Mikhay'hu, and take him back to Amon the governor of the city and Yo'ash the king's son.
27
Say, 'The king says to put this man in prison; and feed him only bread and water, and not much of that, until I return in peace.'"
28
Mikhay'hu said, "If you return in peace at all, ADONAI has not spoken through me!" Then he added, "Did you hear me, you peoples, all of you?"