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,[a] 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.