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[a] 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,[b] 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?