| 1: Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined
affinity with Ahab. |
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| 2: And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And
Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that
he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth-gilead.
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| 3:
And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah,
Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth-gilead? And he answered him, I am as thou
art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the war.
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| 4: And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Inquire, I pray
thee, at the word of the LORD to day. |
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| 5: Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets
four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to
battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver
it into the king's hand. |
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| 6: But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD
besides, that we might inquire of him? |
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| 7: And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one
man, by whom we may inquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never
prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of
Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so. |
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| 8: And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and
said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla. |
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| 9: And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat
either 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
prophets prophesied before them. |
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| 10: And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron,
and said, Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt push Syria until
they be consumed. |
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| 11: And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to
Ramoth-gilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand
of the king. |
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| 12: And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him,
saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with
one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs,
and speak thou good. |
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| 13: And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith,
that will I speak. |
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| 14: And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him,
Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And
he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your
hand. |
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| 15: And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee
that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the LORD? |
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| 16: Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the
mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have
no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace.
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| 17: And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell
thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil? |
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| 18: Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the
LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his
right hand and on his left. |
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| 19: And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that
he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one spake saying after this
manner, and another saying after that manner. |
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| 20: Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and
said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? |
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| 21: And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit 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. |
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| 22: Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in
the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against
thee. |
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| 23: Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote
Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD
from me to speak unto thee? |
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| 24: And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when
thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself. |
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| 25: Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him
back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;
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| 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. |
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| 27: And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, then
hath not the LORD spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, all ye people.
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| 28: So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went
up to Ramoth-gilead. |
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| 29: And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will
disguise myself, and will go to the battle; but put thou on
thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they
went to the battle. |
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| 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. |
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| 31: And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw
Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they
compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD
helped him; and God moved them to depart from him. |
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| 32: For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the chariots
perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again
from pursuing him. |
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| 33: And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king
of Israel between the joints of the harness: therefore he said to his
chariot man, Turn thine hand, that thou mayest carry me out of the host;
for I am wounded. |
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| 34: And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel
stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the even: and
about the time of the sun going down he died. |
