Now
Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance,
and joined affinity with Ahab.
02 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
Ramothgilead.
03 And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat
king 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.
04 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel,
Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the Lord to
day.
05 Therefore the king of Israel gathered together
of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them,
Shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I
forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will
deliver it into the king's hand.
06 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a
prophet of the Lord besides, that we might
enquire of him?
07 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat,
There is yet one man, by whom we may enquire 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.
08 And the king of Israel called for one of his
officers, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son
of Imla.
09 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.
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.
11 And all the prophets prophesied 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 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 their's, and speak thou good.
13 And Micaiah said, As the Lord liveth, even
what my God saith, that will I speak.
14 And when he was come to the king, the king
said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to
Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And
he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be
delivered into your hand.
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?
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.
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.
19 And the Lord said, Who shall entice Ahab king
of Israel, that he may go up and fall at
Ramothgilead? And one spake saying after this
manner, and another saying after that manner.
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?
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.
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.
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?
24 And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on
that day when thou shalt go into an inner chamber
to hide thyself.
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;
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 Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in
peace, then hath not the Lord spoken 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 Israel said unto Jehoshaphat,
I will disguise myself, and I will go to the
battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of
Israel disguised 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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