“1 Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined
affinity with Ahab. 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 Ramothgilead. 3 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.”
“4 And Jehoshaphat said 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 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. 6 But Jehoshaphat said, [Is
there] not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of
him? 7 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. 8 And the king
of Israel called for one [of his] officers, and said, Fetch quickly
Micaiah the son of Imla. 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. 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 theirs, 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? 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 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.” (2 Chronicles 18:1-34 AV)
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