1 Kings 22

Ahab and the False Prophets

(2 Chronicles 18:1–11)

1Then threeH7969 yearsH8141 passedH3427 withoutH369 warH4421 betweenH996 AramH758H996 and IsraelH3478.

2HoweverH1961, in the thirdH7992 yearH8141, JehoshaphatH3092 kingH4428 of JudahH3063 went downH3381 toH413 visit the kingH4428 of IsraelH3478, 3who saidH559 toH413 his servantsH5650, “Do you not knowH3045 thatH3588 Ramoth-gileadH7418 is oursH1568, but weH587 have failedH2814 to takeH3947 itH853 from the handH3027 of the kingH4428 of AramH758?”

4So he askedH559H413 JehoshaphatH3092, “Will you goH1980 with meH854 to fightH4421 against Ramoth-gileadH7418H1568?”

JehoshaphatH3092H413 answeredH559 the kingH4428 of IsraelH3478, “IH3644 am as youH3644 are, my peopleH5971 are your peopleH5971, and my horsesH5483 are your horsesH5483.”

5But JehoshaphatH3092 also saidH559 toH413 the kingH4428 of IsraelH3478, “PleaseH4994 inquireH1875 firstH3117 for the wordH1697 of the LORDH3068.”

6So the kingH4428 of IsraelH3478 assembledH6908 the prophetsH5030, about fourH702 hundredH3967 menH376, and asked themH559H413, “Should I goH1980 to warH4421 againstH5921 Ramoth-gileadH7418H1568, orH518 should I refrainH2308?”

“Go upH5927,” they repliedH559, “and the LordH136 will deliverH5414 it into the handH3027 of the kingH4428.”

7But JehoshaphatH3092 askedH559, “Is there notH369 stillH5750 a prophetH5030 of the LORDH3068 hereH6311 of whom we can inquireH1875?”

8The kingH4428 of IsraelH3478 answeredH559, “There is stillH5750 oneH259 manH376 through whom we can inquire ofH1875 the LORDH3068, but IH589 hate himH8130 becauseH3588 he neverH3808 prophesiesH5012 anything goodH2896 for meH5921, but onlyH518 badH7451. He is MicaiahH4321 sonH1121 of ImlahH3229.”

“The kingH4428 should notH408 sayH559 thatH3651!” JehoshaphatH3092 repliedH559.

9So the kingH4428 of IsraelH3478H413 calledH7121 oneH259 of his officialsH5631 and saidH559, “BringH4116 MicaiahH4321 sonH1121 of Imlah at onceH3229.”

10DressedH3847 in royal attireH899, the kingH4428 of IsraelH3478 and JehoshaphatH3092 kingH4428 of JudahH3063 were sittingH376H3427 onH5921 their thronesH3678 at the threshing floorH1637 by the entranceH6607 of the gateH8179 of SamariaH8111, with allH3605 the prophetsH5030 prophesyingH5012 before themH6440.

11Now ZedekiahH6667 sonH1121 of ChenaanahH3668 had madeH6213 for himself ironH1270 hornsH7161 and declaredH559, “This is whatH3541 the LORDH3068 saysH559: ‘With theseH428 you shall goreH5055 the ArameansH758 untilH5704 they are finished offH3615.’”

12And allH3605 the prophetsH5030 were prophesyingH5012 the sameH3651, sayingH559, “Go upH5927 to Ramoth-gileadH7418H1568 and triumphH6743, for the LORDH3068 will deliverH5414 it into the handH3027 of the kingH4428.”

Micaiah Prophesies against Ahab

(2 Chronicles 18:12–27)

13Then the messengerH4397 whoH834 had goneH1980 to callH7121 MicaiahH4321 instructed himH1696H413H559, “BeholdH2009 nowH4994, with oneH259 accordH6310 the wordsH1697 of the prophetsH5030 are favorableH2896H413 to the kingH4428. So pleaseH4994 let your wordsH1697 beH1961 like theirsH1697H259, and speakH1696 favorablyH2896.”

14But MicaiahH4321 saidH559, “As surely as the LORDH3068H3588 livesH2416, I will speakH1696 whateverH834 the LORDH3068 tellsH559 meH413.”

15When Micaiah arrivedH935, the kingH4428 askedH559 himH413, “MicaiahH4321, should we goH1980 to warH4421 againstH413 Ramoth-gileadH7418H1568, orH518 should we refrainH2308?”

“Go upH5927 and triumphH6743,” Micaiah repliedH559H413, “for the LORDH3068 will deliverH5414 it into the handH3027 of the kingH4428.”

16But the kingH4428 saidH559 to himH413, “How manyH5704H4100 timesH6471 must IH589 make you swearH7650 notH3808 to tell meH1696H413 anything butH7535 the truthH571 in the nameH8034 of the LORDH3068?”

17So Micaiah declaredH559:

18Then the kingH4428 of IsraelH3478 saidH559 toH413 JehoshaphatH3092, “Did I notH3808 tellH559 youH413 that he neverH3808 prophesiesH5012 goodH2896 for meH5921, but onlyH3588H518 badH7451?”

19Micaiah continuedH559, “ThereforeH3651 hearH8085 the wordH1697 of the LORDH3068: I sawH7200 the LORDH3068 sittingH3427 onH5921 His throneH3678, and allH3605 the hostH6635 of heavenH8064 standingH5975 by HimH5921 on His rightH3225 and on His leftH8040.

20And the LORDH3068 saidH559, ‘WhoH4310 will enticeH6601 AhabH256 to march upH5927 and fallH5307 at Ramoth-gileadH7418H1568?’

And oneH2088 suggestedH559 thisH3541, and anotherH2088 thatH3541.

21Then a spiritH7307 came forwardH3318, stoodH5975 beforeH6440 the LORDH3068H559, and saidH559, ‘IH589 will entice himH6601.’1

‘By what meansH4100?’ askedH413 the LORDH3068.

22And he repliedH559, ‘I will go outH3318 and beH1961 a lyingH8267 spiritH7307 in the mouthsH6310 of allH3605 his prophetsH5030.’

‘You will surelyH1571 entice himH6601 and prevailH3201,’ saidH559 the LORD. ‘GoH3318 and doH6213 itH3651.’

23SoH6258 you seeH2009, the LORDH3068 has putH5414 a lyingH8267 spiritH7307 in the mouthsH6310 of allH3605 theseH428 prophets of yoursH5030, and the LORDH3068 has pronouncedH1696 disasterH7451 against youH5921.”

24Then ZedekiahH6667 sonH1121 of ChenaanahH3668 went upH5066, struckH5221 MicaiahH4321 inH5921 the faceH3895, and demandedH559, “Which wayH335H2088 did the SpiritH7307 of the LORDH3068 go when He departedH5674 from meH854 to speakH1696 with youH854?”

25MicaiahH4321H2005 repliedH559, “You will soon seeH7200, on thatH1931 dayH3117 whenH834 you goH935 and hideH2247 in an innerH2315 roomH2315.”

26And the kingH4428 of IsraelH3478 declaredH559, “TakeH3947 MicaiahH4321 and return himH7725 toH413 AmonH526 the governorH8269 of the cityH5892 and toH413 JoashH3101 the king’sH4428 sonH1121, 27and tell themH559 that this is whatH3541 the kingH4428 saysH559: ‘PutH7760 thisH2088 man in prisonH1004H3608 and feed himH398 only breadH3899H3906 and waterH4325H3906 untilH5704 I returnH935 safelyH7965.’”

28But MicaiahH4321 repliedH559, “IfH518 you ever returnH7725 safelyH7965, the LORDH3068 has notH3808 spokenH1696 through me.” Then he addedH559, “Take heedH8085, allH3605 you peopleH5971!”

Ahab’s Defeat and Death

(2 Chronicles 18:28–34)

29So the kingH4428 of IsraelH3478 and JehoshaphatH3092 kingH4428 of JudahH3063 went upH5927 to Ramoth-gileadH7418H1568. 30And the kingH4428 of IsraelH3478 saidH559 toH413 JehoshaphatH3092, “I will disguise myselfH2664 and goH935 into battleH4421, but youH859 wearH3847 your royal robesH899.” So the kingH4428 of IsraelH3478 disguised himselfH2664 and wentH935 into battleH4421.

31Now the kingH4428 of AramH758 had orderedH6680 his thirty-twoH7970H8147H559 chariotH7393 commandersH8269, “Do notH3808 fightH3898 with anyoneH854, smallH6996 or greatH1419, exceptH3588H518H854 the kingH4428 of IsraelH3478H905.”

32

When the chariotH7393 commandersH8269 sawH7200 JehoshaphatH3092, theyH1992 saidH559, “SurelyH389 thisH1931 is the kingH4428 of IsraelH3478!” So they turnedH5493 to fightH3898 against himH5921, but JehoshaphatH3092 cried outH2199. 33AndH1961 when the chariotH7393 commandersH8269 sawH7200 thatH3588 heH1931 was notH3808 the kingH4428 of IsraelH3478, they turned backH7725 from pursuing himH310.

34However, a certain manH376 drewH4900 his bowH7198 without taking special aimH8537, and he struckH5221 the kingH4428 of IsraelH3478 betweenH996 the jointsH1694H996 of his armorH8302. So the king saidH559 to his charioteerH7395, “Turn aroundH2015H30272 and take me outH3318 ofH4480 the battleH4264, forH3588 I am badly woundedH2470!”

35The battleH4421 ragedH5927 throughout thatH1931 dayH3117, and the kingH4428 wasH1961 propped upH5975 in his chariotH4818 facingH5227 the ArameansH758. And the bloodH1818 from his woundH4347 ran outH3332 ontoH413 the floorH2436 of the chariotH7393, and that eveningH6153 he diedH4191. 36As the sunH8121 was settingH935, the cryH7440 rang outH5674 in the armyH4264:

37So the kingH4428 diedH4191 and was broughtH935 to SamariaH8111, where they buriedH6912 him. 38And the chariotH7393 was washedH7857 atH5921 the poolH1295 of SamariaH8111 where the prostitutesH2181 bathedH7364,3 and the dogsH3611 licked upH3952 Ahab’s bloodH1818, according to the wordH1697 that the LORDH3068 had spokenH1696.4

39As for the restH3499 of the actsH1697 of AhabH256, along with allH3605 his accomplishmentsH834H6213 and the ivoryH8127 palaceH1004 and allH3605 the citiesH5892 he builtH1129, are theyH1992 notH3808 writtenH3789 inH5921 the BookH5612 of the ChroniclesH1697H3117 of the KingsH4428 of IsraelH3478?

40And AhabH256 restedH7901 withH5973 his fathersH1, and his sonH1121 AhaziahH274 reignedH4427 in his placeH8478.

Jehoshaphat Reigns in Judah

(2 Chronicles 20:31–34)

41In the fourthH702 yearH8141 of Ahab’sH256 reignH4428 over IsraelH3478, JehoshaphatH3092 sonH1121 of AsaH609 became kingH4427 ofH5921 JudahH3063. 42JehoshaphatH3092 was thirty-fiveH7970H2568 yearsH8141 oldH1121 when he became kingH4427, and he reignedH4427 in JerusalemH3389 twenty-fiveH6242H2568 yearsH8141. His mother’sH517 nameH8034 was AzubahH5806 daughterH1323 of ShilhiH7977.

43And Jehoshaphat walkedH1980 in allH3605 the waysH1870 of his fatherH1 AsaH609; he did notH3808 turn awayH5493 from themH4480, but didH6213 what was rightH3477 in the eyesH5869 of the LORDH3068.

The high placesH1116, howeverH389, were notH3808 removedH5493; the peopleH5971 stillH5750 sacrificedH2076 and burned incenseH6999 on the high placesH1116. 44JehoshaphatH3092 also made peaceH7999 withH5973 the kingH4428 of IsraelH3478.

45As for the restH3499 of the actsH1697 of JehoshaphatH3092, along with the mightH1369 he exercisedH6213 and howH834 he waged warH3898, are theyH1992 notH3808 writtenH3789 inH5921 the BookH5612 of the ChroniclesH1697H3117 of the KingsH4428 of JudahH3063? 46He banishedH1197 fromH4480 the landH776 theH3499 male shrine prostitutesH6945 whoH834 remainedH7604 from the daysH3117 of his fatherH1 AsaH609. 47And there was noH369 kingH4428 in EdomH123; a deputyH5324 served as kingH4428.

48JehoshaphatH3092 builtH6237 shipsH591 of TarshishH86595 to goH1980 to OphirH211 for goldH2091, but they neverH3808 set sailH1980, becauseH3588 they were wreckedH6100H7665 at Ezion-geberH6100. 49At that timeH227 AhaziahH274 sonH1121 of AhabH256 saidH559 toH413 JehoshaphatH3092, “Let my servantsH5650 sailH1980H591 withH5973 your servantsH5650,” but JehoshaphatH3092 refusedH3808H14.

50And JehoshaphatH3092 restedH7901 withH5973 his fathersH1 and was buriedH6912 withH5973 themH1 in the cityH5892 of his fatherH1 DavidH1732. And his sonH1121 JehoramH3088 reignedH4427 in his placeH8478.

Ahaziah Reigns in Israel

(2 Kings 1:1–16)

51In the seventeenthH7651H6240 yearH8141 of Jehoshaphat’sH3092 reignH4428 over JudahH3063, AhaziahH274 sonH1121 of AhabH256 became kingH4427 ofH5921 IsraelH3478, and he reignedH4427 in SamariaH8111 two yearsH8141. 52And he didH6213 evilH7451 in the sightH5869 of the LORDH3068 and walkedH1980 in the waysH1870 of his fatherH1 and motherH517 and of JeroboamH3379 sonH1121 of NebatH5028, whoH834 had caused IsraelH3478 to sinH2398.

53Ahaziah servedH5647 and worshipedH7812 BaalH1168, provokingH3707 the LORDH3068, the GodH430 of Israel, to angerH3478, just asH3605 his fatherH1 had doneH6213.