1 Kings 22:2-35

21In the third year 2Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. 3Now the king of Israel said to his servants, “Do you know that 3Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, and we 4are still doing nothing to take it out of the hand of the king of Aram?” 4And he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead?” And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “5I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”

5Moreover, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire 6first for the word of the Lord.” 6Then 7the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.” 7But 8Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not yet a prophet of the Lord here that we may inquire of him?” 8The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” But Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.” 9Then the king of Israel called an officer and said, “9Bring quickly Micaiah son of Imlah.” 10Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and 10all the prophets were prophesying before them. 11Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made 11horns of iron for himself and said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘12With these you will gore the Arameans until they are consumed.’” 12All the prophets were prophesying thus, saying, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and prosper, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.”

13Then the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, “Behold now, the words of the prophets are uniformly favorable to the king. Please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.” 14But Micaiah said, “13As the Lord lives, what 14the Lord says to me, that I shall speak.”

15When he came to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we refrain?” And he 15answered him, “16Go up and succeed, and the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.” 16Then the king said to him, “How many times must I adjure you to speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?” 17So he said, “I saw all Israel Scattered on the mountains, 17Like sheep which have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master. Let each of them return to his house in peace.’” 18Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “18Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”

1919Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord. 20I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and 21all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left. 20The Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said this while another said that. 21Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will entice him.’ 22The Lord said to him, ‘How?’ And he said, ‘I will go out and 22be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ Then He said, ‘You are to entice him and also prevail. Go and do so.’ 23Now therefore, behold, 23the Lord has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; and the Lord has proclaimed disaster against you.”

24Then 24Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “25How did the Spirit of the Lord pass from me to speak to you?” 25Micaiah said, “Behold, you shall see on that day when you 26enter an inner room to hide yourself.” 26Then the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son; 27and say, ‘Thus says the king, “27Put this man in prison and feed him 28sparingly with bread and water until I return safely.”’” 28Micaiah said, “29If you indeed return safely the Lord has not spoken by me.” And he said, “30Listen, all you people.”

29So 31the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up against Ramoth-gilead. 30The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “32I will disguise myself and go into the battle, but you put on your robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into the battle. 31Now 33the king of Aram had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, saying, “Do not fight with small or great, but with the king of Israel alone.” 32So when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “Surely it is the king of Israel,” and they turned aside to fight against him, and Jehoshaphat cried out. 33When the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

34Now a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel 34in a joint of the armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn 35around and take me out of the 36fight; 37for I am severely wounded.” 35The battle 38raged that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot in front of the Arameans, and died at evening, and the blood from the wound ran into the bottom of the chariot.