1 Kings 22:7-28

7But 1Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no longer a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of him?” 8And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, but I hate him, because he does not prophesy anything good regarding me, but only bad. He is Micaiah the son of Imlah.” But Jehoshaphat said, “May the king not say so.” 9Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, “Bring Micaiah son of Imlah quickly.” 10Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting, each on his throne, dressed in their robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and 2all the prophets were prophesying before them. 11Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made 3horns of iron for himself and said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘4With these you will gore the Arameans until they are destroyed!’” 12All the prophets were prophesying this as well, saying, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and succeed, for the Lord will hand it over to the king.”

13Then the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, “Behold now, the words of the prophets are 5unanimously favorable to the king. Please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.” 14But Micaiah said, “6As the Lord lives, whatever 7the Lord says to me, I shall speak it.”

15When he came to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, should we go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or should we refrain?” And he said, “8Go up and succeed, for the Lord will hand it over to the king!” 16Then the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear that you will tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?” 17So he said, “I saw all Israel Scattered on the mountains, 9Like sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These people have no master. Each of them is to return to his house in peace.’” 18Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “10Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy anything good regarding me, but only bad?”

19And Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord. 11I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and 12all the 13angels of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left. 20And the Lord said, ‘Who will 14entice Ahab to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one spirit said this, while another said that. 21Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will 15entice him.’ 22And the Lord said to him, ‘How?’ And he said, ‘I will go out and 16be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ Then He said, ‘You shall 17entice him, and you will also prevail. Go and do so.’ 23Now then, behold, 18the Lord has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours; and the Lord has declared disaster against you.”

24Then 19Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah approached and struck Micaiah on the cheek; and he said, “20How did the Spirit of the Lord pass from me to speak to you?” 25And Micaiah said, “Behold, you are going to see how on that day when you 21go from one inner room to 22another trying 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, ‘This is what the king says: “23Put this man in prison, and feed him enough bread and water to survive until I 24return safely.”’” 28But Micaiah said, “25If you actually return 26safely, the Lord has not spoken by me.” And he said, “27Listen, all you people!”