2 Chronicles 18

Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahab

1Now 1Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor; and he allied himself by marriage to Ahab. 22Some years later he went down to visit Ahab at Samaria, and Ahab slaughtered many sheep and oxen for him and the people who were with him. And he incited him to go up against Ramoth-gilead. 3Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth-gilead?” And he said to him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people, and we will be with you in the battle.”

4However, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please request the word of the Lord 3first.” 5So the king of Israel assembled the 4prophets, four hundred men, and said to them, “Should we go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or should I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for God will hand it over to the king.” 6But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no longer a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of him?” 7And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, but I hate him, for he never prophesies anything good regarding me, but always bad. He is Micaiah the son of Imlah.” But Jehoshaphat said, “May the king not say so.”

Ahab’s False Prophets Assure Victory

8Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, “Bring Micaiah son of Imlah quickly.” 9Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting, each on his throne, dressed in their robes, and they were sitting 5at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them. 10Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made horns of iron for himself and said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘With these you will gore the Arameans until they are destroyed!’” 11All the prophets were prophesying this as well, saying, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and be successful, for the Lord will hand it over to the king.”

Micaiah Brings Word from God

12Then the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, “Behold, the words of the prophets are 6unanimously favorable to the king. So please let your word be like one of them, and speak favorably.” 13But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, 7whatever my God says, I will speak it.”

14When he came to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, should we go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or should I refrain?” He said, “Go up and succeed, for they will be handed over to you!” 15Then 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?” 16So he said, “I saw all Israel Scattered on the mountains, 8Like 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.’” 17Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy anything good regarding me, but only bad?”

18And Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord. 9I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the 10angels of heaven standing on His right and on His left. 19And the Lord said, ‘Who will 11entice Ahab king of Israel to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one spirit said this, while another said that. 20Then a 12spirit came forward and stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will 13entice him.’ And the Lord said to him, ‘How?’ 21He said, ‘I will go out and be 14a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ Then He said, ‘You shall 15entice him, and you will also prevail. Go out and do so.’ 22Now therefore, behold, 16the Lord has put a deceiving spirit in the mouths of these prophets of yours, for the Lord has declared disaster against you.”

23Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah approached and 17struck Micaiah on the cheek; and he said, “18How did the Spirit of the Lord pass from me to speak to you?” 24And Micaiah said, “Behold, you are going to see how on that day when you go from one inner room to 19another trying to hide yourself.” 25Then the king of Israel said, “20Take Micaiah and return him to Amon 21the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son; 26and say, ‘This is what the king says: “22Put this man in prison, and feed him enough bread and water to survive until I 23return safely.”’” 27But Micaiah said, “If you actually return 24safely, the Lord has not spoken by me.” And he said, “2526Listen, all you people!”

Ahab’s Defeat and Death

28So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up against Ramoth-gilead. 29And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you put on your robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle. 30Now the king of Aram had commanded the commanders of his chariots, saying, “Do not fight with the small or great, but only with the king of Israel.” 31So when the commanders of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “He is the king of Israel!” And they turned aside to fight against him. But Jehoshaphat 27cried out, and the Lord helped him, and God diverted them from him. 32When the commanders of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him. 33Now one man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel 28in a joint of the armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn 29around and take me out of the battle, for I am severely wounded.” 34The battle raged on that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot in front of the Arameans until the evening; and at sunset he died.