Chapter 18
1 Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance ; and he allied himself with Ahab.
2 After some years , he went down to Ahab to Samaria . Ahab killed sheep and cattle for him in abundance , and for the people who were with him , and moved him to go up with him to Ramoth Gilead .
3 Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah , " Will you go with me to Ramoth Gilead ?" He answered him , " I am as you are , and my people as your people . We will be with you in the war ."
4 Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel , " Please inquire first for Yahweh ’s word ."
5 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together , four hundred men , and said to them , " Shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle , or shall I forbear ?" They said, " Go up , for God will deliver it into the hand of the king ."
6 But Jehoshaphat said, "Isn’t there here a prophet of Yahweh besides , that we may inquire of him ?"
7 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat , " There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Yahweh ; but I hate him , for he never prophesies good concerning me , but always evil . He is Micaiah the son of Imla ." Jehoshaphat said , "Don’t let the king say so ."
8 Then the king of Israel called an officer , and said , "Get Micaiah the son of Imla quickly ."
9 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah each sat on his throne , arrayed in their robes, and they were sitting in an open place at the entrance of the gate of Samaria ; and all the prophets were prophesying before them .
10 Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made himself horns of iron and said, " Yahweh says , ‘ With these you shall push the Syrians, until they are consumed .’"
11 All the prophets prophesied so , saying, " Go up to Ramoth Gilead , and prosper ; for Yahweh will deliver it into the hand of the king ."
12 The messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him , saying , " Behold , the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one mouth . Let your word therefore , please be like one of theirs , and speak good ."
13 Micaiah said , " As Yahweh lives , I will say what my God says ."
14 When he had come to the king , the king said to him , " Micaiah , shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle , or shall I forbear ?" He said, " Go up , and prosper . They shall be delivered into your hand ."
15 The king said to him , " How many times shall I adjure you that you speak to me nothing but the truth in Yahweh ’s name ?"
16 He said, " I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains , as sheep that have no shepherd . Yahweh said, ‘ These have no master. Let them each return to his house in peace .’"
17 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat , "Didn’t I tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me , but evil ?"
18 Micaiah said , " Therefore hear Yahweh ’s word : I saw Yahweh sitting on his throne , and all the army of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left .
19 Yahweh said, ‘ Who will entice Ahab king of Israel , that he may go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead ?’ One spoke saying in this way , and another saying in that way .
20 A spirit came out , stood before Yahweh , and said , ‘ I will entice him .’ " Yahweh said to him , ‘ How ?’
21 " He said , ‘ I will go , and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets .’ " He said , ‘ You will entice him , and will prevail also . Go and do so .’
22 " Now therefore , behold , Yahweh has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets ; and Yahweh has spoken evil concerning you ."
23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near , and struck Micaiah on the cheek , and said , " Which way did Yahweh ’s Spirit go from me to speak to you ?"
24 Micaiah said, " Behold , you shall see on that day , when you go into an inner room to hide yourself."
25 The king of Israel said, " Take Micaiah , and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city , and to Joash the king ’s son ;
26 and say , ‘ The king says , " Put this fellow in the prison , and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction , until I return in peace ."’"
27 Micaiah said , "If you return at all in peace , Yahweh has not spoken by me ." He said , " Listen , you people , all of you !"
28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead .
29 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat , " I will disguise myself, and go into the battle ; but you put on your robes." So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went into the battle .
30 Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his chariots , saying, "Don’t fight with small nor great , except only with the king of Israel ."
31 When the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat , they said, " It is the king of Israel !" Therefore they turned around to fight against him . But Jehoshaphat cried out , and Yahweh helped him ; and God moved them to depart from him .
32 When the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel , they turned back from pursuing him .
33 A certain man drew his bow at random , and struck the king of Israel between the joints of the armor . Therefore he said to the driver of the chariot , " Turn around and carry me out of the battle , for I am severely wounded ."
34 The battle increased that day . However, the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the evening ; and at about sunset , he died .