II Chronicles 18

1. And Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage.

2. And after some years he went down to Ahab at Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen in abundance for him, and for the people that were with him. And he persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth Gilead.

3. And Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me to Ramoth Gilead?” And he answered him, “I am as you, and my people are as your people, and we will be with you in the war.”

4. But Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire at the word of the LORD today.”

5. And the king of Israel gathered four hundred men of the prophets and said to them, “Shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for God will deliver it into the king’s hand.”

6. Then Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not a prophet of the LORD here besides, so that we might ask of Him?”

7. And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD. But I hate him, for he never prophesied good to me, but always evil. The same is Micaiah the son of Imla.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say such things.”

8. And the king of Israel called to a certain officer and said, “Bring quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.”

9. And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat each of them upon his throne, clothed in robes. And they sat on a grain floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria. And all the prophets prophesied before them.

10. And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made horns of iron for himself. And he said, “Thus says the LORD, ‘With these you shall push Syria until they are crushed.’ ”

11. And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, “Go up to Ramoth Gilead and be blessed, for the LORD shall deliver it into the king’s hand.”

12. And the messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, “Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one voice, and please let your word be like one of theirs, and speak good.”

13. And Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, even what my God says, that I will speak.”

14. And he came to the king. And the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I refrain?” And he said, “Go up and be blessed. And they shall be delivered into your hand.”

15. And the king said to him, “How many times shall I warn you that you say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the LORD?”

16. And he said, “I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, like sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These have no master; let them return, each man to his own house in peace.’ ”

17. And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you, he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”

18. Again he said, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sitting upon His throne, and all the host of heaven were standing on His right hand and on His left.

19. And the LORD said, ‘Who shall tempt Ahab king of Israel so that he may go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ And one spoke saying in one way, and another saying in another way.

20. Then a spirit came and stood before the LORD and said, ‘I will tempt him.’ And the LORD said, ‘With what?’

21. And he said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And the LORD said, ‘You shall tempt him, and you shall also prevail. Go out and do so.’

22. And now behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets, and the LORD has spoken evil against you.”

23. Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek. And he said, “Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go from me to speak to you?”

24. And Micaiah said, “Behold, you shall see on that day when you shall go into an inner room to hide yourself.”

25. And 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 you shall say, ‘Thus says the king, “Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction until I return in peace.” ‘ ”

27. And Micaiah said, “If you certainly return in peace, then the LORD has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Hearken, all you people.”

28. And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead.

29. And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself and will go to the battle. But you put on your robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself. And they went to the battle.

30. And the king of Syria had commanded the commanders of the chariots with him, saying, “Do not fight with small or great, but only with the king of Israel.”

31. Then it came to pass when the commanders of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is the king of Israel.” And they surrounded him to fight. But Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him. And God moved them to leave him,

32. For it came to pass when the commanders of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him.

33. And a certain man drew a bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the joints of the breastplate. And he said to the charioteer, “Turn your hand, and you shall bring me out of the army, for I am wounded.”

34. And the battle increased that day; and the king of Israel was made to stand up in his chariot against the Syrians until the evening. And about the time of the sunset he died.