2 Chronicles 18:12–27

¹²Now the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, “Behold, the words of the prophets, as if from one mouth, are good to the king. So please let your word be like one of them and speak that which is good.”

¹³But Micaiah said, “As Yahweh lives, ^awhat my God says, that I shall speak.”

¹⁴Then 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 succeed, and they will be given into your hand.”

¹⁵Then the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear to speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of Yahweh?”

¹⁶So he said,

“I saw all Israel

Scattered on the mountains,

^aLike sheep which have no shepherd;

And Yahweh said,

‘These have no master.

Let each of them return to his house in peace.’”

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

¹⁸Then Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of Yahweh. ^aI saw Yahweh sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right and on His left.

¹⁹“And Yahweh said, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel so that he will go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said this while another said that.

²⁰“Then a ^aspirit came forward and stood before Yahweh and said, ‘I will entice him.’ And Yahweh said to him, ‘How?’

²¹“And he said, ‘I will go out and be ^aa lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ Then He said, ‘You shall entice him and also prevail. Go out and do so.’

²²“So now, behold, ^aYahweh has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets, but Yahweh has spoken calamity against you.”

²³Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah approached and ^astruck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “¹How did the Spirit of Yahweh pass from me to speak to you?”

²⁴And Micaiah said, “Behold, you will see on that day when you enter an inner room to hide.”

²⁵Then the king of Israel said, “^aTake Micaiah and return him to Amon ^bthe ruler of the city and to Joash the king’s son;

²⁶and say, ‘Thus says the king, “^aPut this man in prison and feed him ¹sparingly with bread and water until I return safely.” ’ ”

²⁷And Micaiah said, “If you indeed return safely, Yahweh has not spoken by me.” And he said, “^aListen, all you people.”