Chapter 18

Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahab

1 Now aJehoshaphat had great riches and honor; and he allied himself by marriage with Ahab.

2 aSome 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 induced him to go up against Ramoth-gilead.

3 Ahab 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.”

4 Moreover, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire 1first for the word of the Lord.”

5 Then the king of Israel assembled the prophets, four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall we go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for God will give it into the hand of the king.”

6 But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not yet a prophet of the Lord here 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 the Lord, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me but always evil. He is Micaiah, son of Imla.” But Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.”

Ahab’s False Prophets Assure Victory

8 Then the king of Israel called an officer and said, “1Bring quickly Micaiah, Imla’s son.”

9 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, and they were sitting aat the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them.

10 Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made horns of iron for himself and said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘With these you shall gore the Arameans until they are consumed.’ ”

11 All the prophets were prophesying thus, saying, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and succeed, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.”

Micaiah Brings Word from God

12 Then the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, “Behold, the words of the prophets are uniformly favorable to the king. So please let your word be like one of them and speak favorably.”

13 But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, awhat my God says, that I will speak.”

14 When he came to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I refrain?” He said, “Go up and succeed, for they will be given into your hand.”

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

16 So he said,

“I saw all Israel

Scattered on the mountains,

aLike sheep which have no shepherd;

And the Lord said,

‘These have no master.

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

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

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

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

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

21 “He said, ‘I will go and be aa deceiving spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ Then He said, ‘You are to entice him and prevail also. Go and do so.’

22 “Now therefore, behold, athe Lord has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of these your prophets, for the Lord has proclaimed disaster against you.”

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

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

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

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

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

Ahab’s Defeat and Death

28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up against Ramoth-gilead.

29 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.

30 Now the king of Aram had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, “Do not fight with small or great, but with the king of Israel alone.”

31 So when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is the king of Israel,” and they turned aside to fight against him. But Jehoshaphat acried out, and the Lord helped him, and God diverted them 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 1in a joint of the armor. So he said to the driver of the chariot, “Turn 2around and take me out of the 3fight, for I am severely wounded.”

34 The battle raged 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.