17 Then Micaiah answered, “I saw all Israel scatteredr on the hills like sheep without a shepherd,s and the Lord said, ‘These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.’ ”

18 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you that he never prophesies anything good about me, but only bad?”

19 Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his thronet with all the multitudesu of heaven standing around him on his right and on his left. 20 And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?’

“One suggested this, and another that. 21 Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will entice him.’

22 “ ‘By what means?’ the Lord asked.

“ ‘I will go out and be a deceivingv spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,’ he said.

“ ‘You will succeed in enticing him,’ said the Lord. ‘Go and do it.’

23 “So now the Lord has put a deceivingw spirit in the mouths of all these prophetsx of yours. The Lord has decreed disastery for you.”

24 Then Zedekiahz son of Kenaanah went up and slappeda Micaiah in the face. “Which way did the spirit froma the Lord go when he went from me to speakb to you?” he asked.

25 Micaiah replied, “You will find out on the day you go to hidec in an inner room.”

26 The king of Israel then ordered, “Take Micaiah and send him back to Amon the ruler of the city and to Joash the king’s son 27 and say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this fellow in prisond and give him nothing but bread and water until I return safely.’ ”

28 Micaiah declared, “If you ever return safely, the Lord has not spokene through me.” Then he added, “Mark my words, all you people!”