1 S yria and Israel continued without war for three years.

Three years passed without war between Aram and Israel.

2 I n the third year Jehoshaphat king of Judah came down to the king of Israel.

In the third year Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel.

3 A nd king of Israel said to his servants, Do you know that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we keep silence and do not take it from the king of Syria?

Now the king of Israel said to his servants, “Do you know that Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, and we are still doing nothing to take it out of the hand of the king of Aram?”

4 A nd said to Jehoshaphat, Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead to battle? Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.

And he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead?” And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “ I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”

5 B ut Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, Inquire first, I pray you, for the word of the Lord today.

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

6 T hen king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about 400 men, and said to them, Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I hold back? And they said, Go up, for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.

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

7 J ehoshaphat said, Is there not another prophet of the Lord here whom we may ask?

But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not yet a prophet of the Lord here that we may inquire of him?”

8 k ing of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the Lord, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good for me, but evil. Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say that.

The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” But Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.”

9 T hen king of Israel told an officer, Bring quickly Micaiah son of Imlah.

Then the king of Israel called an officer and said, “ Bring quickly Micaiah son of Imlah.”

10 N ow the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting in robes, each on his throne in an open place at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.

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

11 A nd Zedekiah son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron and said, Thus says the Lord: With these you shall push the Syrians until they are destroyed.

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

12 A nd all the prophets agreed, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead and prosper, for the Lord will deliver it into the king’s hand.

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

13 T he messenger who went to call Micaiah said to him, Behold now, the prophets unanimously declare good to the king. Let your answer, I pray you, be like theirs, and say what is good.

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

14 B ut Micaiah said, As the Lord lives, I will speak what the Lord says to me.

But Micaiah said, “ As the Lord lives, what the Lord says to me, that I shall speak.”

15 S o he came to the king. King said, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we hold back? And he answered, Go and prosper, for the Lord will deliver it into the king’s hand.

When he came to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we refrain?” And he answered him, “ Go up and succeed, and the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.”

16 A nd the king said to him, How many times must I charge you to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?

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 ?”

17 A nd he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills as sheep that have no shepherd, and the Lord said, These have no master. Let them return every man to his house in peace.

So he said, “I saw all Israel Scattered on the mountains, Like sheep which have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master. Let each of them return to his house in peace.’”

18 T hen the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell you that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?

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

19 A nd Micaiah said, Hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right hand and on His left.

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

20 A nd the Lord said, Who will entice Ahab to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? One said this way, another said that way.

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

21 T hen there came forth a spirit and stood before the Lord and said, I will entice him.

Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will entice him.’

22 T he Lord said to him, By what means? And he said, I will go forth and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets. said, You shall entice him and succeed also. Go forth and do it.

The Lord said to him, ‘How?’ And he said, ‘I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ Then He said, ‘You are to entice him and also prevail. Go and do so.’

23 S o the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets; and the Lord has spoken evil concerning you.

Now therefore, behold, the Lord has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; and the Lord has proclaimed disaster against you.”

24 B ut Zedekiah son of Chenaanah went near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, Which way went the Spirit of the Lord from me to speak to you?

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

25 M icaiah said, Behold, you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide yourself.

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

26 k ing of Israel said, Take Micaiah, carry him back to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son,

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

27 A nd say, The king says, Put this fellow in prison and feed him with bread and water of affliction until I come in peace.

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

28 M icaiah said, If you return at all in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me. He, Hear, O people, every one of you!

Micaiah said, “ If you indeed return safely the Lord has not spoken by me.” And he said, “ Listen, all you people.” Defeat and Death of Ahab

29 S o king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.

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

30 A nd the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself and enter the battle, but you put on your clothing. And the king of Israel disguised himself and went into the battle.

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 went into the battle.

31 B ut the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, Fight neither with small nor great, but only with king of Israel.

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

32 A nd when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, Surely it is the king of Israel. They turned to fight against him, but Jehoshaphat cried out.

So when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “Surely it is the king of Israel,” and they turned aside to fight against him, and Jehoshaphat cried out.

33 A nd when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

When the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

34 B ut a certain man drew a bow at a venture and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, Turn around and carry me out of the army, for I am wounded.

Now a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel in a joint of the armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and take me out of the fight; for I am severely wounded.”

35 T he battle increased that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Syrians, and at nightfall he died. And the blood of his wound flowed onto the floor of the chariot.

The battle raged that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot in front of the Arameans, and died at evening, and the blood from the wound ran into the bottom of the chariot.

36 A nd there went a cry throughout the army about sundown, saying, Every man to his city and his own country,

Then a cry passed throughout the army close to sunset, saying, “Every man to his city and every man to his country.”

37 F or the king is dead! And was brought to Samaria, where they buried him.

So the king died and was brought to Samaria, and they buried the king in Samaria.

38 A nd they washed chariot by the pool of Samaria, where the harlots bathed, and the dogs licked up his blood, as the Lord had predicted.

They washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood (now the harlots bathed themselves there ), according to the word of the Lord which He spoke.

39 T he rest of Ahab’s acts, all he did, the ivory palace and all the cities he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

Now the rest of the acts of Ahab and all that he did and the ivory house which he built and all the cities which he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

40 S o Ahab slept with his fathers. Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.

So Ahab slept with his fathers, and Ahaziah his son became king in his place. The New Rulers

41 J ehoshaphat son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.

Now Jehoshaphat the son of Asa became king over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.

42 J ehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.

Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.

43 H e walked in all the ways or customs of Asa his father, never swerving from it, doing right in the sight of the Lord. However, the high places were not taken away; for the people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places.

He walked in all the way of Asa his father; he did not turn aside from it, doing right in the sight of the Lord. However, the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burnt incense on the high places.

44 A nd Jehoshaphat made peace with Israel’s king.

Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel.

45 T he rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, his might that he showed and how he warred, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might which he showed and how he warred, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

46 A nd the remnant of the sodomites (the male cult prostitutes) who remained in the days of his father Asa, expelled from the country.

The remnant of the sodomites who remained in the days of his father Asa, he expelled from the land.

47 T here was no king in Edom; a deputy was acting king.

Now there was no king in Edom; a deputy was king.

48 J ehoshaphat ordered ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they did not go, for the ships were wrecked at Ezion-geber.

Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they did not go for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber.

49 W hen Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with your servants in the ships, Jehoshaphat refused.

Then Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants go with your servants in the ships.” But Jehoshaphat was not willing.

50 J ehoshaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with them in the city of David his father. And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.

And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of his father David, and Jehoram his son became king in his place.

51 A haziah son of Ahab began his two-year reign over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah.

Ahaziah the son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned two years over Israel.

52 H e did evil in the sight of the Lord and walked in the ways of his father and of his mother and of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who made Israel sin.

He did evil in the sight of the Lord and walked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin.

53 H e served Baal and worshiped him and provoked the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger in all the ways his father had done.

So he served Baal and worshiped him and provoked the Lord God of Israel to anger, according to all that his father had done.