1 A nd Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance; and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage.

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

2 A nd after years he went down to Ahab, to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that were with him, and urged him to go up against Ramoth-Gilead.

Some 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 A nd Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth-Gilead? And he said to him, I am as thou, and my people as thy people; and with thee in the war.

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 A nd Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, Inquire, I pray thee, this day of the word of Jehovah.

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

5 A nd 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 forbear? And they said, Go up, and God will give it into the king's hand.

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 B ut Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of Jehovah besides, that we might inquire of him?

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

7 A nd the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Jehovah; but I hate him, for he prophesies no good concerning me, but always evil: Micah the son of Imlah. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

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 T hen the king of Israel called a chamberlain, and said, Fetch quickly Micah the son of Imlah.

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

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

10 A nd Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made for himself horns of iron, and he said, Thus saith Jehovah: With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have exterminated them.

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 A nd all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-Gilead, and prosper; for Jehovah will give it into the king's hand.

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 A nd the messenger that went to call Micah spoke to him saying, Behold, the words of the prophets good to the king with one assent: let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and declare good.

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 A nd Micah said, As Jehovah liveth, even what my God shall say, that will I declare.

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

14 A nd he came to the king. And the king said to him, Micah, shall we go against Ramoth-Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper; and they will be given into your hands.

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 A nd the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but truth in the name of Jehovah?

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 A nd he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And Jehovah 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.’”

17 A nd the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he prophesies 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?”

18 A nd he said, Hear ye therefore the word of Jehovah: I saw Jehovah sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing 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 on His right and on His left.

19 a nd Jehovah said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-Gilead? And one spoke saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.

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 A nd there came forth a spirit, and stood before Jehovah and said, I will entice him. And Jehovah said unto him, Wherewith?

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

21 A nd he said, I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt entice, and also succeed: go forth, and do so.

He said, ‘I will go and be a 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 A nd now, behold, Jehovah has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets; and Jehovah has spoken evil concerning thee.

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

23 T hen Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micah upon the cheek, and said, Which way now went the Spirit of Jehovah from me to speak to thee?

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?”

24 A nd Micah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou shalt go from chamber to chamber to hide thyself.

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

25 A nd the king of Israel said, Take ye Micah, and 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;

26 a nd ye shall say, Thus says the king: Put this in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return 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.”’”

27 A nd Micah said, If thou return at all in peace, Jehovah has not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O peoples, all of you!

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

28 A nd the 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.

29 A nd the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and will enter into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went into the battle.

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 A nd the king of Syria commanded the captains of his chariots saying, Fight neither with small nor great, but with the king of Israel only.

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 A nd it came to pass when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, That is the king of Israel; and they surrounded him to fight; and Jehoshaphat cried out, and Jehovah helped him; and God diverted them from him.

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 cried out, and the Lord helped him, and God diverted them from him.

32 A nd it came to pass that when the captains of the chariots perceived 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.

33 A nd a man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the fastenings and the corslet. And he said to the charioteer, Turn thy hand and drive me out of the camp; for I am wounded.

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 the chariot, “Turn around and take me out of the fight, for I am severely wounded.”

34 A nd the battle increased that day; and the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the even; and about the time of the going down of the sun he died.

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.