[[2 Chronicles 17|<< 2 Chronicles 17]] | [[2 Chronicles|2 Chronicles]] | [[2 Chronicles 19|2 Chronicles 19 >>]] ### 2 Chronicles 18 1 NOW Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab. ^1 2 And after _certain_ years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that _he_ _had_ with him, and persuaded him to go up _with_ _him_ to Ramoth-gilead. ^2 3 And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth-gilead? And he answered him, I _am_ as thou _art_, and my people as thy people; and _we_ _will_ _be_ with thee in the war. ^3 4 ¶ And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Inquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD today. ^4 5 Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver _it_ into the king's hand. ^5 6 But Jehoshaphat said, _Is_ _there_ not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might inquire of him? ^6 7 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, _There_ _is_ yet one man, by whom we may inquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same _is_ Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so. ^7 8 And the king of Israel called for one _of_ _his_ officers, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla. ^8 9 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in _their_ robes, and they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them. ^9 10 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt push Syria until they be consumed. ^10 11 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver _it_ into the hand of the king. ^11 12 And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets _declare_ good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good. ^12 13 And Micaiah said, _As_ the LORD lives, even what my God saith, that will I speak. ^13 14 And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand. ^14 15 And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the LORD? ^15 16 Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master; let them return _therefore_ every man to his house in peace. ^16 17 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee _that_ he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil? ^17 18 Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and _on_ his left. ^18 19 And the LORD 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. ^19 20 Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? ^20 21 And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And _the_ _LORD_ said, Thou shalt entice _him_, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do _even_ so. ^21 22 Now therefore, behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD has spoken evil against thee. ^22 23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee? ^23 24 And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself. ^24 25 Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son; ^25 26 And say, Thus saith the king, Put this _fellow_ in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace. ^26 27 And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, _then_ has not the LORD spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, all ye people. ^27 28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. ^28 29 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle. ^29 30 Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that _were_ with him, saying, Fight ye not with small or great, save only with the king of Israel. ^30 31 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It _is_ the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them _to_ _depart_ from him. ^31 32 For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him. ^32 33 And a _certain_ man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: therefore he said to his chariot man, Turn thine hand, that thou mayest carry me out of the host; for I am wounded. ^33 34 And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel stayed _himself_ up in _his_ chariot against the Syrians until the even: and about the time of the sun going down he died. ^34