1. Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and
joined affinity with Ahab.
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 Ramothgilead.
3. And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah,
Wilt thou go with me to Ramothgilead? And he answered him, I
am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be
with thee in the war.
4. And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I
pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.
5. Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets
four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to
Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said,
Go up; for God will deliver it into the king's hand.
6. But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the
LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?
7. And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet
one man, by whom we may enquire 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.
8. And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and
said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.
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.
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.
11. And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to
Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it
into the hand of the king.
12. And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake 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 their's, and speak thou good.
13. And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God
saith, that will I speak.
14. And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him,
Micaiah, shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I
forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall
be delivered into your hand.
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?
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.
17. And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell
thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?
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.
19. And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel,
that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one spake
saying after this manner, and another saying after that
manner.
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?
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.
22. Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in
the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken
evil against thee.
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?
24. And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when
thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.
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;
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.
27. And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, then
hath not the LORD spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, all ye
people.
28. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went
up to Ramothgilead.
29. And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will
disguise myself, and I will go to the battle; but put thou
on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and
they went to the battle.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Chapter 19
1. And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in
peace to Jerusalem.
2. And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him,
and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the
ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is
wrath upon thee from before the LORD.
3. Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that
thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast
prepared thine heart to seek God.
4. And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again
through the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, and
brought them back unto the LORD God of their fathers.
5. And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced
cities of Judah, city by city,
6. And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge
not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the
judgment.
7. Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take
heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our
God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.
8. Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites,
and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of
Israel, for the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies,
when they returned to Jerusalem.
9. And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of
the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.
10. And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren
that dwell in your cities, between blood and blood, between
law and commandment, statutes and judgments, ye shall even
warn them that they trespass not against the LORD, and so
wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and ye
shall not trespass.
11. And, behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all
matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the
ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king's matters:
also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal
courageously, and the LORD shall be with the good.
