2 Chronicles, Chapter 18

1. Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and made an alliance 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 Ramoth-gilead.    3. And Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead? And he answered him, I am as you are, and my people as your people; and we will be with you in the war.    4. And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, Inquire, I pray you, of the word of the LORD today.    5. Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of the prophets four hundred men, and said to them, Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I hold back? 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 these, that we might inquire of him?    7. And 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 prophesied good to 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 each of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat in an open place at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.    10. And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made himself horns of iron, and said, Thus says the LORD, With these you shall push Syria until they are consumed.    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.    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 accord; let your word therefore, I pray you, be like one of theirs, and speak good things.    13. And Micaiah said, As the LORD lives, even what my God says, that will I speak.    14. And when he had come to the king, the king said to him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I hold back? And he said, Go up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.    15. And the king said to him, How many times shall I order you that you say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the LORD?    16. Then he said, I saw 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 you that he would not prophesy good to 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 Ramoth-gilead? And one spoke saying in this manner, and another saying in 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, How?    21. And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the LORD said, You shall entice him, and you shall also prevail: go out, and do even so.    22. Now therefore, behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets, and the LORD has spoken evil against you.    23. Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go from me to speak to you?    24. And Micaiah said, Behold, you shall see on that day when you shall go into an inner chamber to hide yourself.    25. Then the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and bring him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;    26. And say, Thus says 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 you certainly return in peace, then the LORD has not spoken by me. And he said, Listen, all you people.    28. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.    29. And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and will go to the battle; but you put on your 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, Do not fight with small or great, except 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 surrounded 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 random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of the armor: therefore he said to his chariot man, Turn your hand, that you may carry me out of the army; for I am wounded.    34. And the battle increased that day: however the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot in front of the Syrians until the evening: and about the time of the sun going down he died.