1 Kings 22 Ahab Makes an Alliance with Jehoshaphat

 1 Kings 22

Ahab Makes an Alliance with Jehoshaphat

1 They were quiet for three years, and there was no war between Syria and Israel.

2 But in the third year it happened that Jehoshaphat king of Judah went down to the king of Israel.

3 And the king of Israel said to his servants, Do you not know that Ramoth-gilead is ours, and we have been quiet, and have not taken it out of the hand of the king of Syria?

4 Then he said to Jehoshaphat, Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I will be as you, and my people as your people, and my horses as your horses.

5 And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, But first inquire at the word of the LORD today.

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

7 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here yet a prophet of the Lord, whom we may inquire of?

8 Then 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 never prophesies good of me, but only evil: he is Micah the son of Imlah. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king speak so.

9 Then the king of Israel called an eunuch, and said, Bring me quickly Micah the son of Imlah.

10 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting, each on his throne, clothed in royal apparel, in the square at the entrance of the gate of Samaria: and all the prophets prophesied before them. 

11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made himself horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou smite the Syrians until thou hast consumed them. 

12 And all the prophets prophesied thus, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper; for the LORD will deliver it into the hand of the king.

 13 And the messenger that went to call Micah spake unto him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets with one accord are prophesying good things for the king: let thy word be as the word of one of them, and speak well.

 14 And Micah said, As the LORD liveth, I will speak what the LORD saith unto me.

 15 And he came to the king, and the king said unto him, Micah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he said unto him, Go up, and prosper; for the LORD will deliver it into the hand of the king. 

16 And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee, that thou speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD? 

17 And 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 every man to his house in peace. 

18 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would never prophesy good of me, but only evil? 

19 And he said, Hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. 

20 And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one said this way, and another that way. 

21 And a spirit came forth, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. And the LORD said to him, With what? 

22 And 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 him, and thou shalt yet prevail: go forth, and do so.

23 And now, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee.

24 Then Zedekiah the son of Canaan came near, and smote Micah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the spirit of the LORD from me to speak against thee?

25 And Micah said, Behold, thou shalt see it in that day, when thou shalt go from one chamber to another to hide thyself. 

26 Then the king of Israel said, "Take Micah and bring him back to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son.

 27 And you shall say, 'Thus says the king: Put this man in prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of bitterness, until I come in peace.' 

28 And Micah said, 'If you return in peace, the Lord has not spoken through me.' And he said, 'Hear, all you peoples!