II Chronicles 18 Alliance between Jehoshaphat and Ahab

 II Chronicles 18

Alliance between Jehoshaphat and Ahab

1 Now Jehoshaphat had great wealth and honor, and he became related to Ahab.

2 And after some years he went to Samaria to Ahab; and Ahab killed sheep and oxen in abundance for himself and for the people who were with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth-gilead.

3 For Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead? And he said to him, As you are, so will I be; and my people as your people; we will be with you in this battle.

4 And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, Inquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD this day.

5 Then the king of Israel gathered together the prophets, four hundred men, and said to them, "Shall I go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I forsake it?" They said, "Go up, for God will deliver it into the king's hand."

 6 But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there still no prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of him?"

 7 Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord; but I hate him, because he never prophesies good of me, but always evil; he is Micah the son of Imlah." And Jehoshaphat said, "Let the king not speak so."

 8 Then the king of Israel called an eunuch and said, "Bring Micah the son of Imlah here quickly."

 9 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat in the square at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets prophesied before them.

10 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made himself horns of iron, and said, Thus says the Lord: With these you shall smite the Syrians until you have consumed them all.

11 And all the prophets prophesied the same thing, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper; for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.

12 And the messenger who went to call Micah spoke to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets are good to the king in one mouth; let your word also be as one of them, and speak what is good.

13 But Micah said, As the Lord lives, I will speak what my God says to me.

14 So he came to the king, and the king said to him, “Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forsake it?” And he said, “Go up, and you will prosper; and it will be given into your hands.”

15 And the king said to him, “How many times shall I adjure you, that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?”

16 Then he said, “I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, like sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘They have no master; let them return every man to his house in peace.’”

17 Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that this man would not prophesy good of me, but evil?”

18 And he said, “I have heard the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.”

19 And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And he said, One saith this way, and another saith that.

 20 Then a spirit came forth, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. And the LORD said unto him, By what? 

21 And he said, I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the LORD said, Thou shalt persuade him, and also prevail: go forth, and do so. 

22 And now, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets: and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee. 

23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?

 24 And Micah said, Behold, thou shalt see him in that day, when thou shalt go from chamber to chamber to hide. 

25 And 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. 

26 And ye shall say, Thus saith the king, Put this man in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction, and with water of affliction, until I come in peace. 

27 And Micah said, If thou return in peace, the LORD hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hear, all you peoples!