1 Kings, Chapter 22:

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Verses from 1 Kings, Chapter 22 of the book of 1 Samuel in the Bible.

1 Kings - Old Testament — 1 Kings – Old Testament

Micaiah prophesies against Ahab

1. For three years there was no war between Syria and Israel.
2. However, in the third year, Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, decided to visit the king of Israel.
3. The king of Israel had said to his officials, “Do you not know that Ramoth Gilead belongs to us, and yet we are taking no action to win it back from the king of Syria?”
4. Then the king of Israel asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you come with me to fight against Ramoth-gilead?” Jehoshaphat answered the king of Israel, “I am like you, my people are like your people, and my horses are like yours.”
5. However, Jehoshaphat added, “Before we take any action, let us seek the Lord’s counsel.”
6. Then the king of Israel called together four hundred prophets and asked, “Should I go to war against Ramoth Gilead or not?” They replied, “Yes, for the Lord will deliver the city into your hands.”
7. But Jehoshaphat asked, “Are there no prophets of the Lord here for us to consult?”
8. The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the Lord, but I hate him, because he never prophesies anything good about me, only misfortunes. It is Micaiah, son of Inlá.” Jehoshaphat said, “The king should not speak like that.”
9. Then the king of Israel called an officer and ordered: “Bring Micaiah son of Imlah immediately.”
10. The kings of Israel and Judah, dressed in their royal robes, sat on their thrones on the threshing floor at the entrance to Samaria, while all the prophets prophesied before them.
11. Zedekiah son of Chenaanah had made himself iron horns and declared: “This is what the Lord says: 'With these horns you will strike the Arameans until you destroy them.'
12. And all the other prophets prophesied the same thing: “Attack Ramoth Gilead and you will be victorious, for the Lord will deliver it into your hands.”
13. Meanwhile, the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah said to him, “See, all the prophets are prophesying success for the king. Be favorable also in your word.”
14. Micaiah replied, “I swear by the name of the Lord that I will speak whatever the Lord tells me.”
15. When he came before the king, the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead or not?” He replied, “Attack, and you will be victorious, for the Lord will deliver it into your hands.”
16. The king said to Micaiah, “How many times must I make you swear that you will tell me only the truth in the name of the Lord?”
17. Micaiah replied, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep without a shepherd. And the Lord said, 'These have no leader. May everyone return home in peace' “.
18. Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he never prophesies anything good about me, only misfortune?”
19. Micaiah continued: “Hear the word of the Lord! I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven stood around him, on his right and on his left.
20. And the Lord asked, 'Who will induce Ahab to attack Ramoth Gilead and fall there?' ” One spirit responded one way, and another spirit responded another.
21. Then a spirit appeared before the Lord and said, 'I will move you.' The Lord asked, 'In what way?'
22. The spirit replied, 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.' Then the Lord said, 'You will induce him and you will succeed. Go out and do it like this'.
23. “Now the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of his. The Lord has decreed your misfortune.”
24. Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah approached, slapped Micaiah in the face, and asked, “Which way did the Spirit of the Lord pass from me to speak to you?”
25. Micaiah replied, “You will find out the day you go from one room to another to hide.”
26. The king of Israel said, “Arrest Micaiah and take him back to Ammon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, the king's son.
27. Tell them: This is what the king says: 'Put this man in prison and feed him with bread and water until I return safely.'
28. Micaiah replied, “If you do indeed return safely, the Lord has not spoken through me.” And he added: “Listen to this, all you people!”

Ahab's death

29. Then the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went to Ramoth Gilead.
30. The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal clothes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.
31. The king of Syria had ordered the thirty-two commanders of his chariots: “Do not fight against anyone, whether small or great, except against the king of Israel.”
32. When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they thought, “Surely he is the king of Israel.” So they approached to attack him, but Jehoshaphat shouted.
33. When the chariot commanders realized that he was not the king of Israel, they gave up pursuing him.
34. But a man shot his bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. The king said to his charioteer, “Turn around and take me from the battlefield, for I am seriously wounded.”
35. The battle raged throughout the day, and the king remained in his chariot, facing the Arameans. He died at sunset.
36. As the sun set, the cry spread throughout the camp: “Each one to his city! Each one to his own land!”
37. So the king died and was taken to Samaria. And there they buried him.
38. They cleaned the chariot in a pool in Samaria, where the prostitutes bathed, and the dogs licked up the king's blood, as the Lord had predicted.
39. The rest of the events of Ahab's reign, everything he did and the ivory palace he built, are written in the historical records of the kings of Israel.
40. Ahab rested with his ancestors, and his son Ahaziah was his successor.

The reign of Jehoshaphat

41. Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king of Judah in the fourth year of the reign of Ahab king of Israel.
42. Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azuba, daughter of Sili.
43. In everything he followed the way of his father Asa and did not deviate from it; He did what the Lord approved. However, the idolatrous altars were not removed; the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense in these places.
44. Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.
45. The other events of Jehoshaphat's reign, his achievements and the wars he fought, are written in the historical records of the kings of Judah.
46. He also removed from the country the cult men and prostitutes that still remained from the time of his father Asa.
47. At that time there was no king in Edom; a lieutenant governor exercised control.
48. Jehoshaphat built a fleet of ships to trade with Ophir for gold, but they never left, as they were shipwrecked at Ezion-geber.
49. Then Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants sail with yours.” But Jehoshaphat did not agree.
50. Jehoshaphat rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David, his predecessor. And his son Jehoram was his successor.
51. Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of the reign of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years.
52. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, for he walked in the ways of his father and his mother, and in the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who made Israel sin.
53. He served and worshiped Baal, provoking the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, as his father had done.