2 Chronicles, Chapter 18:

Verses from 2 Chronicles, Chapter 18 of the book of the Bible.

2 Chronicles - Old Testament — 2 Chronicles – Old Testament

Micaiah's prophecy against Ahab

1. Jehoshaphat had great wealth and honor, and he established a marriage alliance with Ahab.
2. Some years later, Jehoshaphat visited Ahab in Samaria. Ahab sacrificed many sheep and oxen to receive Jehoshaphat and his entourage, and urged them to attack Ramoth-gilead.
3. Ahab, king of Israel, asked Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, “Will you go with me to battle against Ramoth-gilead?” Jehoshaphat replied, “I am like you, my people are like your people. I will be by your side in the war.”
4. However, Jehoshaphat added: “I ask that we first seek the counsel of the Lord.”
5. The king of Israel called together four hundred prophets and asked, “Should we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or not?” They replied, “Go, for the Lord will deliver her into the king’s hands.”
6. However, Jehoshaphat asked: “Is there no longer a prophet of the Lord here whom we can consult?”
7. The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is one more man through whom we can inquire of the Lord, but I hate him, for he never prophesies anything good about me, only misfortune. It is Micaiah, son of Inlá.” Jehoshaphat replied, “The king should not speak that way.”
8. Then the king of Israel called an officer and ordered: “Bring Micaiah son of Imlah immediately.”
9. While the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, were sitting on their thrones, dressed in their royal robes, on the threshing floor near the gate of Samaria, all the prophets prophesied ecstatically before them.
10. Zedekiah, son of Chenaanah, made iron horns and declared: “This is what the Lord says: 'With these horns you will strike the Arameans until you destroy them.'
11. All the other prophets agreed and prophesied the same thing: “Attack Ramoth Gilead and you will be successful, for the Lord will deliver it into the hands of the king.”
12. The messenger who went to call Micaiah said to him: “See, all the prophets are unanimous in favor of the king. Therefore, your word must also be favorable.”
13. But Micaiah answered, “I swear by the name of the Lord that I will only say what my God commands.”
14. When Micaiah came before the kings, the king of Israel asked him, “Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or shall we not?” He replied, “Attack, and you will succeed, for they will be delivered into your hands.”
15. Then the king said to Micaiah, “How many times must I make you swear that you will speak only the truth in the name of the Lord?”
16. Micaiah answered, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep without a shepherd, and I heard the Lord say, 'These have no leader. May everyone return to their home in peace.'
17. The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he never prophesies good about me, but always misfortune?”
18. Then Micaiah continued: “Hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, with all the heavenly host on his right and on his left.
19. And the Lord said, 'Who will deceive Ahab king of Israel into attacking Ramoth-gilead and falling there?'
20. “And one spirit suggested one thing, and another suggested another, until a spirit stood before the Lord and said, 'I will deceive you.' “‘How?’ asked the Lord.
21. “The spirit replied, 'I will be a lying spirit in the mouths of all the king's prophets.' “The Lord said, 'You will deceive him and you will succeed. Go and deceive him.'
22. “The Lord put a lying spirit in the mouths of these prophets, for he decreed their disaster.”
23. Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah approached, slapped Micaiah in the face, and asked, “By what way did the spirit of the Lord go out from me to speak to you?”
24. Micaiah replied, “You will find out the day you hide from room to room.”
25. Then the king of Israel ordered, “Take Micaiah back to Ammon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, the king's son.
26. Tell them that this is what the king says: Put this man in prison with bread and water until I return in peace.”
27. Micaiah stated, “If you indeed return in peace, then the Lord has not spoken through me.” And he added: “Listen to what I’m saying, all of you!”

Ahab dies in combat

28. Then the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went to battle against Ramoth-gilead.
29. The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you must wear your royal robes.” The king of Israel disguised himself, and they both went into battle.
30. The king of Syria had ordered the commanders of his chariots: “Do not fight against anyone except the king of Israel.”
31. When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they thought, “Surely this is the king of Israel,” and surrounded him to attack him. But Jehoshaphat cried out to the Lord, who helped him. God turned them away from him,
32. So when the chariot commanders realized that he was not the king of Israel, they stopped pursuing him.
33. Then a soldier, without choosing a specific target, launched an arrow that hit the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. The king said to the driver of his chariot: “Take me out of the fight, for I have been wounded!”
34. The battle raged throughout the day, and the king of Israel remained standing in his chariot, facing the Arameans until sunset. And in the evening he died