1For three years Syria and Israel continued without war.2But in the third year Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. (1Ki 15:24; 2Ch 18:2)3And the king of Israel said to his servants, “Do you know that Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, and we keep quiet and do not take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?” (De 4:43; Jos 21:38; 2Ki 8:28; 2Ki 9:1; 2Ki 9:14; 2Ch 22:5)4And he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead?” And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” (2Ki 3:7)5And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Inquire first for the word of the Lord.”6Then 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 give it into the hand of the king.” (1Ki 18:19)7But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not here another prophet of the Lord of whom we may inquire?” (2Ki 3:11)8And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, Micaiah the son of Imlah, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.”9Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, “Bring quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah.”10Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting on their thrones, arrayed in their robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying before them. (Ru 4:1)11And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made for himself horns of iron and said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘With these you shall push the Syrians until they are destroyed.’” (De 33:17; Zec 1:18)12And all the prophets prophesied so and said, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and triumph; the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.”
Micaiah Prophesies Against Ahab
13And the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, “Behold, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king. Let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.”14But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, what the Lord says to me, that I will speak.” (Nu 22:18; Nu 24:13; 1Ki 17:1)15And when he had come to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we refrain?” And he answered him, “Go up and triumph; the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.”16But the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?”17And he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.’” (Nu 27:17; Mt 9:36)18And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?” (1Ki 22:8)19And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left; (De 33:2; Job 1:6; Job 2:1; Ps 103:21; Isa 6:1; Da 7:9; Da 7:10; Heb 12:22; Re 4:2)20and the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said one thing, and another said another.21Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, saying, ‘I will entice him.’22And the Lord said to him, ‘By what means?’ And he said, ‘I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And he said, ‘You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.’ (Jud 9:23; Eze 14:9; 2Th 2:11)23Now therefore behold, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the Lord has declared disaster for you.”24Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “How did the Spirit of the Lord go from me to speak to you?” (La 3:30; Mic 5:1; Mt 5:39; Ac 23:2)25And Micaiah said, “Behold, you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide yourself.” (1Ki 20:30)26And the king of Israel said, “Seize Micaiah, and take him back to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son,27and say, ‘Thus says the king, “Put this fellow in prison and feed him meager rations of bread and water, until I come in peace.”’” (Jud 8:9; 2Ch 16:10)28And Micaiah said, “If you return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Hear, all you peoples!” (Nu 16:29; De 18:22; Mic 1:2)
Ahab Killed in Battle
29So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.30And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your robes.” And the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle. (2Ch 35:22)31Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, “Fight with neither small nor great, but only with the king of Israel.” (1Ki 20:1; 1Ki 20:16; 1Ki 20:24)32And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is surely the king of Israel.” So they turned to fight against him. And Jehoshaphat cried out.33And when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.34But a certain man drew his bow at random[1] and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate. Therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded.” (2Ch 35:23)35And the battle continued that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Syrians, until at evening he died. And the blood of the wound flowed into the bottom of the chariot.36And about sunset a cry went through the army, “Every man to his city, and every man to his country!”37So the king died, and was brought to Samaria. And they buried the king in Samaria.38And they washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood, and the prostitutes washed themselves in it, according to the word of the Lord that he had spoken. (1Ki 21:19)39Now the rest of the acts of Ahab and all that he did, and the ivory house that he built and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? (Am 3:15)40So Ahab slept with his fathers, and Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.
Jehoshaphat Reigns in Judah
41Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. (1Ki 22:51; 2Ch 20:31)42Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.43He walked in all the way of Asa his father. He did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord. Yet the high places were not taken away, and the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places. (1Ki 15:14; 2Ki 12:3; 2Ch 17:3)44Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel. (2Ch 18:1; 2Ch 20:35)45Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he showed, and how he warred, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? (2Ch 20:34)46And from the land he exterminated the remnant of the male cult prostitutes who remained in the days of his father Asa. (1Ki 14:24; 1Ki 15:12)47There was no king in Edom; a deputy was king. (2Sa 8:14; 2Ki 3:9; 2Ki 8:20)48Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they did not go, for the ships were wrecked at Ezion-geber. (1Ki 9:26; 1Ki 9:28; 1Ki 10:22)49Then Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants go with your servants in the ships,” but Jehoshaphat was not willing.50And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Jehoram his son reigned in his place. (2Ch 21:1)
Ahaziah Reigns in Israel
51Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned two years over Israel. (1Ki 22:40)52He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and walked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. (1Ki 15:26)53He served Baal and worshiped him and provoked the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger in every way that his father had done. (1Ki 16:30; 1Ki 16:31)
1For three years there was no war between Aram and Israel.2But in the third year Jehoshaphat king of Judah went down to see the king of Israel.3The king of Israel had said to his officials, ‘Don’t you know that Ramoth Gilead belongs to us and yet we are doing nothing to retake it from the king of Aram?’4So he asked Jehoshaphat, ‘Will you go with me to fight against Ramoth Gilead?’ Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, ‘I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.’5But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, ‘First seek the counsel of the Lord.’6So the king of Israel brought together the prophets – about four hundred men – and asked them, ‘Shall I go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?’ ‘Go,’ they answered, ‘for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.’7But Jehoshaphat asked, ‘Is there no longer a prophet of the Lord here whom we can enquire of?’8The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, ‘There is still one prophet through whom we can enquire of the Lord, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.’ ‘The king should not say such a thing,’ Jehoshaphat replied.9So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, ‘Bring Micaiah son of Imlah at once.’10Dressed in their royal robes, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting on their thrones at the threshing-floor by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying before them.11Now Zedekiah son of Kenaanah had made iron horns and he declared, ‘This is what the Lord says: “With these you will gore the Arameans until they are destroyed.” ’12All the other prophets were prophesying the same thing. ‘Attack Ramoth Gilead and be victorious,’ they said, ‘for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.’13The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, ‘Look, the other prophets without exception are predicting success for the king. Let your word agree with theirs, and speak favourably.’14But Micaiah said, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what the Lord tells me.’15When he arrived, the king asked him, ‘Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or not?’ ‘Attack and be victorious,’ he answered, ‘for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.’16The king said to him, ‘How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?’17Then Micaiah answered, ‘I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd, and the Lord said, “These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.” ’18The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, ‘Didn’t I tell you that he never prophesies anything good about me, but only bad?’19Micaiah continued, ‘Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne with all the multitudes of heaven standing round him on his right and on his left.20And the Lord said, “Who will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?” ‘One suggested this, and another that.21Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord and said, “I will entice him.”22‘ “By what means?” the Lord asked. ‘ “I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,” he said. ‘ “You will succeed in enticing him,” said the Lord. “Go and do it.”23‘So now the Lord has put a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours. The Lord has decreed disaster for you.’24Then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah went up and slapped Micaiah in the face. ‘Which way did the spirit from[1] the Lord go when he went from me to speak to you?’ he asked.25Micaiah replied, ‘You will find out on the day you go to hide in an inner room.’26The king of Israel then ordered, ‘Take Micaiah and send him back to Amon the ruler of the city and to Joash the king’s son27and say, “This is what the king says: put this fellow in prison and give him nothing but bread and water until I return safely.” ’28Micaiah declared, ‘If you ever return safely, the Lord has not spoken through me.’ Then he added, ‘Mark my words, all you people!’
Ahab killed at Ramoth Gilead
29So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead.30The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, ‘I will enter the battle in disguise, but you wear your royal robes.’ So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.31Now the king of Aram had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, ‘Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.’32When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they thought, ‘Surely this is the king of Israel.’ So they turned to attack him, but when Jehoshaphat cried out,33the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel and stopped pursuing him.34But someone drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the sections of his armour. The king told his chariot driver, ‘Wheel around and get me out of the fighting. I’ve been wounded.’35All day long the battle raged, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. The blood from his wound ran onto the floor of the chariot, and that evening he died.36As the sun was setting, a cry spread through the army: ‘Every man to his town. Every man to his land!’37So the king died and was brought to Samaria, and they buried him there.38They washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria (where the prostitutes bathed),[2] and the dogs licked up his blood, as the word of the Lord had declared.39As for the other events of Ahab’s reign, including all he did, the palace he built and adorned with ivory, and the cities he fortified, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?40Ahab rested with his ancestors. And Ahaziah his son succeeded him as king.
Jehoshaphat king of Judah
41Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king of Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.42Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.43In everything he followed the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. The high places, however, were not removed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.[3]44Jehoshaphat was also at peace with the king of Israel.45As for the other events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, the things he achieved and his military exploits, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?46He rid the land of the rest of the male shrine-prostitutes who remained there even after the reign of his father Asa.47There was then no king in Edom; a provincial governor ruled.48Now Jehoshaphat built a fleet of trading ships[4] to go to Ophir for gold, but they never set sail – they were wrecked at Ezion Geber.49At that time Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, ‘Let my men sail with yours,’ but Jehoshaphat refused.50Then Jehoshaphat rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the city of David his father. And Jehoram his son succeeded him as king.
Ahaziah king of Israel
51Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel for two years.52He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, because he followed the ways of his father and mother and of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin.53He served and worshipped Baal and aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, just as his father had done.
1 Kings 22
King James Version
1And they continued three years without war between Syria and Israel.2And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel.3And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we be still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria?4And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramothgilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art , my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.5And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.6Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.7And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?8And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.9Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah.10And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.11And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them.12And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the king' hand.13And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good.14And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak.15So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.16And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD?17And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.18And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?19And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.20And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.21And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.22And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him , and prevail also: go forth, and do so.23Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.24But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?25And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.26And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king' son;27And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.28And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, the LORD hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you.29So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.30And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle.31But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel.32And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it is the king of Israel. And they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out.33And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.34And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.35And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot.36And there went a proclamation throughout the host about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his own country.37So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria.38And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the word of the LORD which he spake.39Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?40So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.41And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.42Jehoshaphat was thirty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother' name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.43And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the LORD: nevertheless the high places were not taken away; for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places.44And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.45Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he shewed, and how he warred, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?46And the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land.47There was then no king in Edom: a deputy was king.48Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber.49Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not.50And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.51Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel.52And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin:53For he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the LORD God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.
1For three years there wasn’t any war between Aram and Israel.2In the third year Jehoshaphat went down to see Ahab, the king of Israel. Jehoshaphat was king of Judah.3The king of Israel had spoken to his officials. He had said, ‘Don’t you know that Ramoth Gilead belongs to us? And we aren’t even doing anything to take it back from the king of Aram.’4So Ahab asked Jehoshaphat, ‘Will you go with me to fight against Ramoth Gilead?’ Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, ‘Yes. I’ll go with you. My men will go with you. My horses will also go with you.’5Jehoshaphat continued, ‘First ask the LORD for advice.’6So the king of Israel brought about 400 prophets together. He asked them, ‘Should I go to war against Ramoth Gilead? Or should I stay here?’ ‘Go’, they answered. ‘The Lord will hand it over to you.’7But Jehoshaphat asked, ‘Is there no longer a prophet of the LORD here? If there is, ask him what we should do.’8The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat. He said, ‘There is still one other man we can go to. We can ask the LORD for advice through him. But I hate him. He never prophesies anything good about me. He only prophesies bad things. His name is Micaiah. He’s the son of Imlah.’ ‘You shouldn’t say bad things about him,’ Jehoshaphat replied.9So the king of Israel called for one of his officials. He told him, ‘Bring Micaiah, the son of Imlah, right away.’10The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, were wearing their royal robes. They were sitting on their thrones at the threshing-floor. It was near the entrance of the gate of Samaria. All the prophets were prophesying in front of them.11Zedekiah was the son of Kenaanah. Zedekiah had made horns out of iron. They looked like animal horns. He announced, ‘The LORD says, “With these horns you will drive back the men of Aram until they are destroyed.” ’12All the other prophets were prophesying the same thing. ‘Attack Ramoth Gilead,’ they said. ‘Win the battle over it. The LORD will hand it over to you.’13A messenger went to get Micaiah. He said to him, ‘Look. The other prophets agree. All of them are saying the king will have success. So agree with them. Say the same thing they do.’14But Micaiah said, ‘You can be sure that the LORD lives. And here is something you can be just as sure of. I can only tell the king what the LORD tells me to say.’15When Micaiah arrived, the king spoke to him. He asked, ‘Should we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or not?’ ‘Attack’, he answered. ‘You will win. The LORD will hand Ramoth Gilead over to you.’16The king said to him, ‘I’ve made you promise to tell the truth many times before. So don’t tell me anything but the truth in the name of the LORD.’17Then Micaiah answered, ‘I saw all the Israelites scattered on the hills. They were like sheep that didn’t have a shepherd. The LORD said, “These people do not have a master. Let each of them go home in peace.” ’18The king of Israel spoke to Jehoshaphat. He said, ‘Didn’t I tell you he never prophesies anything good about me? He only prophesies bad things.’19Micaiah continued, ‘Listen to the LORD’s message. I saw the LORD sitting on his throne. All the angels of heaven were standing around him. Some were standing at his right side. The others were standing at his left side.20The LORD said, “Who will get Ahab to attack Ramoth Gilead? I want him to die there.” ‘One angel suggested one thing. Another suggested something else.21Finally, a spirit came forward and stood in front of the LORD. The spirit said, “I’ll get Ahab to do it.”22‘ “How?” the LORD asked. ‘The spirit said, “I’ll go out and put lies in the mouths of all his prophets.” ‘ “You will have success in getting Ahab to attack Ramoth Gilead,” said the LORD. “Go and do it.”23‘So the LORD has put lies in the mouths of all your prophets. He has said that great harm will come to you.’24Then Zedekiah, the son of Kenaanah, went up and slapped Micaiah in the face. Zedekiah asked Micaiah, ‘Do you think the spirit sent by the LORD left me? Do you think that spirit went to speak to you?’25Micaiah replied, ‘You will find out on the day you go to hide in an inside room to save your life.’26Then the king of Israel gave an order. He said, ‘Take Micaiah away. Send him back to Amon. Amon is the ruler of the city of Samaria. And send him back to Joash. Joash is a member of the royal court.27Tell him, “The king says, ‘Put this fellow in prison. Don’t give him anything but bread and water until I return safely.’ ” ’28Micaiah announced, ‘Do you really think you will return safely? If you do, the LORD hasn’t spoken through me.’ He continued, ‘All of you people, remember what I’ve said!’
Ahab is killed at Ramoth Gilead
29So the king of Israel went up to Ramoth Gilead. Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, went there too.30The king of Israel spoke to Jehoshaphat. He said, ‘I’ll go into battle wearing different clothes. Then people won’t recognise me. But you wear your royal robes.’ So the king of Israel put on different clothes. Then he went into battle.31The king of Aram had given an order to his 32 chariot commanders. He had said, ‘Fight only against the king of Israel. Don’t fight against anyone else.’32The chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat. They thought, ‘That has to be the king of Israel.’ So they turned to attack him. But Jehoshaphat cried out.33Then the commanders saw he wasn’t the king of Israel after all. So they stopped chasing him.34But someone shot an arrow without taking aim. The arrow hit the king of Israel between the parts of his armour. The king told his chariot driver, ‘Turn the chariot around. Get me out of this battle. I’ve been wounded.’35All day long the battle continued. The king kept himself standing up by leaning against the inside of his chariot. He kept his face towards the men of Aram. The blood from his wound ran down onto the floor of the chariot. That evening he died.36As the sun was setting, a cry spread through the army. ‘Every man must go to his own town!’ they said. ‘Every man must go to his own land!’37So the king died. He was brought to Samaria. They buried him there.38They washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria. It was where the prostitutes took baths. The dogs licked up Ahab’s blood. It happened exactly as the LORD had said it would.39The other events of Ahab’s rule are written down. Everything he did is written down. That includes the palace he built and decorated with ivory. It also includes the cities he built up and put high walls around. All these things are written in the official records of the kings of Israel.40Ahab joined the members of his family who had already died. Ahab’s son Ahaziah became the next king after him.
Jehoshaphat king of Judah
41Jehoshaphat began to rule over Judah. It was in the fourth year that Ahab was king of Israel. Jehoshaphat was the son of Asa.42Jehoshaphat was 35 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for 25 years. His mother’s name was Azubah. She was the daughter of Shilhi.43Jehoshaphat followed all the ways of his father Asa. He didn’t wander away from them. He did what was right in the sight of the LORD. But the high places weren’t removed. The people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense at them.44Jehoshaphat was also at peace with the king of Israel.45The other events of Jehoshaphat’s rule are written down. The brave things he did in battle and everything else he accomplished are written down. All these things are written in the official records of the kings of Judah.46Jehoshaphat got rid of the rest of the male prostitutes who were at the temples. They had remained in the land even after the rule of his father Asa.47At that time Edom didn’t have a king. An area governor was in charge.48Jehoshaphat built many ships that he used to carry goods to be traded. The ships were supposed to go to Ophir for gold. But they never had a chance to sail. They were wrecked at Ezion Geber.49At that time Ahaziah, the son of Ahab, spoke to Jehoshaphat. He said, ‘Let my men sail with yours.’ But Jehoshaphat refused.50Jehoshaphat joined the members of his family who had already died. He was buried in the family tomb in the city of King David. Jehoshaphat’s son Jehoram became the next king after him.
Ahaziah king of Israel
51Ahaziah became king of Israel in Samaria. It was in the 17th year that Jehoshaphat was king of Judah. Ahaziah ruled over Israel for two years. He was the son of Ahab.52Ahaziah did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. He lived the way his father and mother had lived. He lived the way Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, had lived. Jeroboam had caused Israel to sin.53Ahaziah served and worshipped the god named Baal. He made the LORD, the God of Israel, very angry. That’s exactly what Ahaziah’s father had done.