2 Chronicles 18:29 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal robes." So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

Bible > 2 Chronicles > Chapter 18 > Verse 29

◄ 2 Chronicles 18:29 ►

New International Version
The 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.

New Living Translation
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “As we go into battle, I will disguise myself so no one will recognize me, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.

English Standard Version
And 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 they went into battle.

Berean Standard Bible
And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

King James Bible
And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle.

New King James Version
And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle; but you put on your robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.

New American Standard Bible
And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you put on your robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.

NASB 1995
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you put on your robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.

NASB 1977
And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you put on your robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.

Legacy Standard Bible
And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you put on your garments.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.

Amplified Bible
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and will go into battle, but you put on your [royal] robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into the battle.

Christian Standard Bible
But the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal attire.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal attire.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.

American Standard Version
And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and go into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went into the battle.

Contemporary English Version
Before they went into battle, Ahab said, "Jehoshaphat, I'll disguise myself, but you wear your royal robe." Ahab disguised himself and went into battle.

English Revised Version
And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and go into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went into the battle.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The king of Israel told Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you should wear your royal robes." So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

Good News Translation
Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "As we go into battle, I will disguise myself, but you wear your royal garments." So the king of Israel went into battle in disguise.

International Standard Version
The king of Israel suggested to Jehoshaphat, "I'll go into battle in disguise, but you keep your royal uniform on." So the king of Israel disguised himself and they both went into the battle.

Majority Standard Bible
And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

NET Bible
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself and then enter the battle; but you wear your royal attire." So the king of Israel disguised himself and they entered the battle.

New Heart English Bible
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself, and go into the battle; but you put on your robes." So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went into the battle.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle.

World English Bible
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself, and go into the battle; but you put on your robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went into the battle.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and the king of Israel says to Jehoshaphat to disguise himself, and to go into battle, “And you, put on your garments.” And the king of Israel disguises himself, and they go into battle.

Young's Literal Translation
and the king of Israel saith unto Jehoshaphat to disguise himself, and to go into battle, 'And thou, put on thy garments.' And the king of Israel disguiseth himself, and they go into battle.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the king of Israel will say to Jehoshaphat, Disguising myself and going into the war; and thou, put on thy garments. And the king of Israel will disguise himself, and will go into the war.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the king of Israel said to Josaphat: I will change my dress, and so I will go to the battle, but put thou on thy own garments. And the king of Israel having changed his dress, went to the battle.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat: “I will change my clothing, and in this way I will go into battle. But you should be clothed in your own garments.” And the king of Israel, having changed his clothing, went to war.

New American Bible
and the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle. But you, put on your own robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and they entered the battle.

New Revised Standard Version
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, I will put on my armor, and go and stand in the battle array; and you put on your armor. So the king of Israel put on his armor, and went and stood in the battle array.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the King of Israel said to Yehoshaphat: “I shall equip and I shall come and I shall stand in a battle array, and you wear the garments of your armor.” And the King of Israel equipped himself and he entered and he stood in battle array.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat: 'I will disguise myself, and go into the battle; but put thou on thy robes.' So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went into the battle.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the king of Israel said to Josaphat, Disguise me, and I will enter into the battle: and do thou put on my raiment. so the king of Israel disguised himself, and entered into the battle.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Ahab's Defeat and Death
28So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. 29And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle. 30Now the king of Aram had ordered his chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

1 Kings 22:30
And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

2 Chronicles 35:22
Josiah, however, did not turn away from him; instead, in order to engage him in battle, he disguised himself. He did not listen to Neco’s words from the mouth of God, but went to fight him on the Plain of Megiddo.

1 Kings 20:38-41
and the prophet went and waited on the road for the king, disguising himself with a bandage over his eyes. / As the king passed by, he cried out to the king: “Your servant had marched out into the middle of the battle, when suddenly a man came over with a captive and told me, ‘Guard this man! If he goes missing for any reason, your life will be exchanged for his life, or you will weigh out a talent of silver.’ / But while your servant was busy here and there, the man disappeared.” And the king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be; you have pronounced it on yourself.” ...

1 Samuel 28:8
So Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes, and he set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, “Consult a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one I name.”

1 Kings 14:2
and Jeroboam said to his wife, “Now get up, disguise yourself so they will not recognize you as my wife, and go to Shiloh. For Ahijah the prophet is there; it was he who spoke about my kingship over this people.

1 Kings 22:34
However, a certain man drew his bow without taking special aim, and he struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So the king said to his charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded!”

2 Samuel 11:14-15
The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. / In the letter he wrote: “Put Uriah at the front of the fiercest battle; then withdraw from him, so that he may be struck down and killed.”

2 Kings 10:19
Now, therefore, summon to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests. See that no one is missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever is missing will not live.” But Jehu was acting deceptively in order to destroy the servants of Baal.

Matthew 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

Luke 13:34
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

John 7:1
After this, Jesus traveled throughout Galilee. He did not want to travel in Judea, because the Jews there were trying to kill Him.

John 11:53-54
So from that day on they plotted to kill Him. / As a result, Jesus no longer went about publicly among the Jews, but He withdrew to a town called Ephraim in an area near the wilderness. And He stayed there with the disciples.

Matthew 10:16
Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

Mark 12:12
At this, the leaders sought to arrest Jesus, for they knew that He had spoken this parable against them. But fearing the crowd, they left Him and went away.

Luke 20:19-20
When the scribes and chief priests realized that Jesus had spoken this parable against them, they sought to arrest Him that very hour. But they were afraid of the people. / So they watched Him closely and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They were hoping to catch Him in His words in order to hand Him over to the rule and authority of the governor.

Treasury of Scripture

And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and I will go to the battle; but put you on your robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle.

I will disguise

1 Samuel 28:8
And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.

1 Kings 14:2-6
And Jeroboam said to his wife, Arise, I pray thee, and disguise thyself, that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam; and get thee to Shiloh: behold, there is Ahijah the prophet, which told me that I should be king over this people…

1 Kings 20:38
So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes upon his face.

put thou on thy robes

Psalm 12:2
They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

Proverbs 26:25
When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.

the king

2 Chronicles 35:22,23
Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo…

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2 Chronicles 18

1. Jehoshaphat, joined in affinity with Ahab, is persuaded to go against Ramoth Gilead
4. Ahab, seduced by false prophets, according to the word of Micaiah, is slain there

Berean Study Bible

The king of Israel
This phrase refers to Ahab, the king of the northern kingdom of Israel. Ahab is a significant figure in the Old Testament, known for his idolatry and marriage to Jezebel, which led Israel into further sin. Historically, Ahab's reign is marked by conflict with the prophets of Yahweh, particularly Elijah. His decision-making often reflects a lack of faithfulness to God, which is evident in this passage.

said to Jehoshaphat
Jehoshaphat was the king of Judah, the southern kingdom. Unlike Ahab, Jehoshaphat is generally portrayed as a godly king who sought to follow the ways of the Lord. His alliance with Ahab, however, is a point of contention, as it led him into compromising situations. This interaction highlights the tension between political alliances and spiritual integrity.

I will disguise myself
The Hebrew root for "disguise" (חָפַשׂ, chaphas) implies a deliberate attempt to conceal one's identity. Ahab's decision to disguise himself reveals his fear and lack of trust in God's protection. It also foreshadows his attempt to avoid the prophetic word of judgment pronounced against him. This act of self-preservation contrasts with the biblical call to trust in God's sovereignty.

and go into battle
Ahab's intention to enter the battle despite the prophecy of his demise shows his defiance and determination. Historically, battles during this period were often seen as not just physical conflicts but spiritual ones, where the favor of God was crucial. Ahab's reliance on his own cunning rather than seeking God's guidance is a critical point of reflection.

but you wear your royal attire
This phrase suggests a strategic, albeit deceptive, plan by Ahab to protect himself while exposing Jehoshaphat. The royal attire (בִּגְדֵי מֶלֶךְ, bigdei melech) was a symbol of authority and leadership. Ahab's request for Jehoshaphat to wear his royal robes while he disguised himself indicates a willingness to put Jehoshaphat at risk, highlighting Ahab's self-centeredness and lack of regard for his ally.

So the king of Israel disguised himself
The repetition of Ahab's disguise emphasizes his intent to manipulate the situation to his advantage. This act of disguise is symbolic of Ahab's overall approach to his kingship—one marked by deception and avoidance of divine truth. It serves as a cautionary tale about the futility of trying to escape God's will.

and went into battle
Ahab's entry into battle, despite the prophetic warning, underscores the theme of human pride and the illusion of control. In the broader biblical narrative, this moment serves as a reminder of the importance of heeding God's word and the consequences of ignoring divine warnings. It challenges believers to consider where they might be relying on their own understanding rather than seeking God's guidance.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(29) I will disguise myself, and will go.--Literally, disguising myself and entering! A hurried exclamatory mode of speaking.

They went.--Kings, he (Ahab) went into the battle. So some Hebrew MSS., LXX., Syriac, Vulg., Arabic, and Targum.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 29. - Ahab does not seem disposed to lose anything again for want of asking, and even vouchsafing apparently (but it is exceedingly likely that this arises from our failing to appreciate exactly the force of the Hebrew forms in the text) to use the tone of directing, to his brother-king of the better part and kingdom. It must be presumed that there was something to relieve Ahab's language of the barefaced disregard for the safety of Jehoshaphat and regard for his own, which lie on the surface of the words he uses. Quite possibly, for instance, both knew that Ahab was to be the mark of the shooters. Also Ahab's disguise may have meant a heavy price to pay to his pride, while Jehoshaphat's dignity was saved intact. So, too, Ahab may have merely purported to say, "You can, without any special risk, wear your royal apparel; but I," etc,

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

And the king
מֶ֨לֶךְ (me·leḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

said
וַיֹּאמֶר֩ (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Jehoshaphat,
יְהוֹשָׁפָ֗ט (yə·hō·wō·šā·p̄āṭ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3092: Jehoshaphat -- 'the LORD has judged', the name of a number of Israelites

“I will disguise
הִתְחַפֵּשׂ֙ (hiṯ·ḥap·pêś)
Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 2664: To seek, to conceal oneself, mask

myself and go
וָב֣וֹא (wā·ḇō·w)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

into battle,
בַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה (ḇam·mil·ḥā·māh)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4421: A battle, war

but you
וְאַתָּ֖ה (wə·’at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

wear
לְבַ֣שׁ (lə·ḇaš)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 3847: Wrap around, to put on a, garment, clothe

your royal robes.”
בְּגָדֶ֑יךָ (bə·ḡā·ḏe·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 899: A covering, clothing, treachery, pillage

So the king
מֶ֣לֶךְ (me·leḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

disguised himself
וַיִּתְחַפֵּשׂ֙ (way·yiṯ·ḥap·pêś)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2664: To seek, to conceal oneself, mask

and went
וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ (way·yā·ḇō·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

into battle.
בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ (bam·mil·ḥā·māh)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4421: A battle, war

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OT History: 2 Chronicles 18:29 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)