NET Bible

Hebrew Study Bible

1Jehoshaphat was very wealthy and greatly respected. He made an alliance by marriage with Ahab,

1וַיְהִ֧י לִֽיהוֹשָׁפָ֛ט עֹ֥שֶׁר וְכָב֖וֹד לָרֹ֑ב וַיִּתְחַתֵּ֖ן לְאַחְאָֽב׃

2and after several years went down to visit Ahab in Samaria. Ahab slaughtered many sheep and cattle to honor Jehoshaphat and those who came with him. He persuaded him to join in an attack against Ramoth Gilead.

2וַיֵּרֶד֩ לְקֵ֨ץ שָׁנִ֤ים אֶל־ אַחְאָב֙ לְשֹׁ֣מְר֔וֹן וַיִּֽזְבַּֽח־ ל֨וֹ אַחְאָ֜ב צֹ֤אן וּבָקָר֙ לָרֹ֔ב וְלָעָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר עִמּ֑וֹ וַיְסִיתֵ֕הוּ לַעֲל֖וֹת אֶל־ רָמ֥וֹת גִּלְעָֽד׃

3King Ahab of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Will you go with me to attack Ramoth Gilead?" Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, "I will support you; my army is at your disposal and will support you in battle."

3וַיֹּ֜אמֶר אַחְאָ֣ב מֶֽלֶךְ־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֶל־ יְהֽוֹשָׁפָט֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֔ה הֲתֵלֵ֥ךְ עִמִּ֖י רָמֹ֣ת גִּלְעָ֑ד וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ כָּמ֤וֹנִי כָמ֙וֹךָ֙ וּכְעַמְּךָ֣ עַמִּ֔י וְעִמְּךָ֖ בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃

4Then Jehoshaphat added, "First seek an oracle from the LORD."

4וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוֹשָׁפָ֖ט אֶל־ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל דְּרָשׁ־ נָ֥א כַיּ֖וֹם אֶת־ דְּבַ֥ר יְהוָֽה׃

5So the king of Israel assembled 400 prophets and asked them, "Should we attack Ramoth Gilead or not?" They said, "Attack! God will hand it over to the king."

5וַיִּקְבֹּ֨ץ מֶֽלֶךְ־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל אֶֽת־ הַנְּבִאִים֮ אַרְבַּ֣ע מֵא֣וֹת אִישׁ֒ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֗ם הֲנֵלֵ֞ךְ אֶל־ רָמֹ֥ת גִּלְעָ֛ד לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה אִם־ אֶחְדָּ֑ל וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ עֲלֵ֔ה וְיִתֵּ֥ן הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּיַ֥ד הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

6But Jehoshaphat asked, "Is there not a prophet of the LORD still here, that we may ask him?"

6וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יְה֣וֹשָׁפָ֔ט הַאֵ֨ין פֹּ֥ה נָבִ֛יא לַיהוָ֖ה ע֑וֹד וְנִדְרְשָׁ֖ה מֵאֹתֽוֹ׃

7The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man through whom we can seek the LORD's will. But I despise him because he does not prophesy prosperity for me, but always disaster. His name is Micaiah son of Imlah. Jehoshaphat said, "The king should not say such things!"

7וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֶֽלֶךְ־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל ׀ אֶֽל־ יְהוֹשָׁפָ֡ט ע֣וֹד אִישׁ־ אֶחָ֡ד לִדְרוֹשׁ֩ אֶת־ יְהוָ֨ה מֵֽאֹת֜וֹ וַאֲנִ֣י שְׂנֵאתִ֗יהוּ כִּֽי־ אֵ֠ינֶנּוּ מִתְנַבֵּ֨א עָלַ֤י לְטוֹבָה֙ כִּ֣י כָל־ יָמָ֣יו לְרָעָ֔ה ה֖וּא מִיכָ֣יְהוּ בֶן־ יִמְלָ֑א וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יְה֣וֹשָׁפָ֔ט אַל־ יֹאמַ֥ר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ כֵּֽן׃

8The king of Israel summoned an officer and said, "Quickly bring Micaiah son of Imlah."

8וַיִּקְרָא֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶל־ סָרִ֖יס אֶחָ֑ד וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מַהֵ֖ר [מיכהו] (מִיכָ֥יְהוּ) בֶן־ יִמְלָֽא׃

9Now the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah were sitting on their respective thrones, dressed in their royal robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria. All the prophets were prophesying before them.

9וּמֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֡ל וִֽיהוֹשָׁפָ֣ט מֶֽלֶךְ־ יְהוּדָ֡ה יוֹשְׁבִים֩ אִ֨ישׁ עַל־ כִּסְא֜וֹ מְלֻבָּשִׁ֤ים בְּגָדִים֙ וְיֹשְׁבִ֣ים בְּגֹ֔רֶן פֶּ֖תַח שַׁ֣עַר שֹׁמְר֑וֹן וְכָל־ הַ֨נְּבִיאִ֔ים מִֽתְנַבְּאִ֖ים לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃

10Zedekiah son of Kenaanah made iron horns and said, "This is what the LORD says, 'With these you will gore Syria until they are destroyed!'"

10וַיַּ֥עַשׂ ל֛וֹ צִדְקִיָּ֥הוּ בֶֽן־ כְּנַעֲנָ֖ה קַרְנֵ֣י בַרְזֶ֑ל וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ כֹּֽה־ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה בְּאֵ֛לֶּה תְּנַגַּ֥ח אֶת־ אֲרָ֖ם עַד־ כַּלּוֹתָֽם׃

11All the prophets were prophesying the same, saying, "Attack Ramoth Gilead! You will succeed; the LORD will hand it over to the king!"

11וְכָל־ הַ֨נְּבִאִ֔ים נִבְּאִ֥ים כֵּ֖ן לֵאמֹ֑ר עֲלֵ֞ה רָמֹ֤ת גִּלְעָד֙ וְהַצְלַ֔ח וְנָתַ֥ן יְהוָ֖ה בְּיַ֥ד הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

12Now the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, "Look, the prophets are in complete agreement that the king will succeed. Your words must agree with theirs; you must predict success!"

12וְהַמַּלְאָ֞ךְ אֲשֶׁר־ הָלַ֣ךְ ׀ לִקְרֹ֣א לְמִיכָ֗יְהוּ דִּבֶּ֤ר אֵלָיו֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הִנֵּ֞ה דִּבְרֵ֧י הַנְּבִאִ֛ים פֶּֽה־ אֶחָ֥ד ט֖וֹב אֶל־ הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וִֽיהִי־ נָ֧א דְבָרְךָ֛ כְּאַחַ֥ד מֵהֶ֖ם וְדִבַּ֥רְתָּ טּֽוֹב׃

13But Micaiah said, "As certainly as the LORD lives, I will say what my God tells me to say!"

13וַיֹּ֖אמֶר מִיכָ֑יְהוּ חַי־ יְהוָ֕ה כִּ֛י אֶת־ אֲשֶׁר־ יֹאמַ֥ר אֱלֹהַ֖י אֹת֥וֹ אֲדַבֵּֽר׃

14Micaiah came before the king and the king asked him, "Micaiah, should we attack Ramoth Gilead or not?" He answered him, "Attack! You will succeed; they will be handed over to you."

14וַיָּבֹא֮ אֶל־ הַמֶּלֶךְ֒ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֵלָ֗יו מִיכָה֙ הֲנֵלֵ֞ךְ אֶל־ רָמֹ֥ת גִּלְעָ֛ד לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה אִם־ אֶחְדָּ֑ל וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ עֲל֣וּ וְהַצְלִ֔יחוּ וְיִנָּתְנ֖וּ בְּיֶדְכֶֽם׃

15The king said to him, "How many times must I make you solemnly promise in the name of the LORD to tell me only the truth?"

15וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ עַד־ כַּמֶּ֥ה פְעָמִ֖ים אֲנִ֣י מַשְׁבִּיעֶ֑ךָ אֲ֠שֶׁר לֹֽא־ תְדַבֵּ֥ר אֵלַ֛י רַק־ אֱמֶ֖ת בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְהוָֽה׃

16Micaiah replied, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains like sheep that have no shepherd. Then the LORD said, 'They have no master. They should go home in peace.'"

16וַיֹּ֗אמֶר רָאִ֤יתִי אֶת־ כָּל־ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ נְפוֹצִ֣ים עַל־ הֶֽהָרִ֔ים כַּצֹּ֕אן אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֵין־ לָהֶ֖ן רֹעֶ֑ה וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ לֹֽא־ אֲדֹנִ֣ים לָאֵ֔לֶּה יָשׁ֥וּבוּ אִישׁ־ לְבֵית֖וֹ בְּשָׁלֽוֹם׃

17The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Didn't I tell you he does not prophesy prosperity for me, but disaster?"

17וַיֹּ֥אמֶר מֶֽלֶךְ־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶל־ יְהוֹשָׁפָ֑ט הֲלֹא֙ אָמַ֣רְתִּי אֵלֶ֔יךָ לֹא־ יִתְנַבֵּ֥א עָלַ֛י ט֖וֹב כִּ֥י אִם־ לְרָֽע׃ ס

18Micaiah said, "That being the case, hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, with all the heavenly assembly standing on his right and on his left.

18וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לָכֵ֖ן שִׁמְע֣וּ דְבַר־ יְהוָ֑ה רָאִ֤יתִי אֶת־ יְהוָה֙ יוֹשֵׁ֣ב עַל־ כִּסְא֔וֹ וְכָל־ צְבָ֤א הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ עֹֽמְדִ֔ים עַל־ יְמִינ֖וֹ וּשְׂמֹאלֽוֹ׃

19The LORD said, 'Who will deceive King Ahab of Israel, so he will attack Ramoth Gilead and die there?' One said this and another that.

19וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָ֗ה מִ֤י יְפַתֶּה֙ אֶת־ אַחְאָ֣ב מֶֽלֶךְ־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְיַ֕עַל וְיִפֹּ֖ל בְּרָמ֣וֹת גִּלְעָ֑ד וַיֹּ֕אמֶר זֶ֚ה אֹמֵ֣ר כָּ֔כָה וְזֶ֖ה אֹמֵ֥ר כָּֽכָה׃

20Then a spirit stepped forward and stood before the LORD. He said, 'I will deceive him.' The LORD asked him, 'How?'

20וַיֵּצֵ֣א הָר֗וּחַ וַֽיַּעֲמֹד֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֲנִ֣י אֲפַתֶּ֑נּוּ וַיֹּ֧אמֶר יְהוָ֛ה אֵלָ֖יו בַּמָּֽה׃

21He replied, 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.' The LORD said, 'Deceive and overpower him. Go out and do as you have proposed.'

21וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֵצֵא֙ וְהָיִ֙יתִי֙ לְר֣וּחַ שֶׁ֔קֶר בְּפִ֖י כָּל־ נְבִיאָ֑יו וַיֹּ֗אמֶר תְּפַתֶּה֙ וְגַם־ תּוּכָ֔ל צֵ֖א וַעֲשֵׂה־ כֵֽן׃

22So now, look, the LORD has placed a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours; but the LORD has decreed disaster for you."

22וְעַתָּ֗ה הִנֵּ֨ה נָתַ֤ן יְהוָה֙ ר֣וּחַ שֶׁ֔קֶר בְּפִ֖י נְבִיאֶ֣יךָ אֵ֑לֶּה וַֽיהוָ֔ה דִּבֶּ֥ר עָלֶ֖יךָ רָעָֽה׃ ס

23Zedekiah son of Kenaanah approached, hit Micaiah on the jaw, and said, "Which way did the LORD's spirit go when he went from me to speak to you?"

23וַיִּגַּשׁ֙ צִדְקִיָּ֣הוּ בֶֽן־ כְּנַעֲנָ֔ה וַיַּ֥ךְ אֶת־ מִיכָ֖יְהוּ עַל־ הַלֶּ֑חִי וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֵ֣י זֶ֤ה הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ עָבַ֧ר רֽוּחַ־ יְהוָ֛ה מֵאִתִּ֖י לְדַבֵּ֥ר אֹתָֽךְ׃

24Micaiah replied, "Look, you will see in the day when you go into an inner room to hide."

24וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מִיכָ֔יְהוּ הִנְּךָ֥ רֹאֶ֖ה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא אֲשֶׁ֥ר תָּב֛וֹא חֶ֥דֶר בְּחֶ֖דֶר לְהֵחָבֵֽא׃

25Then the king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the city official and Joash the king's son.

25וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל קְחוּ֙ אֶת־ מִיכָ֔יְהוּ וַהֲשִׁיבֻ֖הוּ אֶל־ אָמ֣וֹן שַׂר־ הָעִ֑יר וְאֶל־ יוֹאָ֖שׁ בֶּן־ הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

26Say, 'This is what the king says: "Put this man in prison. Give him only a little bread and water until I return safely."'"

26וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֗ם כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ שִׂ֥ימוּ זֶ֖ה בֵּ֣ית הַכֶּ֑לֶא וְהַאֲכִלֻ֜הוּ לֶ֤חֶם לַ֙חַץ֙ וּמַ֣יִם לַ֔חַץ עַ֖ד שׁוּבִ֥י בְשָׁלֽוֹם׃

27Micaiah said, "If you really do return safely, then the LORD has not spoken through me!" Then he added, "Take note, all you people."

27וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מִיכָ֔יְהוּ אִם־ שׁ֤וֹב תָּשׁוּב֙ בְּשָׁל֔וֹם לֹא־ דִבֶּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה בִּ֑י וַיֹּ֕אמֶר שִׁמְע֖וּ עַמִּ֥ים כֻּלָּֽם׃ פ

28The king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah attacked Ramoth Gilead.

28וַיַּ֧עַל מֶֽלֶךְ־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל וִֽיהוֹשָׁפָ֥ט מֶֽלֶךְ־ יְהוּדָ֖ה אֶל־ רָמֹ֥ת גִּלְעָֽד׃

29The 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.

29וַיֹּאמֶר֩ מֶ֨לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶל־ יְהוֹשָׁפָ֗ט הִתְחַפֵּשׂ֙ וָב֣וֹא בַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְאַתָּ֖ה לְבַ֣שׁ בְּגָדֶ֑יךָ וַיִּתְחַפֵּשׂ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃

30Now the king of Syria had ordered his chariot commanders, "Do not fight common soldiers or high ranking officers; fight only the king of Israel!"

30וּמֶ֣לֶךְ אֲרָ֡ם צִוָּה֩ אֶת־ שָׂרֵ֨י הָרֶ֤כֶב אֲשֶׁר־ לוֹ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לֹ֚א תִּלָּ֣חֲמ֔וּ אֶת־ הַקָּטֹ֖ן אֶת־ הַגָּד֑וֹל כִּ֛י אִֽם־ אֶת־ מֶ֥לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְבַדּֽוֹ׃

31When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, "He must be the king of Israel!" So they turned and attacked him, but Jehoshaphat cried out. The LORD helped him; God lured them away from him.

31וַיְהִ֡י כִּרְאוֹת֩ שָׂרֵ֨י הָרֶ֜כֶב אֶת־ יְהוֹשָׁפָ֗ט וְהֵ֤מָּה אָֽמְרוּ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל ה֔וּא וַיָּסֹ֥בּוּ עָלָ֖יו לְהִלָּחֵ֑ם וַיִּזְעַ֤ק יְהֽוֹשָׁפָט֙ וַֽיהוָ֣ה עֲזָר֔וֹ וַיְסִיתֵ֥ם אֱלֹהִ֖ים מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃

32When the chariot commanders realized he was not the king of Israel, they turned away from him.

32וַיְהִ֗י כִּרְאוֹת֙ שָׂרֵ֣י הָרֶ֔כֶב כִּ֥י לֹא־ הָיָ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיָּשֻׁ֖בוּ מֵאַחֲרָֽיו׃

33Now an archer shot an arrow at random and it struck the king of Israel between the plates of his armor. The king ordered his charioteer, "Turn around and take me from the battle line, for I am wounded."

33וְאִ֗ישׁ מָשַׁ֤ךְ בַּקֶּ֙שֶׁת֙ לְתֻמּ֔וֹ וַיַּךְ֙ אֶת־ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בֵּ֥ין הַדְּבָקִ֖ים וּבֵ֣ין הַשִּׁרְיָ֑ן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָֽרַכָּ֗ב הֲפֹ֧ךְ [ידיך] (יָדְךָ֛) וְהוֹצֵאתַ֥נִי מִן־ הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה כִּ֥י הָחֳלֵֽיתִי׃

34While the battle raged throughout the day, the king stood propped up in his chariot opposite the Syrians. He died in the evening as the sun was setting.

34וַתַּ֤עַל הַמִּלְחָמָה֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא וּמֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל הָיָ֨ה מַעֲמִ֧יד בַּמֶּרְכָּבָ֛ה נֹ֥כַח אֲרָ֖ם עַד־ הָעָ֑רֶב וַיָּ֕מָת לְעֵ֖ת בּ֥וֹא הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃

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