| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New Living Translation |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1Jehoshaphat enjoyed great riches and high esteem, and he made an alliance with Ahab of Israel by having his son marry Ahab’s daughter. |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2A few years later he went to Samaria to visit Ahab, who prepared a great banquet for him and his officials. They butchered great numbers of sheep, goats, and cattle for the feast. Then Ahab enticed Jehoshaphat to join forces with him to recover Ramoth-gilead. |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3“Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?” King Ahab of Israel asked King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Jehoshaphat replied, “Why, of course! You and I are as one, and my troops are your troops. We will certainly join you in battle.” |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4Then Jehoshaphat added, “But first let’s find out what the LORD says.” |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5So the king of Israel summoned the prophets, 400 of them, and asked them, “Should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I hold back?” They all replied, “Yes, go right ahead! God will give the king victory.” |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not also a prophet of the LORD here? We should ask him the same question.” |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7The king of Israel replied to Jehoshaphat, “There is one more man who could consult the LORD for us, but I hate him. He never prophesies anything but trouble for me! His name is Micaiah son of Imlah.” Jehoshaphat replied, “That’s not the way a king should talk! Let’s hear what he has to say.” |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, “Quick! Bring Micaiah son of Imlah.” Micaiah Prophesies against Ahab |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah, dressed in their royal robes, were sitting on thrones at the threshing floor near the gate of Samaria. All of Ahab’s prophets were prophesying there in front of them. |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10One of them, Zedekiah son of Kenaanah, made some iron horns and proclaimed, “This is what the LORD says: With these horns you will gore the Arameans to death!” |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11All the other prophets agreed. “Yes,” they said, “go up to Ramoth-gilead and be victorious, for the LORD will give the king victory!” |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12Meanwhile, the messenger who went to get Micaiah said to him, “Look, all the prophets are promising victory for the king. Be sure that you agree with them and promise success.” |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13But Micaiah replied, “As surely as the LORD lives, I will say only what my God says.” |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14When Micaiah arrived before the king, Ahab asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I hold back?” Micaiah replied sarcastically, “Yes, go up and be victorious, for you will have victory over them!” |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15But the king replied sharply, “How many times must I demand that you speak only the truth to me when you speak for the LORD?” |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16Then Micaiah told him, “In a vision I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘Their master has been killed. Send them home in peace.’” |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17“Didn’t I tell you?” the king of Israel exclaimed to Jehoshaphat. “He never prophesies anything but trouble for me.” |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18Then Micaiah continued, “Listen to what the LORD says! I saw the LORD sitting on his throne with all the armies of heaven around him, on his right and on his left. |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19And the LORD said, ‘Who can entice King Ahab of Israel to go into battle against Ramoth-gilead so he can be killed?’ “There were many suggestions, |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20and finally a spirit approached the LORD and said, ‘I can do it!’ “‘How will you do this?’ the LORD asked. |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21“And the spirit replied, ‘I will go out and inspire all of Ahab’s prophets to speak lies.’ “‘You will succeed,’ said the LORD. ‘Go ahead and do it.’ |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22“So you see, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of your prophets. For the LORD has pronounced your doom.” |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23Then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah walked up to Micaiah and slapped him across the face. “Since when did the Spirit of the LORD leave me to speak to you?” he demanded. |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24And Micaiah replied, “You will find out soon enough when you are trying to hide in some secret room!” |
| 25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25“Arrest him!” the king of Israel ordered. “Take him back to Amon, the governor of the city, and to my son Joash. |
| 26[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 26Give them this order from the king: ‘Put this man in prison, and feed him nothing but bread and water until I return safely from the battle!’” |
| 27[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 27But Micaiah replied, “If you return safely, it will mean that the LORD has not spoken through me!” Then he added to those standing around, “Everyone mark my words!” The Death of Ahab |
| 28[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 28So King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah led their armies against Ramoth-gilead. |
| 29[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 29The 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. |
| 30[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 30Meanwhile, the king of Aram had issued these orders to his chariot commanders: “Attack only the king of Israel! Don’t bother with anyone else.” |
| 31[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 31So when the Aramean chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat in his royal robes, they went after him. “There is the king of Israel!” they shouted. But Jehoshaphat called out, and the LORD saved him. God helped him by turning the attackers away from him. |
| 32[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 32As soon as the chariot commanders realized he was not the king of Israel, they stopped chasing him. |
| 33[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 33An Aramean soldier, however, randomly shot an arrow at the Israelite troops and hit the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. “Turn the horses and get me out of here!” Ahab groaned to the driver of the chariot. “I’m badly wounded!” |
| 34[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 34The battle raged all that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans. In the evening, just as the sun was setting, he died. |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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