1 Kings 22:1-49 ▼

1 Then three years passed without war between Aram (exalted) and Israel (he wrestles with God).

2 However, in the third year, Jehoshaphat (YHWH has judged) king of Judah (praised) went down to visit the king of Israel (he wrestles with God),

3 who (he wrestles with God) said to his servants, “Do you⁺ not know that Ramoth-gilead (heights) is ours, (rocky region) but we have failed to take it from the hand of the king of Aram (exalted)?”

4 So he asked Jehoshaphat (YHWH has judged), “Will you go with me to fight against Ramoth-gilead (heights)?” (rocky region) Jehoshaphat answered the king of Israel (he wrestles with God), “I am as you are, my people are your people, and my horses are your horses.”

5 But Jehoshaphat (YHWH has judged) also said to the king of Israel (he wrestles with God), “Please inquire first for the word of the LORD {YHWH}.”

6 So the king of Israel (he wrestles with God) assembled the prophets, about four hundred men, and asked them, “Should I go to war against Ramoth-gilead (heights) (rocky region), or should I refrain?” “Go up,” they replied, “and the Lord {Adonai} will deliver it into the hand of the king.”

7 But Jehoshaphat (YHWH has judged) asked, “Is there not still a prophet of the LORD {YHWH} here of whom we can inquire?”

8 The king of Israel (he wrestles with God) answered (YHWH has judged), “There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the LORD {YHWH}, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me, but only bad. He is Micaiah (who is like God) son of Imlah (whom God will fill up).” “The king should not say that!” Jehoshaphat replied.

9 So the king of Israel (he wrestles with God) called one of his officials and said, “Bring Micaiah (who is like God) son of Imlah at once (whom God will fill up).”

10 Dressed in royal attire, the king of Israel (he wrestles with God) and Jehoshaphat (YHWH has judged) king of Judah (praised) were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor by the entrance of the gate of Samaria (watch mountain), with all the prophets prophesying before them.

11 Now Zedekiah (YHWH is righteous) son of Chenaanah (trader) had made for himself iron horns and declared, “This is what the LORD {YHWH} says: ‘With these you shall gore the Arameans (exalted) until they are finished off.’”

12 And all the prophets were prophesying the same, saying, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead (heights) (rocky region) and triumph, for the LORD {YHWH} will deliver it into the hand of the king.”

13 Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah (who is like God) instructed him, “Behold now, with one accord the words of the prophets are favorable to the king. So please let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.”

14 But Micaiah (who is like God) said, “As surely as the LORD {YHWH} lives, I will speak whatever the LORD tells me.”

15 When Micaiah arrived, the king asked him, “Micaiah (who is like God), should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead (heights), (rocky region) or should we refrain?” “Go up and triumph,” Micaiah replied, “for the LORD {YHWH} will deliver it into the hand of the king.”

16 But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear not to tell me anything but the truth in the name of the LORD {YHWH}?”

17 So Micaiah declared: “I saw all Israel (he wrestles with God) scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD {YHWH} said, ‘These people have no master; let each one return home in peace.’”

18 Then the king of Israel (he wrestles with God) said to Jehoshaphat (YHWH has judged), “Did I not tell you that he never prophesies good for me, but only bad?”

19 Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD {YHWH}: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left.

20 And the LORD {YHWH} said, ‘Who will entice Ahab (father's brother) to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead (heights)?’ (rocky region) And one suggested this, and another that.

21 Then a spirit {ruach} came forward, stood before the LORD {YHWH}, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ ‘By what means?’ asked the LORD.

22 And he replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit {ruach} in the mouths of all his prophets.’ ‘You will surely entice him and prevail,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’

23 So you see, the LORD {YHWH} has put a lying spirit {ruach} in the mouths of all these prophets of yours, and the LORD has pronounced disaster against you.”

24 Then Zedekiah (YHWH is righteous) son of Chenaanah (trader) went up, struck Micaiah (who is like God) in the face, and demanded, “Which way did the Spirit of the LORD {Ruach YHWH} go when He departed from me to speak with you?”

25 Micaiah (who is like God) replied, “You will soon see, on that day when you go and hide in an inner room.”

26 And the king of Israel (he wrestles with God) declared, “Take Micaiah (who is like God) and return him to Amon (skilled workman) the governor of the city and to Joash (given by the Lord) the king’s son,

27 and tell them that this is what the king says: ‘Put this man in prison and feed him only bread and water until I return safely.’”

28 But Micaiah (who is like God) replied, “If you ever return safely, the LORD {YHWH} has not spoken through me.” Then he added, “Take heed, all you people!”

29 So the king of Israel (he wrestles with God) and Jehoshaphat (YHWH has judged) king of Judah (praised) went up to Ramoth-gilead (heights) (rocky region).

30 And the king of Israel (he wrestles with God) said to Jehoshaphat (YHWH has judged), “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.

31 Now the king of Aram (exalted) had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel (he wrestles with God).”

32 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat (YHWH has judged), they said, “Surely this is the king of Israel (he wrestles with God)!” So they turned to fight against him, but Jehoshaphat cried out.

33 And when the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel (he wrestles with God), they turned back from pursuing him.

34 However, a certain man drew his bow without taking special aim, and he struck the king of Israel (he wrestles with God) between the joints of his armor. So the king said to his charioteer, “Turn around \Turn your hand/ and take me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded!”

35 The battle raged throughout that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans (exalted). And the blood from his wound ran out onto the floor of the chariot, and that evening he died.

36 As the sun was setting, the cry rang out in the army: “Every man to his own city, and every man to his own land!”

37 So the king died and was brought to Samaria (watch mountain), where they buried him.

38 And the chariot was washed at the pool of Samaria (watch mountain) where the prostitutes bathed, and the dogs licked up Ahab’s blood, according to the word that the LORD {YHWH} had spoken <1Ki 21:19>.

39 As for the rest of the acts of Ahab (father's brother), along with all his accomplishments and the ivory palace and all the cities he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel (he wrestles with God)?

40 And Ahab (father's brother) rested with his fathers, and his son Ahaziah (YHWH holds) reigned in his place.

41 In the fourth year of Ahab’s (father's brother) reign over Israel (he wrestles with God), Jehoshaphat (YHWH has judged) son of Asa (healer) became king of Judah (praised).

42 Jehoshaphat (YHWH has judged) was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem (city of peace) twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah (forsaken) daughter of Shilhi (armed).

43 And Jehoshaphat walked in all the ways of his father Asa (healer); he did not turn away from them, but did what was right in the eyes of the LORD {YHWH}. The high places, however, were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

44 Jehoshaphat (YHWH has judged) also made peace with the king of Israel (he wrestles with God).

45 As for the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat (YHWH has judged), along with the might he exercised and how he waged war, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah (praised)?

46 He banished from the land the male shrine prostitutes who remained from the days of his father Asa (healer).

47 And there was no king in Edom (red); a deputy served as king.

48 Jehoshaphat (YHWH has judged) built ships of Tarshish (a fleet of trading ships) to go to Ophir (reducing to ashes) for gold, but they never set sail, because they were wrecked at Ezion-geber (backbone).

49 At that time Ahaziah (YHWH holds) son of Ahab (father's brother) said to Jehoshaphat (YHWH has judged), “Let my servants sail with your servants,” but Jehoshaphat refused.