2 Chronicles 18:1-22 ▼

1 Now Jehoshaphat (YHWH has judged) had an abundance of riches and honor, and he allied himself with Ahab (father's brother) by marriage.

2 And some years later he went down to visit Ahab (father's brother) in Samaria (watch mountain), where Ahab sacrificed many sheep and cattle for him and the people with him and urged him to march up to Ramoth-gilead (heights) (rocky region).

3 Ahab (father's brother) king of Israel (he wrestles with God) asked Jehoshaphat (YHWH has judged) king of Judah (praised), “Will you go with me against Ramoth-gilead (heights) (rocky region)?” And Jehoshaphat replied, “I am as you are, and my people are your people; we will join you in the war.”

4 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}.”

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

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

7 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.

8 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).”

9 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.

10 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.’”

11 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.”

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

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

14 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 they will be delivered into your⁺ hand.”

15 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}?”

16 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.’”

17 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?”

18 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 on His right and on His left.

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

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

21 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.’

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