5But Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “First, please ask what the Lord’s will is.”22:5 1Sm 23:1–5; Jms 4:15

6So the king of Israel gathered the prophets, about four hundred men,22:6 1Kg 18:19 and asked them, “Should I go against Ramoth-gilead for war or should I refrain?”

7But Jehoshaphat asked, “Isn’t there a prophet of the Lord here anymore?22:7 2Kg 1:3; 3:11; 5:8 Let’s ask him.”

8The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man who can inquire of the Lord, but I hate him22:8 1Kg 18:17; 21:20 because he never prophesies good about me,22:8 Am 5:10 but only disaster. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”

9So the king of Israel called an officer and said, “Hurry and get Micaiah son of Imlah!”

10Now the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah,22:10–12 2Ch 18:9–11 clothed in royal attire, were each sitting on his own throne. They were on the threshing floor22:10 Jdg 6:37 at the entrance to the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying in front of them.

11Then Zedekiah22:11 1Kg 22:24 son of Chenaanah made iron horns22:11 Dt 33:17; Zch 1:18–21 and said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘You will gore the Arameans with these until they are finished off.’”

12And all the prophets were prophesying the same: “March up to Ramoth-gilead22:12 1Kg 4:13 and succeed, for the Lord will hand it over to the king.”

14But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives,22:14 1Kg 18:10,15 I will say whatever the Lord says to me.”22:14 Nm 22:28; 24:13

15So he went to the king, and the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to Ramoth-gilead for war, or should we refrain?”

16But 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?”

17So Micaiah said:

18So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you he never prophesies good about me, but only disaster?”

19Then Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne,22:19 Is 6:1; Dn 7:9 and the whole heavenly army22:19 Jb 1:6; Dn 7:10; Heb 1:7 was standing by him at his right hand and at his left hand.

20And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? ’ 22:20 1Kg 22:4 So one was saying this and another was saying that.

21“Then a spirit came forward, stood in the Lord’s presence, and said, ‘I will entice him.’

22“The Lord asked him, ‘How?’

23“You see, the Lord has put a lying spirit into the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the Lord has pronounced disaster against you.”

24Then Zedekiah22:24 1Kg 22:11 son of Chenaanah came up, hit Micaiah on the cheek, and demanded, “Did22:24 Lit “Which way did the Spirit of the Lord leave me to speak to you?” 22:24 2Ch 18:23

25Micaiah replied, “You will soon see when you go to hide in an inner chamber on that day.”22:25 1Kg 20:30

26Then the king of Israel ordered, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, the king’s son,22:26 1Kg 22:40

27and say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this guy in prison22:27 2Ch 16:10; Heb 11:36 and feed him only a little bread and water22:27 Lit him on bread of oppression and water of oppression until I come back safely.’”

28But Micaiah said, “If you ever return safely, the Lord has not spoken through me.”22:28 Dt 18:22 Then he said, “Listen, all you people!” 22:28 LXX omits Then he said, “Listen, all you people!”22:28 Mc 1:2

31Now the king of Aram had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders,22:31 1Kg 20:1,16 “Do not fight with anyone at all22:31 Lit with small or with great except the king of Israel.”22:31 2Ch 18:30

32When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they shouted, “He must be the king of Israel!” So they turned to fight against him, but Jehoshaphat cried out.

33When the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

34But a man drew his bow22:34 2Kg 9:24 without taking special aim and struck the king of Israel through the joints of his armor. So he said to his charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle,22:34 LXX; MT reads camp for I am badly wounded!” 22:34 2Ch 35:23

35The battle raged throughout that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. He died that evening,22:34–35 1Kg 22:17,28; 2Ch 18:33–34 and blood from his wound flowed into the bottom of the chariot.

36Then the cry rang out in the army as the sun set, declaring:

37So the king died and was brought to Samaria. They buried the king in Samaria.22:37 1Kg 16:28

38Then someone washed the chariot at the pool of Samaria. The dogs licked up his blood, and the prostitutes bathed in it, according to the word of the Lord that he had spoken.22:38 1Kg 21:19

39The rest of the events of Ahab’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, including the ivory palace22:39 Am 3:15 he built, and all the cities he built, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.22:39 1Kg 16:27

40Ahab rested with his ancestors,22:40 1Kg 16:28 and his son Ahaziah22:40 2Kg 1:2 became king in his place.

45The rest of the events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, along with the might he exercised and how he waged war, are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.22:45 1Kg 15:23; 2Ch 20:34

46He eradicated from the land the rest of the male cult prostitutes who were left from the days of his father Asa.22:46 1Kg 15:12

47There was no king in Edom;22:47 2Sm 8:14; 2Kg 3:9 a deputy served as king.

48Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish22:48 1Kg 10:22 to go to Ophir22:48 1Kg 9:28 for gold, but they did not go because the ships were wrecked at Ezion-geber.22:48 1Kg 9:26

49At that time, Ahaziah22:49 1Kg 22:40,51 son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants go with your servants in the ships,” but Jehoshaphat was not willing.

50Jehoshaphat rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the city of his ancestor David.22:50 1Kg 15:24; 2Ch 21:1 His son Jehoram22:50 2Kg 1:17 became king in his place.