1 Kings 22
22
Micaiah Prophesies Against Ahab
1For three years there wasn’t any war between Aram and Israel. 2In the third year Jehoshaphat went down to see Ahab, the king of Israel. Jehoshaphat was king of Judah. 3The king of Israel had spoken to his officials. He had said, “Don’t you know that Ramoth Gilead belongs to us? And we aren’t even doing anything to take it back from the king of Aram.”
4So Ahab asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight against Ramoth Gilead?”
Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “Yes. I’ll go with you. My men will go with you. My horses will also go with you.” 5Jehoshaphat continued, “First ask the Lord for advice.”
6So the king of Israel brought about 400 prophets together. He asked them, “Should I go to war against Ramoth Gilead? Or should I stay here?”
“Go,” they answered. “The Lord will hand it over to you.”
7But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no longer a prophet of the Lord here? If there is, ask him what we should do.”
8The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat. He said, “There is still one other man we can go to. We can ask the Lord for advice through him. But I hate him. He never prophesies anything good about me. He only prophesies bad things. His name is Micaiah. He’s the son of Imlah.”
“You shouldn’t say bad things about him,” Jehoshaphat replied.
9So the king of Israel called for one of his officials. He told him, “Bring Micaiah, the son of Imlah, right away.”
10The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, were wearing their royal robes. They were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor. It was near the entrance of the gate of Samaria. All the prophets were prophesying in front of them. 11Zedekiah was the son of Kenaanah. Zedekiah had made horns out of iron. They looked like animal horns. He announced, “The Lord says, ‘With these horns you will drive back the men of Aram until they are destroyed.’ ”
12All the other prophets were prophesying the same thing. “Attack Ramoth Gilead,” they said. “Win the battle over it. The Lord will hand it over to you.”
13A messenger went to get Micaiah. He said to him, “Look. The other prophets agree. All of them are saying the king will have success. So agree with them. Say the same thing they do.”
14But Micaiah said, “You can be sure that the Lord lives. And here is something you can be just as sure of. I can only tell the king what the Lord tells me to say.”
15When Micaiah arrived, the king spoke to him. He asked, “Should we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or not?”
“Attack,” he answered. “You will win. The Lord will hand Ramoth Gilead over to you.”
16The king said to him, “I’ve made you promise to tell the truth many times before. So don’t tell me anything but the truth in the name of the Lord.”
17Then Micaiah answered, “I saw all the Israelites scattered on the hills. They were like sheep that didn’t have a shepherd. The Lord said, ‘These people do not have a master. Let each of them go home in peace.’ ”
18The king of Israel spoke to Jehoshaphat. He said, “Didn’t I tell you he never prophesies anything good about me? He only prophesies bad things.”
19Micaiah continued, “Listen to the Lord’s message. I saw the Lord sitting on his throne. All the angels of heaven were standing around him. Some were standing at his right side. The others were standing at his left side. 20The Lord said, ‘Who will get Ahab to attack Ramoth Gilead? I want him to die there.’
“One angel suggested one thing. Another suggested something else. 21Finally, a spirit came forward and stood in front of the Lord. The spirit said, ‘I’ll get Ahab to do it.’
22“ ‘How?’ the Lord asked.
“The spirit said, ‘I’ll go out and put lies in the mouths of all his prophets.’
“ ‘You will have success in getting Ahab to attack Ramoth Gilead,’ said the Lord. ‘Go and do it.’
23“So the Lord has put lies in the mouths of all your prophets. He has said that great harm will come to you.”
24Then Zedekiah, the son of Kenaanah, went up and slapped Micaiah in the face. Zedekiah asked Micaiah, “Do you think the spirit sent by the Lord left me? Do you think that spirit went to speak to you?”
25Micaiah replied, “You will find out on the day you go to hide in an inside room to save your life.”
26Then the king of Israel gave an order. He said, “Take Micaiah away. Send him back to Amon. Amon is the ruler of the city of Samaria. And send him back to Joash. Joash is a member of the royal court. 27Tell him, ‘The king says, “Put this fellow in prison. Don’t give him anything but bread and water until I return safely.” ’ ”
28Micaiah announced, “Do you really think you will return safely? If you do, the Lord hasn’t spoken through me.” He continued, “All of you people, remember what I’ve said!”
Ahab Is Killed at Ramoth Gilead
29So the king of Israel went up to Ramoth Gilead. Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, went there too. 30The king of Israel spoke to Jehoshaphat. He said, “I’ll go into battle wearing different clothes. Then people won’t recognize me. But you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel put on different clothes. Then he went into battle.
31The king of Aram had given an order to his 32 chariot commanders. He had said, “Fight only against the king of Israel. Don’t fight against anyone else.” 32The chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat. They thought, “That has to be the king of Israel.” So they turned to attack him. But Jehoshaphat cried out. 33Then the commanders saw he wasn’t the king of Israel after all. So they stopped chasing him.
34But someone shot an arrow without taking aim. The arrow hit the king of Israel between the parts of his armor. The king told his chariot driver, “Turn the chariot around. Get me out of this battle. I’ve been wounded.” 35All day long the battle continued. The king kept himself standing up by leaning against the inside of his chariot. He kept his face toward the men of Aram. The blood from his wound ran down onto the floor of the chariot. That evening he died. 36As the sun was setting, a cry spread through the army. “Every man must go to his own town!” they said. “Every man must go to his own land!”
37So the king died. He was brought to Samaria. They buried him there. 38They washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria. It was where the prostitutes took baths. The dogs licked up Ahab’s blood. It happened exactly as the Lord had said it would.
39The other events of Ahab’s rule are written down. Everything he did is written down. That includes the palace he built and decorated with ivory. It also includes the cities he built up and put high walls around. All these things are written in the official records of the kings of Israel. 40Ahab joined the members of his family who had already died. Ahab’s son Ahaziah became the next king after him.
Jehoshaphat King of Judah
41Jehoshaphat began to rule over Judah. It was in the fourth year that Ahab was king of Israel. Jehoshaphat was the son of Asa. 42Jehoshaphat was 35 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for 25 years. His mother’s name was Azubah. She was the daughter of Shilhi. 43Jehoshaphat followed all the ways of his father Asa. He didn’t wander away from them. He did what was right in the sight of the Lord. But the high places weren’t removed. The people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense at them. 44Jehoshaphat was also at peace with the king of Israel.
45The other events of Jehoshaphat’s rule are written down. The brave things he did in battle and everything else he accomplished are written down. All these things are written in the official records of the kings of Judah. 46Jehoshaphat got rid of the rest of the male prostitutes who were at the temples. They had remained in the land even after the rule of his father Asa. 47At that time Edom didn’t have a king. An area governor was in charge.
48Jehoshaphat built many ships that he used to carry goods to be traded. The ships were supposed to go to Ophir for gold. But they never had a chance to sail. They were wrecked at Ezion Geber. 49At that time Ahaziah, the son of Ahab, spoke to Jehoshaphat. He said, “Let my men sail with yours.” But Jehoshaphat refused.
50Jehoshaphat joined the members of his family who had already died. He was buried in the family tomb in the city of King David. Jehoshaphat’s son Jehoram became the next king after him.
Ahaziah King of Israel
51Ahaziah became king of Israel in Samaria. It was in the 17th year that Jehoshaphat was king of Judah. Ahaziah ruled over Israel for two years. He was the son of Ahab. 52Ahaziah did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He lived the way his father and mother had lived. He lived the way Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, had lived. Jeroboam had caused Israel to sin. 53Ahaziah served and worshiped the god named Baal. He made the Lord, the God of Israel, very angry. That’s exactly what Ahaziah’s father had done.
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1 Kings 22: NIrV
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1 Kings 22
22
Jehoshaphat’s Alliance with Ahab
1There was#2Ch 18:1–8 a lull of three years#1Kg 20:1,26 without war between Aram and Israel. 2However, in the third year, King Jehoshaphat#1Kg 15:24 of Judah went to visit the king of Israel.#2Ch 18:2 3The king of Israel had said to his servants, “Don’t you know that Ramoth-gilead#Dt 4:43; Jos 20:8; 1Kg 4:13 is ours, but we’re doing nothing to take it from the king of Aram?” 4So#2Kg 3:7–8 he asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight Ramoth-gilead?” #2Kg 8:18,27
Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”#2Kg 3:7 5But Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “First, please ask what the Lord’s will is.”#1Sm 23:1–5; Jms 4:15
6So the king of Israel gathered the prophets, about four hundred men,#1Kg 18:19 and asked them, “Should I go against Ramoth-gilead for war or should I refrain?”
They replied, “March up, and the Lord will hand it over to the king.”#1Kg 13:18
7But Jehoshaphat asked, “Isn’t there a prophet of the Lord here anymore?#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 him#1Kg 18:17; 21:20 because he never prophesies good about me,#Am 5:10 but only disaster. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”
“The king shouldn’t say that!” Jehoshaphat replied.
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,#2Ch 18:9–11 clothed in royal attire, were each sitting on his own throne. They were on the threshing floor#Jdg 6:37 at the entrance to the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying in front of them. 11Then Zedekiah#1Kg 22:24 son of Chenaanah made iron horns#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-gilead#1Kg 4:13 and succeed, for the Lord will hand it over to the king.”
Micaiah’s Message of Defeat
13The messenger#2Ch 18:12–27 who went to call Micaiah instructed him, “Look, the words of the prophets are unanimously favorable for the king. So let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.”
14But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives,#1Kg 18:10,15 I will say whatever the Lord says to me.”#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?”
Micaiah told him, “March up and succeed. The Lord will hand it over to the king.”
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:
I saw all Israel scattered on the hills
like sheep without a shepherd.#Nm 27:16–17; Mt 9:36; Mk 6:34
And the Lord said,
“They have no master;
let everyone return home in peace.”#1Kg 22:35–36
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,#Is 6:1; Dn 7:9 and the whole heavenly army#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? ’ #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?’
“He said, ‘I will go and become a lying spirit#Jdg 9:23; 1Sm 16:14; Jr 20:7; Ezk 14:9 in the mouth of all his prophets.’
“Then he said, ‘You will certainly entice him and prevail.#2Th 2:11 Go and do that.’
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 Zedekiah#1Kg 22:11 son of Chenaanah came up, hit Micaiah on the cheek, and demanded, “Did#22:24 Lit “Which way did the Spirit of the Lord leave me to speak to you?” #2Ch 18:23
25Micaiah replied, “You will soon see when you go to hide in an inner chamber on that day.”#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,#1Kg 22:40 27and say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this guy in prison#2Ch 16:10; Heb 11:36 and feed him only a little bread and water#22:27 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.”#Dt 18:22 Then he said, “Listen, all you people!” #22:28 LXX omits Then he said, “Listen, all you people!”#Mc 1:2
Ahab’s Death
29Then#2Ch 18:28–32 the king of Israel and Judah’s King Jehoshaphat went up to Ramoth-gilead.#1Kg 22:4 30But the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise#1Sm 28:8 myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal attire.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.#2Ch 35:22
31Now the king of Aram had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders,#1Kg 20:1,16 “Do not fight with anyone at all#22:31 Lit with small or with great except the king of Israel.”#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 bow#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!” #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,#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:
Each man to his own city,
and each man to his own land!#2Sm 20:1; 1Kg 12:16; 22:17; 2Kg 14:12
37So the king died and was brought to Samaria. They buried the king in Samaria.#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.#1Kg 21:19
39The rest of the events of Ahab’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, including the ivory palace#Am 3:15 he built, and all the cities he built, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.#1Kg 16:27 40Ahab rested with his ancestors,#1Kg 16:28 and his son Ahaziah#2Kg 1:2 became king in his place.
Judah’s King Jehoshaphat
41Jehoshaphat#2Ch 20:31 son of Asa became king over Judah in the fourth year of Israel’s King Ahab. 42Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king; he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. 43He walked in all the ways of his father Asa;#1Kg 15:11 he did not turn away from them but did what was right in the Lord’s sight. However, the high places were not taken away;#22:43 LXX, Syr, Vg read he did not remove the high places the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.#1Kg 15:14 44Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel.#1Kg 22:2,4
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.#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.#1Kg 15:12 47There was no king in Edom;#2Sm 8:14; 2Kg 3:9 a deputy served as king. 48Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish#1Kg 10:22 to go to Ophir#1Kg 9:28 for gold, but they did not go because the ships were wrecked at Ezion-geber.#1Kg 9:26 49At that time, Ahaziah#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.#1Kg 15:24; 2Ch 21:1 His son Jehoram#2Kg 1:17 became king in his place.
Israel’s King Ahaziah
51Ahaziah#1Kg 22:40 son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria#1Kg 16:24 in the seventeenth year of Judah’s King Jehoshaphat,#1Kg 22:41–50 and he reigned over Israel two years. 52He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight.#1Kg 15:26 He walked in the ways of his father,#1Kg 21:25–26 in the ways of his mother,#1Kg 16:31; 18:4; 21:25 and in the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin.#1Kg 12:28–33 53He served Baal and bowed in worship to him.#Jdg 2:11; 1Kg 16:32 He angered the Lord God of Israel just as his father had done.#1Kg 16:33; 21:25
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