Jehoshaphat’s Alliance with Ahab
1 There wasa lull of three yearswithout war between Aram and Israel.
2 However, in the third year, Jehoshaphatking of Judah went to visit the king of Israel.
3 The king of Israel had said to his servants, “Don’t you know that Ramoth-gileadis ours, but we have failed to take it from the hand of the king of Aram? ”
4 Sohe asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight Ramoth-gilead? ”
Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”
5 But Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “First, please ask what theLord’s will is.”
6 So the king of Israel gathered the prophets, about 400 men,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.”
7 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Isn’t there a prophet of Yahweh here anymore?Let’s ask him.”
8 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man who can ask Yahweh, but I hate himbecause he never prophesies good about me,but only disaster. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”
“The king shouldn’t say that! ” Jehoshaphat replied.
9 So the king of Israel called an officer and said, “Hurry and get Micaiah son of Imlah! ”
10 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah,clothed in royal attire, were each sitting on his own throne. They were on the threshing floorat the entrance to Samaria’s gate, and all the prophets were prophesying in front of them.
11 Then Zedekiahson of Chenaanah made iron hornsand said, “This is what theLordsays: ‘You will gore the Arameans with these until they are finished off.’ ”
12 And all the prophets were prophesying the same: “March up to Ramoth-gileadand succeed, for theLordwill hand it over to the king.”
Micaiah’s Message of Defeat
13 The messengerwho 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.”
14 But Micaiah said, “As theLordlives,I will say whatever theLordsays to me.”
15 So 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. Yahweh will hand it over to 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 Yahweh? ”
17 So Micaiah said:
I saw all Israel scattered on the hills
like sheep without a shepherd.
And theLordsaid,
“They have no master;
let everyone return home in peace.”
18 So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you he never prophesies good about me, but only disaster? ”
19 Then Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of theLord: I saw theLordsitting on His throne,and the whole heavenly hostwas standing by Him at His right hand and at His left hand.
20 And theLordsaid, ‘Who will entice Ahab to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? ’So one was saying this and another was saying that.
21 “Then a spirit came forward, stood before theLord, and said, ‘I will entice him.’
22 “TheLordasked him, ‘How? ’
“He said, ‘I will go and become a lying spiritin the mouth of all his prophets.’
“Then He said, ‘You will certainly entice him and prevail.Go and do that.’
23 “You see, theLordhas put a lying spirit into the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and theLordhas pronounced disaster against you.”
24 Then Zedekiahson of Chenaanah came up, hit Micaiah in the face, and demanded, “Didthe Spirit of theLordleave me to speak to you? ”
25 Micaiah replied, “You will soon see when you go to hide yourself in an inner chamber on that day.”
26 Then the king of Israel ordered, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, the king’s son,
27 and say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this guy in prisonand feed him only bread and wateruntil I come back safely.’ ”
28 But Micaiah said, “If you ever return safely, theLordhas not spoken through me.”Then he said, “Listen, all you people! ”
Ahab’s Death
29 Thenthe king of Israel and Judah’s King Jehoshaphat went up to Ramoth-gilead.
30 But the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguisemyself and go into battle, but you wear your royal attire.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.
31 Now the king of Aram had ordered his 32 chariot commanders,“Do not fight with anyone at all except the king of Israel.”
32 When 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.
33 When the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.
34 But a man drew his bowwithout 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,for I am badly wounded! ”
35 The battle raged throughout that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. He died that evening,and blood from his wound flowed into the bottom of the chariot.
36 Then 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!
37 So the king died and was brought to Samaria. They buried the king in Samaria.
38 Then 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 theLordthat He had spoken.
39 The rest of the events of Ahab’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, including the ivory palacehe built, and all the cities he built, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.
40 Ahab rested with his fathers,and his son Ahaziahbecame king in his place.
Judah’s King Jehoshaphat
41 Jehoshaphatson of Asa became king over Judah in the fourth year of Israel’s King Ahab.
42 Jehoshaphat was 35 years old when he became king; he reigned 25 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.
43 He walked in all the ways of his father Asa;he did not turn away from them but did what was right in theLord’s sight. However, the high places were not taken away;the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
44 Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel.
45 The 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.
46 He removed from the land the rest of the male cult prostitutes who were left from the days of his father Asa.
47 There was no king in Edom;a deputy served as king.
48 Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshishto go to Ophirfor gold, but they did not go because the ships were wrecked at Ezion-geber.
49 At that time, Ahaziahson of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants go with your servants in the ships,” but Jehoshaphat was not willing.
50 Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the city of his ancestor David.His son Jehorambecame king in his place.
Israel’s King Ahaziah
51 Ahaziahson of Ahab became king over Israel in Samariain the seventeenth year of Judah’s King Jehoshaphatand reigned over Israel two years.
52 He did what was evil in theLord’s sight.He walked in the way of his father,in the way of his mother,and in the way of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin.
53 He served Baal and worshiped him.He provoked theLordGod of Israel just as his father had done.
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