1 Kings 22

Jehoshaphat's Alliance with Ahab

1 There was a lull of three years without war between Aram and Israel. 2 However, in the third year, Jehoshaphat king 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-gilead is ours, but we have failed to take it from the hand of the king of Aram?"

4 So he 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 the Lord'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 him because 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 floor at the entrance to Samaria's gate, and all the prophets were prophesying in front of them. 11 Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah made iron horns and said, "This is what the Lord says: '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-gilead and succeed, for the Lord will hand it over to the king."

Micaiah's Message of Defeat

13 The messenger 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."

14 But Micaiah said, "As the Lord lives, I will say whatever the Lord says 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 the Lord said,
"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 the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and the whole heavenly host was standing by Him at His right hand and at His left hand.

20 And the Lord said, '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 the Lord, and said, 'I will entice him.'

22 "The Lord asked him, 'How?'
"He said, 'I will go and become a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.'
"Then He said, 'You will certainly entice him and prevail. 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."

24 Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah came up, hit Micaiah in the face, and demanded, "Did the Spirit of the Lord leave 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 prison and feed him only bread and water until I come back safely.'"

28 But Micaiah said, "If you ever return safely, the Lord has not spoken through me." Then he said, "Listen, all you people!"

Ahab's Death

29 Then the king of Israel and Judah's King Jehoshaphat went up to Ramoth-gilead.

30 But the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself 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 bow 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, 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 the Lord that He had spoken.
39 The rest of the events of Ahab's [reign], along with all his accomplishments, [including] the ivory palace he 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 Ahaziah became king in his place.

Judah's King Jehoshaphat

41 Jehoshaphat son 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 the Lord'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 Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they did not go because the ships were wrecked at Ezion-geber. 49 At that time, Ahaziah son 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 Jehoram became king in his place.

Israel's King Ahaziah

51 Ahaziah son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Judah's King Jehoshaphat and reigned over Israel two years. 52 He did what was evil in the Lord'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 the Lord God of Israel just as his father had done.

1 Kings 22

Ahab Dies in Battle

1 There was no war between Syria and Israel for three years.t2 In the third year King Jehoshaphat of Judah came down to visitt the king of Israel.3 The king of Israel said to his servants, “Surely you recognize that Ramoth Gilead belongs to us, though we are hesitant to reclaim it from the king of Syria.”t4 Then he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to attack Ramoth Gilead?” Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “I will support you; my army and horses are at your disposal.”t5 Then Jehoshaphat added,t “First seek an oracle from the Lord.”t6 So the king of Israel assembled about four hundred prophets and asked them, “Should I attack Ramoth Gilead or not?”t They said, “Attack! The sovereign onet will hand it over to the king.”7 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not a prophet of the Lord still here, that we may ask him?”8 The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man through whom we can seek the Lord’s will.t But I despiset him because he does not prophesy prosperity for me, but disaster. His name is Micaiah son of Imlah.t Jehoshaphat said, “The king should not say such things.”

9 The king of Israel summoned an official and said, “Quickly bring Micaiah son of Imlah.”
10 Now the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah were sitting on their respective thrones,t dressed in their robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria.s All the prophets were prophesying before them.11 Zedekiah son of Kenaanah made iron horns and said, “This is what the Lord says, ‘With these you will gore Syria until they are destroyed.’”12 All the prophets were prophesying the same, saying, “Attack Ramoth Gilead! You will succeed; the Lord will hand it over to the king.”13 Now the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, “Look, the prophets are in complete agreement that the king will succeed.t Your words must agree with theirs; you must predict success.”t

14 But Micaiah said, “As certainly as the Lord lives, I will say what the Lord tells me to say.”
15 When he came before the king, the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we attack Ramoth Gilead or not?” He answered him, “Attack! You will succeed; the Lord will hand it over to the king.”s16 The king said to him, “How many times must I make you solemnly promise int the name of the Lord to tell me only the truth?”17 Micaiaht said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains like sheep that have no shepherd. Then the Lord said, ‘They have no master. They should go home in peace.’”18 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you he does not prophesy prosperity for me, but disaster?”19 Micaiaht said, “That being the case, hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, with all the heavenly assembly standing on his right and on his left.20 The Lord said, ‘Who will deceive Ahab, so he will attack Ramoth Gilead and diet there?’ One said this and another that.21 Then a spiritt stepped forward and stood before the Lord. He said, ‘I will deceive him.’ The Lord asked him, ‘How?’22 He replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ The Lordt said, ‘Deceive and overpower him.t Go out and do as you have proposed.’23 So now, look, the Lord has placed a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours; but the Lord has decreed disaster for you.”24 Zedekiah son of Kenaanah approached, hit Micaiah on the jaw, and said, “Which way did the Lord’s spirit go when he went from me to speak to you?”25 Micaiah replied, “Look, you will see in the day when you go into an inner room to hide.”26 Then the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the city official and Joash the king’s son.27 Say, ‘This is what the king says, “Put this man in prison. Give him only a little bread and watert until I safely return.”’”t

28 Micaiah said, “If you really do safely return, then the Lord has not spoken through me.” Then he added, “Take note,t all you people.”
29 The king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah attacked Ramoth Gilead.30 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and then entert into the battle; but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and then entered into the battle.31 Now the king of Syria had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, “Do not fight common soldiers or high-ranking officers;t fight only the king of Israel.”32 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “He must be the king of Israel.” So they turned and attacked him, but Jehoshaphat cried out.33 When the chariot commanders realized he was not the king of Israel, they turned away from him.34 Now an archer shot an arrow at random,t and it struck the king of Israel between the plates of his armor. The kingt ordered his charioteer, “Turn around and take me from the battle line,t because I’m wounded.”35 While the battle raged throughout the day, the king stood propped up in his chariot opposite the Syrians. He died in the evening; the blood from the wound ran down into the bottom of the chariot.36 As the sun was setting, a cry went through the camp, “Each one should return to his city and to his homeland.”37 So the king died and was taken to Samaria, where they buried him.t

38 They washed off the chariot at the pool of Samaria (this was where the prostitutes bathed);t dogs licked his blood, just as the Lord had said would happen.t
39 The rest of the events of Ahab’s reign, including a record of his accomplishments and how he built a luxurious palace and various cities, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.t

40 Ahab passed away.t His son Ahaziah replaced him as king.

Jehoshaphat’s Reign over Judah

41 In the fourth year of King Ahab’s reign over Israel, Asa’s son Jehoshaphat became king over Judah.42 Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king and he reigned for twenty-five years in Jerusalem.s His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.43 He followed in his father Asa’s footsteps and was careful to do what the Lord approved.t(22:44)sssssss However, the high places were not eliminated; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places.

44 Jehoshaphat was also at peace with the king of Israel.
45 The rest of the events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, including his successes and military exploits, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.t46 He removed from the land any male cultic prostitutes who had managed to survive the reign of his father Asa.ts47 There was no king in Edom at this time; a governor ruled.48 Jehoshaphat built a fleet of large merchant shipst to travel to Ophir for gold, but they never made the voyage because they were shipwrecked in Ezion Geber.

49 Then Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my sailors join yours in the fleet,”t but Jehoshaphat refused.

50 Jehoshaphat passed awayt and was buried with his ancestors in the city of his ancestort David. His son Jehoram replaced him as king.

Ahaziah’s Reign over Israel

51 In the seventeenth year of King Jehoshaphat’s reign over Judah, Ahab’s son Ahaziah became king over Israel in Samaria.s He ruled for two years over Israel.52 He did evil in the sight oft the Lord and followed in the footstepst of his father and mother; like Jeroboam son of Nebat, he encouraged Israel to sin.t

53 He worshiped and bowed down to Baal,t angering the Lord God of Israel just as his father had done.t