1 Kings 22

Ahab's Third Campaign against Aram

1 Three years passed without war between Aram and Israel.2 In the third year Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel.3 Now the king of Israel said to his servants, "Do you know that Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, and we are still doing nothing to take it out of the hand of the king of Aram?"4 And he said to Jehoshaphat, "Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead?" And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses."

5 Moreover, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Please inquire first for the word of the LORD."6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, "Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle or shall I refrain?" And they said, "Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king."7 But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not yet a prophet of the LORD here that we may inquire of him?"8 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. He is Micaiah son of Imlah." But Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say so."9 Then the king of Israel called an officer and said, "Bring quickly Micaiah son of Imlah."10 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them.11 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made horns of iron for himself and said, "Thus says the LORD, 'With these you will gore the Arameans until they are consumed.'"12 All the prophets were prophesying thus, saying, "Go up to Ramoth-gilead and prosper, for the LORD will give it into the hand of the king."

Micaiah Predicts Defeat

13 Then the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, "Behold now, the words of the prophets are uniformly favorable to the king. Please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably."14 But Micaiah said, "As the LORD lives, what the LORD says to me, that I shall speak."

15 When he came to the king, the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we refrain?" And he answered him, "Go up and succeed, and the LORD will give it into the hand of the king."16 Then the king said to him, "How many times must I adjure you to speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?"17 So he said,
"I saw all Israel
Scattered on the mountains,
Like sheep which have no shepherd.
And the LORD said, 'These have no master.
Let each of them return to his house in peace.'"18 Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?"

19 Micaiah said, "Therefore, hear the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left.20 The LORD said, 'Who will entice Ahab to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' And one said this while another said that.21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD and said, 'I will entice him.'22 The LORD said to him, 'How?' And he said, 'I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' Then He said, 'You are to entice him and also prevail. Go and do so.'23 Now therefore, behold, the LORD has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; and the LORD has proclaimed disaster against you."

24 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, "How did the Spirit of the LORD pass from me to speak to you?"25 Micaiah said, "Behold, you shall see on that day when you enter an inner room to hide yourself."26 Then the king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king's son;27 and say, 'Thus says the king, "Put this man in prison and feed him sparingly with bread and water until I return safely."'"28 Micaiah said, "If you indeed return safely the LORD has not spoken by me." And he said, "Listen, all you people."

Defeat and Death of Ahab

29 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up against Ramoth-gilead.30 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself and go into the battle, but you put on your robes." So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into the battle.31 Now the king of Aram had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, saying, "Do not fight with small or great, but with the king of Israel alone."32 So when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, "Surely it is the king of Israel," and they turned aside to fight against him, and Jehoshaphat cried out.33 When the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

34 Now a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel in a joint of the armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn around and take me out of the fight; for I am severely wounded."35 The battle raged that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot in front of the Arameans, and died at evening, and the blood from the wound ran into the bottom of the chariot.36 Then a cry passed throughout the army close to sunset, saying, "Every man to his city and every man to his country."

37 So the king died and was brought to Samaria, and they buried the king in Samaria.38 They washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood (now the harlots bathed themselves there), according to the word of the LORD which He spoke.39 Now the rest of the acts of Ahab and all that he did and the ivory house which he built and all the cities which he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?40 So Ahab slept with his fathers, and Ahaziah his son became king in his place.

The New Rulers

41 Now Jehoshaphat the son of Asa became king over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.42 Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.43 He walked in all the way of Asa his father; he did not turn aside from it, doing right in the sight of the LORD. However, the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burnt incense on the high places.44 Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel.

45 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might which he showed and how he warred, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?46 The remnant of the sodomites who remained in the days of his father Asa, he expelled from the land.

47 Now there was no king in Edom; a deputy was king.48 Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they did not go for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber.49 Then Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "Let my servants go with your servants in the ships." But Jehoshaphat was not willing.50 And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of his father David, and Jehoram his son became king in his place.

51 Ahaziah the son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned two years over Israel.52 He did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin.53 So he served Baal and worshiped him and provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger, according to all that 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