Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance , and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage.
And some years later he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria , where Ahab sacrificed many sheep and cattle and the people - with him , and urged him to march up to Ramoth-gilead ....
Ahab king of Israel asked Jehoshaphat king of Judah , “ Will you go with me against Ramoth-gilead ? ” ... And Jehoshaphat replied “ I (am) like you , and my people (are) your people ; (we will join) you in the war. ”
But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel , “ Please inquire first - for the word of the LORD.”
So the king of Israel - assembled the prophets , four hundred men , and asked them , “ Should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead , ... or should we refrain ? ” “ Go up , ” they replied , “ and God will deliver it into the hand of the king.”
But Jehoshaphat asked , “ Is there not still a prophet of the LORD here of whom we can inquire ... ? ”
The king of Israel answered - , “ There is still one man who can ask - the LORD , - but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me , but only bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” “ The king should not say that ! ” Jehoshaphat replied.
So the king of Israel ... called one of his officials and said , “ Bring Micaiah son of Imlah {at once}. ”
Dressed in royal attire , the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah vvv were sitting on their thrones - at the threshing floor by the entrance of the gate of Samaria , with all the prophets prophesying before them.
Now Zedekiah son of Chenaanah had made iron horns and declared , “ This is what the LORD says : ‘ With these you shall gore - the Arameans until they are finished off. ’”
And all the prophets were prophesying the same , saying , “ Go up to Ramoth-gilead ... and prosper , for the LORD will deliver (it) into the hand of the king. ”
Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah instructed him , “ Behold , with one accord the words of the prophets are favorable to the king. So please let your words be like and speak favorably.”
But Micaiah said , “ As surely as the LORD ... - lives , I will speak whatever my God - tells me.”
When Micaiah arrived - - , the king asked him , “ Micaiah , should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead , ... or should we refrain ? ” “ Go up and triumph , ” Micaiah replied , “ for they will be given into your hand.”
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 the LORD ?”
So Micaiah declared : “ I saw - all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep - without a shepherd. And the LORD said , ‘ These (people) have no master ; let each one return home in peace. ’”
Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat , “ Did I not tell you that he never prophesies good for me , but only ... bad ? ”
Micaiah continued , “ Therefore hear the word of the LORD : I saw - the LORD sitting on His throne , and all the host of heaven standing on His right and on His left.
And the LORD said , ‘ Who will entice - Ahab king of Israel to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead ? ’ ... And one suggested this , and another - - that.
Then a spirit came forward , stood before the LORD , and said , ‘ I will entice him.’ ‘ By what means ? ’ asked the LORD ....
And he replied , ‘ I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets. ’ ‘ You will surely entice him and prevail , ’ said (the LORD). ‘ Go and do it. ’
So you see , the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of these prophets of yours , and the LORD has pronounced disaster against you.”
Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah went up , struck - Micaiah in the face , and demanded , “ Which ... way did the Spirit of the LORD (go) when He departed from me to speak with you ? ”
Micaiah ... replied , “ You will soon see , on that day when you go (and) hide in an inner room. ”
And the king of Israel declared , “ Take - Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son ,
and tell them that this is what the king says : ‘ Put this (man) in prison ... and feed him only bread ... and water ... until I return safely. ’”
But Micaiah replied , “ If you ever return safely , the LORD has not spoken through me. ” Then he added , “ Take heed , all you people ! ”
So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead ....
And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat , “ I will disguise myself and go into battle , but you wear your royal robes. ” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.
Now the king of Aram had ordered - his chariot - - commanders , “ Do not fight with anyone , small or great , except ... ... the king of Israel ....”
- When the chariot - commanders saw Jehoshaphat , they said , “ This is the king of Israel ! ” So they turned to fight against him , but Jehoshaphat cried out , and the LORD helped him. God drew them away from him.
And when the chariot commanders saw that he was not ... the king of Israel , they turned back from pursuing him.
However, a (certain) man drew his bow without taking special aim , and he struck - the king of Israel between the joints ... of his armor. So (the king) said to his charioteer , “ Turn around ... and take me out of the battle , for I am badly wounded !”
The battle raged throughout that day , and the king of Israel ... propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans until evening. And at sunset ... he died ....