3
The king of Israel said to his servants, "You know that Ramoth-gilead is ours, and we are still, and don`t take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?"
4
He said to Jehoshaphat, Will you go with me to battle to Ramoth-gilead? Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.
5
Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, Please inquire first for the word of Yahweh.
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 forbear? They said, Go up; for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.
7
But Jehoshaphat said, Isn`t there here a prophet of Yahweh besides, 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 Yahweh, Micaiah the son of Imlah: but I hate him; for he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. Jehoshaphat said, "Don`t let the king say so."
9
Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Get quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah.
10
Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, in an open place at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them.
11
Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron, and said, Thus says Yahweh, With these shall you push the Syrians, until they be consumed.
12
All the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper; for Yahweh will deliver it into the hand of the king.
13
The messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, See now, the words of the prophets [declare] good to the king with one mouth: please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak you good.
14
Micaiah said, As Yahweh lives, what Yahweh says to me, that will I speak.
15
When he was come to the king, the king said to him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we forbear? He answered him, Go up and prosper; and Yahweh will deliver it into the hand of the king.
16
The king said to him, How many times shall I adjure you that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of Yahweh?
17
He said, I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and Yahweh said, These have no master; let them return every man to his house in peace.
18
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Didn`t I tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?
19
[Micaiah] said, Therefore hear you the word of Yahweh: I saw Yahweh sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.
20
Yahweh said, Who shall entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? One said on this manner; and another said on that manner.
21
There came forth a spirit, and stood before Yahweh, and said, I will entice him.
22
Yahweh said to him, `How?` He said, `I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.` He said, `You shall entice him, and shall prevail also: go forth, and do so.`
23
Now therefore, behold, Yahweh has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; and Yahweh has spoken evil concerning you.
24
Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of Yahweh from me to speak to you?
25
Micaiah said, Behold, you shall see on that day, when you shall go into an inner chamber to hide yourself.
26
The king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king`s son;
27
and say, Thus says the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.
28
Micaiah said, If you return at all in peace, Yahweh has not spoken by me. He said, Hear, you peoples, all of you.