1 Kings 22:1-28

Modern English Version

Micaiah Prophesies Against Ahab^(A)

22 And there were three years without war between Aram and Israel. ² In the third year, Jehoshaphat king of Judah went to visit the king of Israel. ³ The king of Israel said to his servants, “You know that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, but we have done 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 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 Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please ask for a word from the Lord today.”

⁶ Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, approximately four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go against Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I wait?”

And they said, “Go up, for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.”

⁷ Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not a prophet of the Lord here whom we can ask?”

⁸ And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we can inquire of the Lord. But I hate him because he never prophesies good for me, but always evil.”

And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.”

⁹ Then the king of Israel called an officer and said, “Quickly, bring Micaiah the son of Imlah.”

¹⁰ The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah each put on his robes and sat on his throne at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets prophesied before them. ¹¹ Zedekiah the son of Kenaanah made horns of iron and said, “Thus says the Lord: With these you shall push the Arameans until you have consumed them.”

¹² All the prophets prophesied similarly, saying, “Go up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper, for the Lord will deliver it into the king’s hand.”

¹³ The servant who had gone to get Micaiah spoke to him, saying, “See here, the words of the prophets unanimously declare success for the king. Please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good.”

¹⁴ Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, I will speak whatever the Lord says to me.”

¹⁵ So he came to the king. And the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go against Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall we wait?”

And he answered him, “Go and prosper, for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.”

¹⁶ The king said to him, “How many times must I admonish you to tell me only the truth in the name of the Lord?”

¹⁷ And he said, “I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep without a shepherd, and the Lord said, ‘These have no master. Let every man return to his own house in peace.’ ”

¹⁸ The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”

¹⁹ And he said, “Hear, therefore, the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside Him on His right hand and on His left. ²⁰ The Lord said, ‘Who will persuade Ahab so that he will go up and die at Ramoth Gilead?’

“And one said this, and another said that. ²¹ Then a spirit came forth and stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will persuade him.’

²² “The Lord said to him, ‘How?’

“And he said, ‘I will go and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’

“And He said, ‘You will be successful and persuade him. Go forth, and do so.’

²³ “Now therefore, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all your prophets here, and He has spoken evil concerning you!”

²⁴ Then Zedekiah the son of Kenaanah walked up and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “Which way did the spirit of the Lord go from me in order to speak to you?”

²⁵ And Micaiah said, “You will see in that day, when you go into an inner chamber to hide.”

²⁶ The king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah back 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 the prison, and feed him with reduced rations of bread and water until I return safely.’ ”

²⁸ Micaiah said, “If you return safely, the Lord has not spoken through me.” And he said, “Listen, all you people!”