1 Kings 22:1-12

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Jehoshaphat’s Alliance with Ahab

22 There was^(A) a lull of three years^(B) without war between Aram and Israel. ² However, in the third year, Jehoshaphat^(C) king of Judah went to visit the king of Israel.^{(D) 3} The king of Israel had said to his servants, “Don’t you know that Ramoth-gilead^(E) is ours, but we have failed to take it from the hand of the king of Aram?” ⁴ So^(F) he asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight Ramoth-gilead?”^(G)

Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”^{(H) 5} But Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “First, please ask what the Lord’s will is.”^(I)

⁶ So the king of Israel gathered the prophets, about 400 men,^(J) 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.”^(K)

⁷ But Jehoshaphat asked, “Isn’t there a prophet of Yahweh here anymore?^(L) 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^(M) because he never prophesies good about me,^(N) 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,^(O) clothed in royal attire, were each sitting on his own throne. They were on the threshing floor^(P) at the entrance to Samaria’s gate, and all the prophets were prophesying in front of them. ¹¹ Then Zedekiah^(Q) son of Chenaanah made iron horns^(R) 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^(S) and succeed, for the Lord will hand it over to the king.”