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1 Kings 22
Living Bible
1 Kings 22
Living Bible
22 For three years there was no war between Syria and Israel. 2 But during the third year, while King Jehoshaphat of Judah was visiting King Ahab of Israel, 3 Ahab said to his officials, “Do you realize that the Syrians are still occupying our city of Ramoth-gilead? And we’re sitting here without doing a thing about it!”
4 Then he turned to Jehoshaphat and asked him, “Will you send your army with mine to recover Ramoth-gilead?”
And King Jehoshaphat of Judah replied, “Of course! You and I are brothers; my people are yours to command, and my horses are at your service. 5 But,” he added, “we should ask the Lord first, to be sure of what he wants us to do.”
6 So King Ahab summoned his 400 heathen prophets[a] and asked them, “Shall I attack Ramoth-gilead, or not?”
And they all said, “Yes, go ahead, for God will help you conquer it.”
7 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Isn’t there a prophet of the Lord here? I’d like to ask him too.”
8 “Well, there’s one,” King Ahab replied, “but I hate him, for he never prophesies anything good. He always has something gloomy to say. His name is Micaiah, the son of Imlah.”
“Oh, come now!” Jehoshaphat replied. “Don’t talk like that!”
9 So King Ahab called to one of his aides, “Go get Micaiah. Hurry!”
10 Meanwhile, all the prophets continued prophesying before the two kings, who were dressed in their royal robes and were sitting on thrones placed on the threshing floor near the city gate. 11 One of the prophets, Zedekiah (son of Chenaanah), made some iron horns and declared, “The Lord promises that you will push the Syrians around with these horns until they are destroyed.”
12 And all the others agreed. “Go ahead and attack Ramoth-gilead,” they said, “for the Lord will cause you to triumph!”
13 The messenger who went to get Micaiah told him what the other prophets were saying and urged him to say the same thing.
14 But Micaiah told him, “This I vow, that I will say only what the Lord tells me to!”
15 When he arrived, the king asked him, “Micaiah, shall we attack Ramoth-gilead, or not?”
“Why, of course! Go right ahead!” Micaiah told him. “You will have a great victory, for the Lord will cause you to conquer!”
16 “How many times must I tell you to speak only what the Lord tells you to?” the king demanded.
17 Then Micaiah told him, “I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains as sheep without a shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘Their king is dead; send them to their homes.’”
18 Turning to Jehoshaphat, Ahab complained, “Didn’t I tell you this would happen? He never tells me anything good. It’s always bad.”
19 Then Micaiah said, “Listen to this further word from the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and the armies of heaven stood around him.
20 “Then the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab to go and die at Ramoth-gilead?’
“Various suggestions were made, 21 until one angel approached the Lord and said, ‘I’ll do it!’
22 “‘How?’ the Lord asked.
“And he replied, ‘I will go as a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’
“And the Lord said, ‘That will do it; you will succeed. Go ahead.’
23 “Don’t you see? The Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets, but the fact of the matter is that the Lord has decreed disaster upon you.”
24 Then Zedekiah (son of Chenaanah) walked over and slapped Micaiah on the face.
“When did the Spirit of the Lord leave me and speak to you?” he demanded.
25 And Micaiah replied, “You will have the answer to your question when you find yourself hiding in an inner room.”
26 Then King Ahab ordered Micaiah’s arrest.
“Take him to Amon, the mayor of the city, and to my son Joash. 27 Tell them, ‘The king says to put this fellow in jail and feed him with bread and water—and only enough to keep him alive[b]—until I return in peace.’”
28 “If you return in peace,” Micaiah replied, “it will prove that the Lord has not spoken through me.” Then he turned to the people standing nearby and said, “Take note of what I’ve said.”
29 So King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah led their armies to Ramoth-gilead.
30 Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “You wear your royal robes, but I’ll not wear mine!”
So Ahab went into the battle disguised in an ordinary soldier’s uniform. 31 For the king of Syria had commanded his thirty-two chariot captains to fight no one except King Ahab himself. 32-33 When they saw King Jehoshaphat in his royal robes, they thought, “That’s the man we’re after.” So they wheeled around to attack him. But when Jehoshaphat shouted out to identify himself,[c] they turned back! 34 However, someone shot an arrow at random and it struck King Ahab between the joints of his armor.
“Take me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded,” he groaned to his chariot driver.
35 The battle became more and more intense as the day wore on, and King Ahab went back in, propped up in his chariot with the blood from his wound running down onto the floorboards. Finally, toward evening, he died. 36-37 Just as the sun was going down the cry ran through his troops. “It’s all over—return home! The king is dead!”
And his body was taken to Samaria and buried there. 38 When his chariot and armor were washed beside the pool of Samaria, where the prostitutes bathed, dogs came and licked the king’s blood just as the Lord had said would happen.
39 The rest of Ahab’s history—including the story of the ivory palace and the cities he built—is written in The Annals of the Kings of Israel. 40 So Ahab was buried among his ancestors, and Ahaziah, his son, became the new king of Israel.
41 Meanwhile, over in Judah, Jehoshaphat the son of Asa had become king during the fourth year of the reign of King Ahab of Israel. 42 Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he ascended the throne, and he reigned in Jerusalem for twenty-five years. His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi. 43 He did as his father Asa had done, obeying the Lord in all but one thing: he did not destroy the shrines on the hills, so the people sacrificed and burned incense there. 44 He also made peace with Ahab, the king of Israel. 45 The rest of the deeds of Jehoshaphat and his heroic achievements and his wars are described in The Annals of the Kings of Judah.
46 He also closed all the houses of male prostitution that still continued from the days of his father Asa. 47 (There was no king in Edom at that time, only a deputy.)
48 King Jehoshaphat built great freighters to sail to Ophir for gold; but they never arrived, for they were wrecked at Ezion-geber. 49 Ahaziah, King Ahab’s son and successor, had proposed to Jehoshaphat that his men go, too, but Jehoshaphat had refused the offer.
50 When King Jehoshaphat died he was buried with his ancestors in Jerusalem, the city of his forefather David; and his son Jehoram took the throne. 51 It was during the seventeenth year of the reign of King Jehoshaphat of Judah that Ahaziah, Ahab’s son, began to reign over Israel in Samaria; and he reigned two years. 52-53 But he was not a good king, for he followed in the footsteps of his father and mother and of Jeroboam, who had led Israel into the sin of worshiping idols. So Ahaziah made the Lord God of Israel very angry.
Footnotes
- 1 Kings 22:6 Ahab summoned his 400 heathen prophets, implied. These were evidently the 400 Asherah priests left alive by Elijah at Carmel, though the 450 prophets of Baal were slain. See 18:19 and 40.
- 1 Kings 22:27 only enough to keep him alive, literally, “as though the city were under siege.”
- 1 Kings 22:32 shouted out to identify himself, implied.
1 Kings 22
New King James Version
1 Kings 22
New King James Version
Micaiah Warns Ahab(A)
22 Now three years passed without war between Syria and Israel. 2 Then it came to pass, in the third year, that (B)Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went down to visit the king of Israel.
3 And the king of Israel said to his servants, “Do you know that (C)Ramoth in Gilead is ours, but we hesitate to take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?” 4 So he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight at Ramoth Gilead?”
Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, (D)“I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” 5 Also Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, (E)“Please inquire for the word of the Lord today.”
6 Then the king of Israel (F)gathered [a]the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go against Ramoth Gilead to fight, or shall I refrain?”
So they said, “Go up, for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.”
7 And (G)Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not still a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of [b]Him?”
8 So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the Lord; but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.”
And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say such things!”
9 Then the king of Israel called an officer and said, “Bring Micaiah the son of Imlah quickly!”
10 The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, having put on their robes, sat each on his throne, at a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them. 11 Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made (H)horns of iron for himself; and he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘With these you shall (I)gore the Syrians until they are destroyed.’ ” 12 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, “Go up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper, for the Lord will deliver it into the king’s hand.”
13 Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, “Now listen, the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king. Please, let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak encouragement.”
14 And Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, (J)whatever the Lord says to me, that I will speak.”
15 Then he came to the king; and the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall we refrain?”
And he answered him, “Go and prosper, for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king!”
16 So the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?”
17 Then he said, “I saw all Israel (K)scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.’ ”
18 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”
19 Then Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: (L)I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, (M)and all the host of heaven standing by, on His right hand and on His left. 20 And the Lord said, ‘Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner. 21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’ 22 The Lord said to him, ‘In what way?’ So he said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And the Lord said, (N)‘You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so.’ 23 (O)Therefore look! The Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the Lord has declared disaster against you.”
24 Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near and (P)struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, (Q)“Which way did the spirit from the Lord go from me to speak to you?”
25 And Micaiah said, “Indeed, you shall see on that day when you go into an (R)inner chamber to hide!”
26 So 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 fellow in (S)prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction, until I come in peace.” ’ ”
28 But Micaiah said, “If you ever return in peace, (T)the Lord has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Take heed, all you people!”
Ahab Dies in Battle(U)
29 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead. 30 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle; but you put on your robes.” So the king of Israel (V)disguised himself and went into battle.
31 Now the (W)king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two (X)captains of his chariots, saying, “Fight with no one small or great, but only with the king of Israel.” 32 So it was, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, “Surely it is the king of Israel!” Therefore they turned aside to fight against him, and Jehoshaphat (Y)cried out. 33 And it happened, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him. 34 Now a certain man drew a bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am wounded.”
35 The battle increased that day; and the king was propped up in his chariot, facing the Syrians, and died at evening. The blood ran out from the wound onto the floor of the chariot. 36 Then, as the sun was going down, a shout went throughout the army, saying, “Every man to his city, and every man to his own country!”
37 So the king died, and was brought to Samaria. And they buried the king in Samaria. 38 Then someone washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood while [c]the harlots bathed, according (Z)to the word of the Lord which He had spoken.
39 Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, (AA)the ivory house which he built and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 40 So Ahab [d]rested with his fathers. Then (AB)Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.
Jehoshaphat Reigns in Judah(AC)
41 (AD)Jehoshaphat the son of Asa had become 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. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. 43 And (AE)he walked in all the ways of his father Asa. He did not turn aside from them, doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord. Nevertheless (AF)the high places were not taken away, for the people offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places. 44 Also (AG)Jehoshaphat made (AH)peace with the king of Israel.
45 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, the might that he showed, and how he made war, are they not written (AI)in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 46 (AJ)And the rest of the [e]perverted persons, who remained in the days of his father Asa, he banished from the land. 47 (AK)There was then no king in Edom, only a deputy of the king.
48 (AL)Jehoshaphat (AM)made [f]merchant ships to go to (AN)Ophir for gold; (AO)but they never sailed, for the ships were wrecked at (AP)Ezion Geber. 49 Then Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants go with your servants in the ships.” But Jehoshaphat would not.
50 And (AQ)Jehoshaphat [g]rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David his father. Then Jehoram his son reigned in his place.
Ahaziah Reigns in Israel
51 (AR)Ahaziah the son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel. 52 He did evil in the sight of the Lord, and (AS)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 had made Israel sin; 53 for (AT)he served Baal and worshiped him, and provoked the Lord God of Israel to anger, (AU)according[h] to all that his father had done.
Footnotes
- 1 Kings 22:6 The false prophets
- 1 Kings 22:7 Or him
- 1 Kings 22:38 Tg., Syr. they washed his armor
- 1 Kings 22:40 Died and joined his ancestors
- 1 Kings 22:46 Heb. qadesh, one practicing sodomy and prostitution in religious rituals
- 1 Kings 22:48 Or ships of Tarshish
- 1 Kings 22:50 Died and joined his ancestors
- 1 Kings 22:53 In the same way that
1 Kings 22
English Standard Version
1 Kings 22
English Standard Version
Ahab and the False Prophets
22 For three years Syria and Israel continued without war. 2 (A)But in the third year (B)Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. 3 And the king of Israel said to his servants, “Do you know that (C)Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, and we keep quiet and do not take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?” 4 And he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead?” And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, (D)“I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”
5 And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Inquire first for the word of the Lord.” 6 Then the king of Israel (E)gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.” 7 But (F)Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not here another prophet of the Lord of whom we may inquire?” 8 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, Micaiah the son of Imlah, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.” 9 Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, “Bring quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah.” 10 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting on their thrones, arrayed in their robes, at the threshing floor (G)at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying before them. 11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made for himself (H)horns of iron and said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘With these (I)you shall push the Syrians until they are destroyed.’” 12 And all the prophets prophesied so and said, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and triumph; the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.”
Micaiah Prophesies Against Ahab
13 And the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, “Behold, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king. Let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.” 14 But Micaiah said, (J)“As the Lord lives, (K)what the Lord says to me, that I will speak.” 15 And when he had come 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 triumph; the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.” 16 But the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?” 17 And he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, (L)as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.’” 18 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, (M)“Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?” 19 And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: (N)I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, (O)and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left; 20 and the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said one thing, and another said another. 21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, saying, ‘I will entice him.’ 22 And the Lord said to him, ‘By what means?’ And he said, ‘I will go out, and will be (P)a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And he said, ‘You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.’ 23 Now therefore behold, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the Lord has declared disaster for you.”
24 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near (Q)and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “How did the Spirit of the Lord go from me to speak to you?” 25 And Micaiah said, “Behold, you shall see on that day when you go (R)into an inner chamber to hide yourself.” 26 And the king of Israel said, “Seize Micaiah, and take him back to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king's son, 27 and say, ‘Thus says the king, (S)“Put this fellow in prison and feed him meager rations of bread and water, (T)until I come in peace.”’” 28 And Micaiah said, “If you return in peace, (U)the Lord has not spoken by me.” And he said, (V)“Hear, all you peoples!”
Ahab Killed in Battle
29 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. 30 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, (W)“I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your robes.” And the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle. 31 Now the king of Syria had commanded (X)the thirty-two captains of his chariots, “Fight with neither small nor great, but only with the king of Israel.” 32 And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is surely the king of Israel.” So they turned to fight against him. And Jehoshaphat cried out. 33 And when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him. 34 But a certain man drew his bow at random[a] and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate. Therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and carry me out of the battle, (Y)for I am wounded.” 35 And the battle continued that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Syrians, until at evening he died. And the blood of the wound flowed into the bottom of the chariot. 36 And about sunset a cry went through the army, “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 And they washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood, and the prostitutes washed themselves in it, (Z)according to the word of the Lord that he had spoken. 39 Now the rest of the acts of Ahab and all that he did, and (AA)the ivory house that he built and all the cities that 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 reigned in his place.
Jehoshaphat Reigns in Judah
41 (AB)Jehoshaphat the son of (AC)Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. 42 Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. 43 (AD)He walked in all the way of Asa his father. He did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord. Yet (AE)the high places were not taken away, and the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places. 44 (AF)Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel.
45 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he showed, and how he warred, are they not written (AG)in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 46 And from the land he exterminated the remnant (AH)of the male cult prostitutes who remained in the days of his father Asa.
47 (AI)There was no king in Edom; a deputy was king. 48 Jehoshaphat made (AJ)ships of Tarshish to go to (AK)Ophir for gold, but they did not go, for the ships were wrecked at (AL)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 (AM)And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Jehoram his son reigned in his place.
Ahaziah Reigns in Israel
51 Ahaziah the son of Ahab (AN)began to reign over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned two years over Israel. 52 He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord (AO)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 made Israel to sin. 53 (AP)He served Baal and worshiped him and provoked the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger (AQ)in every way that his father had done.
Footnotes
- 1 Kings 22:34 Hebrew in his innocence
1 Kings 22
New International Version
1 Kings 22
New International Version
Micaiah Prophesies Against Ahab(A)
22 For three years there was no war between Aram and Israel. 2 But in the third year Jehoshaphat king of Judah went down to see the king of Israel. 3 The king of Israel had said to his officials, “Don’t you know that Ramoth Gilead(B) belongs to us and yet we are doing nothing to retake it from the king of Aram?”
4 So he asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight(C) against Ramoth Gilead?”
Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” 5 But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “First seek the counsel(D) of the Lord.”
6 So the king of Israel brought together the prophets—about four hundred men—and asked them, “Shall I go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?”
“Go,”(E) they answered, “for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.”(F)
7 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no longer a prophet(G) of the Lord here whom we can inquire(H) of?”
8 The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one prophet through whom we can inquire of the Lord, but I hate(I) him because he never prophesies anything good(J) about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”
“The king should not say such a thing,” Jehoshaphat replied.
9 So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, “Bring Micaiah son of Imlah at once.”
10 Dressed in their royal robes, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor(K) by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying before them. 11 Now Zedekiah(L) son of Kenaanah had made iron horns(M) and he declared, “This is what the Lord says: ‘With these you will gore the Arameans until they are destroyed.’”
12 All the other prophets were prophesying the same thing. “Attack Ramoth Gilead and be victorious,” they said, “for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.”
13 The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, “Look, the other prophets without exception are predicting success for the king. Let your word agree with theirs, and speak favorably.”(N)
14 But Micaiah said, “As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what the Lord tells me.”(O)
15 When he arrived, the king asked him, “Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or not?”
“Attack and be victorious,” he answered, “for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.”
16 The king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?”
17 Then Micaiah answered, “I saw all Israel scattered(P) on the hills like sheep without a shepherd,(Q) and the Lord said, ‘These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.’”
18 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you that he never prophesies anything good about me, but only bad?”
19 Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne(R) with all the multitudes(S) of heaven standing around him on his right and on his left. 20 And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?’
“One suggested this, and another that. 21 Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will entice him.’
22 “‘By what means?’ the Lord asked.
“‘I will go out and be a deceiving(T) spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,’ he said.
“‘You will succeed in enticing him,’ said the Lord. ‘Go and do it.’
23 “So now the Lord has put a deceiving(U) spirit in the mouths of all these prophets(V) of yours. The Lord has decreed disaster(W) for you.”
24 Then Zedekiah(X) son of Kenaanah went up and slapped(Y) Micaiah in the face. “Which way did the spirit from[a] the Lord go when he went from me to speak(Z) to you?” he asked.
25 Micaiah replied, “You will find out on the day you go to hide(AA) in an inner room.”
26 The king of Israel then ordered, “Take Micaiah and send him back to Amon the ruler of the city and to Joash the king’s son 27 and say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this fellow in prison(AB) and give him nothing but bread and water until I return safely.’”
28 Micaiah declared, “If you ever return safely, the Lord has not spoken(AC) through me.” Then he added, “Mark my words, all you people!”
Ahab Killed at Ramoth Gilead(AD)
29 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead. 30 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will enter the battle in disguise,(AE) but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.
31 Now the king of Aram(AF) had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king(AG) of Israel.” 32 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they thought, “Surely this is the king of Israel.” So they turned to attack him, but when Jehoshaphat cried out, 33 the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel and stopped pursuing him.
34 But someone drew his bow(AH) at random and hit the king of Israel between the sections of his armor. The king told his chariot driver, “Wheel around and get me out of the fighting. I’ve been wounded.” 35 All day long the battle raged, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. The blood from his wound ran onto the floor of the chariot, and that evening he died. 36 As the sun was setting, a cry spread through the army: “Every man to his town. Every man to his land!”(AI)
37 So the king died and was brought to Samaria, and they buried him there. 38 They washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria (where the prostitutes bathed),[b] and the dogs(AJ) licked up his blood, as the word of the Lord had declared.
39 As for the other events of Ahab’s reign, including all he did, the palace he built and adorned with ivory,(AK) and the cities he fortified, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 40 Ahab rested with his ancestors. And Ahaziah his son succeeded him as king.
Jehoshaphat King of Judah(AL)
41 Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king of Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. 42 Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. 43 In everything he followed the ways of his father Asa(AM) and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. The high places,(AN) however, were not removed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.[c] 44 Jehoshaphat was also at peace with the king of Israel.
45 As for the other events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, the things he achieved and his military exploits, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 46 He rid the land of the rest of the male shrine prostitutes(AO) who remained there even after the reign of his father Asa. 47 There was then no king(AP) in Edom; a provincial governor ruled.
48 Now Jehoshaphat built a fleet of trading ships[d](AQ) to go to Ophir for gold, but they never set sail—they were wrecked at Ezion Geber.(AR) 49 At that time Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my men sail with yours,” but Jehoshaphat refused.
50 Then Jehoshaphat rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the city of David his father. And Jehoram his son succeeded him as king.
Ahaziah King of Israel
51 Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. 52 He did evil(AS) in the eyes of the Lord, because he followed the ways of his father and mother and of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin. 53 He served and worshiped Baal(AT) and aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, just as his father(AU) had done.
Footnotes
- 1 Kings 22:24 Or Spirit of
- 1 Kings 22:38 Or Samaria and cleaned the weapons
- 1 Kings 22:43 In Hebrew texts this sentence (22:43b) is numbered 22:44, and 22:44-53 is numbered 22:45-54.
- 1 Kings 22:48 Hebrew of ships of Tarshish
1 Reyes 22
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1 Reyes 22
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Micaías y los falsos profetas
22 Pasaron tres años sin que hubiera guerra entre Aram e Israel. 2 (A)Al tercer año, Josafat, rey de Judá, descendió a visitar al rey de Israel(B). 3 El rey de Israel dijo a sus siervos: «¿Saben que Ramot de Galaad(C) nos pertenece, y no estamos haciendo nada para quitarla de mano del rey de Aram?». 4 Y le preguntó a Josafat: «¿Quieres venir conmigo a pelear contra Ramot de Galaad?». Respondió Josafat al rey de Israel: «Yo soy como tú, mi pueblo como tu pueblo, mis caballos como tus caballos(D)».
5 Josafat dijo además al rey de Israel: «Te ruego que consultes primero[a] la palabra del Señor». 6 Entonces el rey de Israel reunió a los profetas(E), unos 400 hombres, y les dijo: «¿Debo ir a pelear contra Ramot de Galaad o debo desistir?». Y ellos respondieron: «Suba porque el Señor la entregará en manos del rey».
7 Pero Josafat dijo: «¿No queda aún aquí algún profeta del Señor, para que lo consultemos(F)?». 8 Y el rey de Israel dijo a Josafat: «Todavía queda un hombre por medio de quien podemos consultar al Señor, pero lo aborrezco, porque no profetiza lo bueno en cuanto a mí, sino lo malo. Es Micaías, hijo de Imla». Pero Josafat dijo: «No hable el rey así». 9 Entonces el rey de Israel llamó a un oficial, y le dijo: «Trae pronto a Micaías, hijo de Imla». 10 El rey de Israel y Josafat, rey de Judá, estaban sentados cada uno en su trono, vestidos con sus mantos reales, en la era a la entrada de la puerta de Samaria; y todos los profetas(G) estaban profetizando delante de ellos. 11 Y Sedequías, hijo de Quenaana, se había hecho unos cuernos(H) de hierro y decía: «Así dice el Señor: “Con estos acornearás a los arameos hasta acabarlos(I)”». 12 Y todos los profetas profetizaban así: «Suba a Ramot de Galaad y tendrá éxito, pues el Señor la entregará en manos del rey».
13 Y el mensajero que fue a llamar a Micaías le dijo: «Mira, las palabras de los profetas son unánimes en favor del rey. Te ruego que tu palabra sea como la palabra de uno de ellos, y que hables favorablemente». 14 Pero Micaías dijo: «Vive el Señor(J) que lo que el Señor me diga, eso hablaré(K)». 15 Cuando llegó al rey, este le dijo: «Micaías, ¿iremos a Ramot de Galaad a pelear, o debemos desistir?». Y él le respondió: «Suba, y tendrá éxito, y el Señor la entregará en manos del rey(L)».
16 Entonces el rey le dijo: «¿Cuántas veces he de tomarte juramento de que no me digas más que la verdad en el nombre del Señor?». 17 Micaías respondió:
«Vi a todo Israel
Esparcido por los montes,
Como ovejas sin pastor;
Y el Señor dijo: “Estos no tienen señor,
Que cada uno vuelva a su casa en paz(M)”».
18 Entonces el rey de Israel dijo a Josafat: «¿No te dije que no profetizaría lo bueno acerca de mí, sino lo malo(N)?». 19 Respondió Micaías: «Por tanto, escuche la palabra del Señor. Yo vi al Señor sentado en Su trono(O), y todo el ejército de los cielos estaba junto a Él(P), a Su derecha y a Su izquierda. 20 Y el Señor dijo: “¿Quién persuadirá a Acab para que suba y caiga en Ramot de Galaad?”. Y uno decía de una manera, y otro de otra. 21 Entonces un espíritu se adelantó, y se puso delante del Señor, y dijo: “Yo lo persuadiré”. 22 El Señor le preguntó: “¿Cómo?”. Y él respondió: “Saldré y seré espíritu de mentira en boca de todos sus profetas(Q)”. Entonces Él dijo: “Lo persuadirás y también prevalecerás. Ve y hazlo así”. 23 Y ahora el Señor ya ha puesto un espíritu de mentira en boca de todos estos sus profetas; pues el Señor ha decretado el mal contra usted(R)».
24 Entonces se acercó Sedequías, hijo de Quenaana(S), y golpeó a Micaías en la mejilla y dijo: «¿Cómo es que el Espíritu del Señor pasó de mí para hablarte a ti(T)?». 25 Respondió Micaías: «Tú mismo lo verás aquel día en que entres en un aposento interior para esconderte(U)». 26 Entonces el rey de Israel dijo: «Toma a Micaías y llévaselo a Amón, gobernador de la ciudad, y a Joás, hijo del rey, 27 y dile: “Así dice el rey: ‘Echen a este a la cárcel, y aliméntenlo con poco pan y poca agua[b] hasta que yo vuelva en paz(V)’”». 28 Micaías le respondió: «Si en verdad vuelves en paz, el Señor no ha hablado por mí(W)». Y añadió: «Oigan, pueblos todos(X)».
29 El rey de Israel y Josafat, rey de Judá, subieron contra Ramot de Galaad(Y). 30 Y el rey de Israel dijo a Josafat: «Yo me disfrazaré para entrar en la batalla(Z), pero tú ponte tus ropas reales». El rey de Israel se disfrazó y entró en la batalla. 31 Pero el rey de Aram había ordenado a los treinta y dos capitanes de sus carros, diciendo: «No peleen contra chico ni contra grande, sino solo contra el rey de Israel(AA)». 32 Cuando los capitanes de los carros vieron a Josafat, dijeron: «Ciertamente este es el rey de Israel», y se desviaron para pelear contra él, pero Josafat gritó. 33 Al ver los capitanes de los carros que no era el rey de Israel, dejaron de perseguirlo.
Muerte de Acab
34 Un hombre disparó su arco al azar e hirió al rey de Israel por entre la juntura de la armadura. Y él dijo a su cochero: «Da la vuelta[c] y sácame de la batalla, pues estoy gravemente herido(AB)». 35 Pero la batalla arreció aquel día, y el rey fue sostenido en su carro frente a los arameos y al atardecer murió. La sangre de la herida corría hasta el fondo del carro. 36 A la puesta del sol, pasó un grito por el ejército que decía: «Cada hombre a su ciudad y cada uno a su tierra(AC)».
37 Pues el rey había muerto. Y fue llevado a Samaria, y sepultaron al rey en Samaria. 38 Lavaron el carro junto al estanque de Samaria y los perros lamieron su sangre (y allí se bañaban las rameras), conforme a la palabra que el Señor había hablado(AD). 39 Los demás hechos de Acab y todo lo que hizo, la casa de marfil(AE) que edificó y todas las ciudades que edificó, ¿no están escritos en el libro de las Crónicas de los reyes de Israel(AF)? 40 Durmió, pues, Acab con sus padres; y su hijo Ocozías reinó en su lugar.
Reinados de Josafat y Ocozías
41 (AG)Josafat, hijo de Asa, comenzó a reinar sobre Judá en el cuarto año de Acab, rey de Israel. 42 Josafat tenía treinta y cinco años cuando comenzó a reinar, y reinó veinticinco años en Jerusalén. El nombre de su madre era Azuba, hija de Silhi. 43 Anduvo en todo el camino de su padre Asa(AH); no se desvió de él, haciendo lo recto ante los ojos del Señor. Sin embargo, los lugares altos no fueron quitados; todavía el pueblo sacrificaba y quemaba incienso en los lugares altos(AI). 44 También Josafat hizo la paz con el rey de Israel(AJ).
45 Los demás hechos de Josafat, el poderío que mostró y cómo peleó en las guerras, ¿no están escritos en el libro de las Crónicas de los reyes de Judá(AK)? 46 Y echó fuera de la tierra al resto de los sodomitas(AL) que habían quedado desde los días de su padre Asa. 47 No había entonces ningún rey en Edom(AM); había gobernador en lugar de rey. 48 Josafat se construyó naves de Tarsis para ir a Ofir por oro(AN), pero no fueron porque las naves se rompieron(AO) en Ezión Geber(AP). 49 Entonces Ocozías, hijo de Acab, dijo a Josafat: «Permite que mis siervos vayan con tus siervos en las naves». Pero Josafat no quiso. 50 Josafat durmió con sus padres y fue sepultado con ellos en la ciudad de su padre David; y su hijo Joram reinó en su lugar(AQ).
51 Ocozías, hijo de Acab, comenzó a reinar sobre Israel(AR) en Samaria en el año diecisiete de Josafat, rey de Judá, y reinó dos años sobre Israel. 52 Pero hizo lo malo ante los ojos del Señor, y anduvo en el camino de su padre, en el camino de su madre y en el camino de Jeroboam, hijo de Nabat, el que hizo pecar a Israel(AS). 53 Sirvió, pues, a Baal y lo adoró, y provocó a ira al Señor, Dios de Israel(AT), conforme a todo lo que había hecho su padre.
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