1 Kings 22:13-28
Expanded Bible
13 The messenger who had gone to get Micaiah said to him, “All the ·other prophets are saying King Ahab will succeed [words of the prophets are favorable to the king]. ·You should agree with them and give the king a good answer [Let your word be like theirs and speak favorably].”
14 But Micaiah answered, “As surely as the Lord lives, I ·can tell him [will say] only what the Lord tells me.”
15 When Micaiah came to Ahab, the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we attack Ramoth in Gilead or ·not [hold back]?”
Micaiah answered, “Attack and ·win [triumph; prosper]! The Lord will hand them over to you [C Micaiah must have spoken sarcastically].”
16 But Ahab said to Micaiah, “How many times ·do I have to tell you [must I make you swear] to speak only the truth to me in the name of the Lord?”
17 So Micaiah answered, “I saw ·the army of [all] Israel scattered over the ·hills [mountains] like sheep without a shepherd. The Lord said, ‘They have no ·leaders [master; C foreshadowing Ahab’s death]. They should go home ·and not fight [L in peace].’”
18 Then Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I told you! He never prophesies anything good about me, but only ·bad [evil].”
19 But Micaiah said, “Hear the ·message from [L word of] the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne with his heavenly ·army [hosts] standing near him on his right and on his left. 20 The Lord said, ‘Who will ·trick [entice; deceive] Ahab into attacking Ramoth in Gilead where he will ·be killed [fall]?’
“Some ·said [suggested; answered] one thing; some ·said [suggested; answered] another. 21 Then one spirit came and stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will ·trick [entice; deceive] him.’
22 “The Lord asked, ‘How will you do it?’
“The spirit answered, ‘I will go to Ahab’s prophets and ·make them tell lies [L be a lying/deceiving spirit in their mouths].’
“So the Lord said, ‘You will succeed in ·tricking [enticing; deceiving] him. Go and do it.’”
23 Micaiah said, “Ahab, the Lord has ·made your prophets lie to you [L put a deceiving/lying spirit in the mouth of your prophets], and the Lord has ·decided [pronounced; proclaimed; decreed] that disaster ·should come to [for; on] you.”
24 Then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah went up to Micaiah and slapped him in the ·face [cheek]. Zedekiah said, “·Has [How did] the Lord’s spirit ·left [pass from] me to speak through you?”
25 Micaiah answered, “You will find out on the day you go to hide in an ·inside [secret] room [C when the prophesied disaster strikes].”
26 Then Ahab king of Israel ordered, “Take Micaiah and ·send [return] him to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, the king’s son. 27 Tell them I said to put this man in prison and ·give [feed] him only bread and water until I return safely [C from the upcoming battle].”
28 Micaiah said, “Ahab, if you come back safely, the Lord has not spoken through me. ·Remember [Mark; Listen to] my words, all you people!”
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