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1 Kings 22:13-28
Legacy Standard Bible
1 Kings 22:13-28
Legacy Standard Bible
Micaiah Prophesies Against Ahab
13 Now the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, “Behold now, the words of the prophets, as if from one mouth, are good towards the king. Please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good.” 14 But Micaiah said, “(A)As Yahweh lives, what (B)Yahweh says to me, that I shall speak.”
15 Then he came to the king, and the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we refrain?” And he said to him, “(C)Go up and succeed, and Yahweh will give it into the hand of the king.” 16 Then the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear that you will speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of Yahweh?” 17 So he said,
“I saw all Israel
Scattered on the mountains,
(D)Like sheep which have no shepherd.
And Yahweh said,
‘These have no master.
Let each of them return to his house in peace.’”
18 Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “(E)Did I not say to you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”
19 Then [a]Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of Yahweh. (F)I saw Yahweh sitting on His throne, and (G)all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left. 20 And Yahweh said, ‘Who will entice Ahab so that he will go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said this while another said that. 21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before Yahweh and said, ‘I will entice him.’ 22 And Yahweh said to him, ‘How?’ And he said, ‘I will go out and (H)be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ Then He said, ‘You shall entice him and also prevail. Go out and do so.’ 23 So now, behold, (I)Yahweh has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; but Yahweh has spoken calamity against you.”
24 Then (J)Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “(K)How did the Spirit of Yahweh pass from me to speak to you?” 25 And Micaiah said, “Behold, you will see on that day when you (L)enter an inner room to hide.” 26 Then the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the commander of the city and to Joash the king’s son; 27 and say, ‘Thus says the king, “(M)Put this man in prison and feed him [b]sparingly with bread and water until I come back safely.”’” 28 And Micaiah said, “(N)If you indeed return safely, Yahweh has not spoken by me.” And he said, “(O)Listen, all you people.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Kings 22:19 Lit he
- 1 Kings 22:27 Lit with bread of affliction and water of affliction
1 Kings 22:13-28
New International Version
1 Kings 22:13-28
New International Version
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.”(A)
14 But Micaiah said, “As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what the Lord tells me.”(B)
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(C) on the hills like sheep without a shepherd,(D) 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(E) with all the multitudes(F) 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(G) 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(H) spirit in the mouths of all these prophets(I) of yours. The Lord has decreed disaster(J) for you.”
24 Then Zedekiah(K) son of Kenaanah went up and slapped(L) Micaiah in the face. “Which way did the spirit from[a] the Lord go when he went from me to speak(M) to you?” he asked.
25 Micaiah replied, “You will find out on the day you go to hide(N) 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(O) 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(P) through me.” Then he added, “Mark my words, all you people!”
Footnotes
- 1 Kings 22:24 Or Spirit of
1 Kings 22:13-28
King James Version
1 Kings 22:13-28
King James Version
13 And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good.
14 And Micaiah said, As the Lord liveth, what the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak.
15 So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
16 And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the Lord?
17 And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the Lord said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.
18 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?
19 And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.
20 And the Lord said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.
21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will persuade him.
22 And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.
23 Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee.
24 But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the Lord from me to speak unto thee?
25 And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.
26 And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;
27 And say, Thus saith 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 And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, the Lord hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you.
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