1 Kings 22:13-28

Living Bible

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^[a]—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.”