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But first, ask the Eternal for His wisdom and guidance in this matter.

Israel’s king assembled the 400 prophets.

Ahab: Should I wage war against Ramoth-gilead or not?

Prophets: Yes, you should. The Lord will give the king victory in this matter.

Jehoshaphat: I need counsel. Is there a prophet of the Eternal present whom we can ask for advice?

Ahab: There is one prophet of the Eternal, but I despise him. He prophesies terrible things about me instead of good things. His name is Micaiah (Imlah’s son).

Jehoshaphat: The king shouldn’t speak as such; he is the Lord’s prophet.

Israel’s king summoned a commander and gave him instructions to find Micaiah (Imlah’s son) quickly.

10 At the threshing floor inside the gate of Samaria, Israel’s king and Jehoshaphat (Judah’s king) were both sitting on their own thrones wearing ornate royal robes holding court while all the prophets were spouting out prophesies in their presence. 11 Zedekiah (Chenaanah’s son) had crafted iron horns for himself and spoke.

Zedekiah: This is the Eternal’s message: “Take these horns to gore the Arameans until they are destroyed.”

Prophets: 12 Travel to Ramoth-gilead, and flourish. The Eternal One will hand it over to the king.

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But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “First seek the counsel(A) of the Lord.”

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,”(B) they answered, “for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.”(C)

But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no longer a prophet(D) of the Lord here whom we can inquire(E) of?”

The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one prophet through whom we can inquire of the Lord, but I hate(F) him because he never prophesies anything good(G) about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”

“The king should not say such a thing,” Jehoshaphat replied.

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(H) by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying before them. 11 Now Zedekiah(I) son of Kenaanah had made iron horns(J) 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.”

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