2 Chronicles 18
Expanded Bible
Micaiah Warns King Ahab(A)
18 Jehoshaphat had much wealth and ·honor [esteem], and he made an ·agreement [alliance] with King Ahab through marriage [C his son married Athaliah, Ahab’s daughter; 21:6]. 2 A few years later Jehoshaphat went to visit Ahab in Samaria. Ahab ·sacrificed [slaughtered] many sheep and ·cattle [oxen] ·as a great feast to honor Jehoshaphat [L for him] and the ·people [officials] with him. He ·encouraged [enticed; persuaded; induced] Jehoshaphat to attack Ramoth in Gilead. 3 Ahab king of Israel asked Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me to attack Ramoth in Gilead?”
Jehoshaphat answered, “I ·will go [L am one] with you, and my ·soldiers [people] are ·yours [your people]. We will join you in the battle.” 4 Jehoshaphat also said to Ahab, “But first we should ·ask if this is the Lord’s will [L seek/inquire about the word/counsel of the Lord].”
5 So ·King Ahab [L the king of Israel] ·called [assembled; summoned] four hundred prophets together and asked them, “Should we go to war against Ramoth in Gilead or ·not [hold back]?”
They answered, “Go, because God will hand them over to you.”
6 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Isn’t there still a prophet of the Lord here? Let’s ·ask [inquire of] him.”
7 Then King Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “There is one other prophet. We could ·ask [inquire of] the Lord through him, but I hate him. He never prophesies anything good about me, but always ·something bad [evil; disaster]. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”
Jehoshaphat said, “King Ahab, you shouldn’t say ·that [such things]!”
8 So Ahab king of Israel told one of his ·officers [officials] to bring Micaiah to him at once.
9 Ahab king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah ·had on [were arrayed/dressed in] their royal robes and were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor, near the entrance to the gate of Samaria. All the prophets were ·standing before them speaking their messages [prophesying before them]. 10 Zedekiah son of Kenaanah had made some iron horns. He said to Ahab, “·This is what the Lord says [T Thus says the Lord]: ‘You will use these horns to ·fight [gore] the Arameans until they are destroyed.’”
11 All the other prophets ·said [prophesied] the same thing, “Attack Ramoth in Gilead and ·win [triumph; be victorious], because the Lord will hand the Arameans over to you.”
12 The messenger who had gone to ·get [summon] Micaiah said to him, “All the other prophets are ·saying King Ahab will win [speaking favorably with one voice for the king]. ·You should agree with them and give the king a good answer [L Let your word be like theirs and speak favorably].”
13 But Micaiah answered, “As surely as the Lord lives, I ·can tell him [will speak] only what my God says.”
14 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! They will be handed over to you [C He was keeping his vow to speak what God said because this lie was what God wanted him to say to Ahab].”
15 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?” [C Micaiah’s tone was likely sarcastic.]
16 So Micaiah answered, “I saw ·the army of [L all] Israel scattered over the hills like sheep without a shepherd. The Lord said, ‘They have no ·leaders [master; C implying that their king had been killed]. They should go home ·and not fight [L in peace].’”
17 Then Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “·I told [L Didn’t I tell…?] you! He never prophesies anything good about me, but only ·bad [evil; disaster].”
18 But Micaiah said, “Hear the ·message from [L word of] the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne with ·his heavenly army standing [L all the host of heaven] on his right and on his left. 19 The Lord said, ‘Who will ·trick [entice; deceive] King Ahab of Israel into attacking Ramoth in Gilead where he will ·be killed [L fall]?’
“Some ·said [suggested] one thing; some ·said [suggested] another. 20 Then one spirit came and stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will ·trick [entice; deceive] him.’
“The Lord asked, ‘How will you do it?’
21 “The spirit answered, ‘I will go ·to Ahab’s prophets and make them tell lies [L and be a lying/deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets].’
“So the Lord said, ‘You will succeed in ·tricking [enticing; deceiving] him. Go and do it.’”
22 Micaiah said, “Ahab, the Lord has ·made your prophets lie to you [L put a lying/deceiving spirit in the mouths of your prophets], and the Lord has ·decided that disaster should come to you [pronounced your doom].”
23 Then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah went up to Micaiah and slapped him ·in the face [L on the cheek]. Zedekiah said, “·Has [How is it that] the Lord’s Spirit left me to speak through you?”
24 Micaiah answered, “You will find out on the day you go to hide in an ·inside [secret] room [C when the predicted disaster would strike].”
25 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. 26 Tell them I said to put this man in prison and give him only bread and water until I return ·safely [L in peace] from the battle.”
27 Micaiah said, “Ahab, if you come back safely from the battle, the Lord has not spoken through me. ·Remember my words [L Listen], all you people!”
Ahab Is Killed
28 So Ahab king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah ·went to [attacked] Ramoth in Gilead. 29 King Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “I will go into battle, but I will ·wear other clothes so no one will recognize me [disguise myself]. But you wear your royal ·clothes [robes].” So Ahab ·wore other clothes [disguised himself], and they went into battle.
30 The king of Aram ordered his chariot ·commanders [officers], “Don’t fight with anyone—·important [great] or ·unimportant [small]—·except [but only with] the king of Israel.” 31 When these ·commanders [officers] saw Jehoshaphat, they ·thought he was [said, “There is…”] the king of Israel, so they turned to attack him. But Jehoshaphat ·began shouting [cried/called out; C either for help or with his war cry], and the Lord ·helped [saved] him. God ·turned [drew; lured; diverted] the chariot ·commanders [officers] away from Jehoshaphat. 32 When they saw he was not King Ahab of Israel, they stopped chasing him.
33 ·By chance [Randomly; L In innocence], a soldier shot an arrow which hit Ahab king of Israel between the ·pieces [joints; plates] of his armor. King Ahab said to his chariot driver, “Turn around and get me out of the battle, because I am ·hurt [badly wounded]!” 34 The battle ·continued [raged] all day. King Ahab ·held [propped] himself up in his chariot and faced the Arameans until evening. Then he died at sunset.
2 Chronicles 18
Amplified Bible
Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahab
18 Now Jehoshaphat had great wealth and honor, and was allied by [a]marriage with Ahab. 2 Some years later he went down to [visit] Ahab in Samaria. And Ahab slaughtered many sheep and oxen for him and the people who were with him, and induced him to go up against Ramoth-gilead. 3 Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me to [fight against] Ramoth-gilead?” He answered, “I am as you are, and my people as your people [your hopes and concerns are ours]; we will be with you in the battle.”
4 Further, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire [b]first for the word of the Lord.” 5 Then the king of Israel assembled the prophets, four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall we go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for God will hand it over to the king.” 6 But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of the Lord still here by whom we may inquire?” 7 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, but I hate him, for he never prophesies [anything] good for me, but always evil. He is Micaiah the son of Imla” And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so [perhaps this time it will be different].”
Ahab’s False Prophets Assure Victory
8 Then the king of Israel called for an officer and said, “Bring Micaiah the son of Imla quickly.” 9 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting, each on his throne, arrayed in their robes; they were sitting at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them. 10 Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made horns of iron for himself; and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘With these you shall gore the Arameans (Syrians) until they are destroyed.’” 11 All the prophets prophesied this, saying, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and succeed; the Lord will hand it over to the king.”
Micaiah Brings Word from God
12 The messenger who went to call Micaiah said to him, “Listen, the words of the prophets are of one accord, foretelling a favorable outcome for the king. So just let your word be like one of them and speak favorably.” 13 But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, I will [only] speak what my God says.”
14 When he came to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I refrain?” And he said, “Go up and succeed, for they will be handed over to you.” 15 Then the king said to him, “How many times must I warn you (make you swear an oath) to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?” 16 Then Micaiah said,
“I saw all [the people of] Israel
Scattered on the mountains,
As sheep that have no shepherd;
And the Lord said,
‘These have no master.
Let each one return to his house in peace.’”
17 Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good in regard to me, but [only] evil?”
18 So Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host (army) of heaven standing on His right and on His left. 19 Then the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel to go up and fall [defeated] at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said this and another said that. 20 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will entice him.’ The Lord said to him, ‘By what means?’ 21 He said, ‘I will go out and be a deceptive spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ Then the Lord said, ‘You are to entice him and also succeed. Go and do so.’ 22 Now, you see, the Lord put a deceptive spirit in the mouth of these prophets of yours; and the Lord has [actually] proclaimed disaster against you.”
23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came up and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “Which way did the Spirit of the Lord go [when he departed] from me to speak to you?” 24 Micaiah said, “Behold, you will see on that day when you go into an inner room [desperately trying] to hide yourself.” 25 Then the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son, 26 and say, ‘Thus says the king: “Put this man in prison and feed him just enough bread and water to survive until I return in peace (safely).”’” 27 But Micaiah said, “If you actually return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.” And he added, “Listen [to what I have said], you people, all of you.”
Ahab’s Defeat and Death
28 So [Ahab] the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up against Ramoth-gilead. 29 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “[c]I will disguise myself and will go into battle, but you put on your [royal] robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into the battle. 30 Now the king of [d]Aram (Syria) had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, “Do not fight with the small or the great, but only with the king of Israel.” 31 So when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat [of Judah], they said, “It is the king of Israel!” So they turned to fight against him, but Jehoshaphat called out [for God’s help], and the Lord helped him; and God diverted them away from him. 32 When the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him. 33 Then a certain man drew his bow at random and struck [Ahab] the king of Israel between the scales of his armor. So Ahab said to his chariot driver, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, because I am seriously wounded.” 34 The battle raged that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot in front of the Arameans (Syrians) until the evening, and at sunset he died.
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 18:1 Jehoshaphat was married to Athaliah, Ahab’s daughter.
- 2 Chronicles 18:4 Lit as the day.
- 2 Chronicles 18:29 Jehoshaphat may have agreed to this because he thought it was a noble gesture on Ahab’s part; i.e. Ahab fighting incognito alongside his troops while Jehoshaphat would presumably stay aloof under the protection of his own bodyguard. More likely Ahab’s plan was simply to disguise himself and let Jehoshaphat be the target by unwittingly serving as Ahab’s double, and the plan very nearly succeeded.
- 2 Chronicles 18:30 The people of the kingdom of Aram were descendants of Aram, the son of Shem, son of Noah (Gen 10:22, 23). The territory of the Arameans also included areas later identified as Syria and Mesopotamia.
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