Asa Reigns over Judah

In the twentieth year of Jerobo′am king of Israel, Asa began to reign over Judah,

Alliance with Aram against Israel

And there was war between Asa and Ba′asha king of Israel all their days.

Ba′asha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might permit no one to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.

“Let there be a league between me and you, as between my father and your father: behold, I am sending to you a present of silver and gold; go, break your league with Ba′asha king of Israel, that he may withdraw from me.”

And there was war between Asa and Ba′asha king of Israel all their days.

And he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel, and said to him, “Thus says Ben-ha′dad:

And the king of Israel answered, “As you say, my lord, O king, I am yours, and all that I have.”

Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, “Mark, now, and see how this man is seeking trouble; for he sent to me for my wives and my children, and for my silver and my gold, and I did not refuse him.”

And the king of Israel answered, “Tell him, ‘Let not him that girds on his armor boast himself as he that puts it off.’”

Prophetic Opposition to Ahab

And behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel and said, “Thus says the Lord, Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will give it into your hand this day; and you shall know that I am the Lord.”

And the king of Israel went out, and captured the horses and chariots, and killed the Syrians with a great slaughter.

Then the prophet came near to the king of Israel, and said to him, “Come, strengthen yourself, and consider well what you have to do; for in the spring the king of Syria will come up against you.”

And a man of God came near and said to the king of Israel, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The Lord is a god of the hills but he is not a god of the valleys,” therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.’”

And his servants said to him, “Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings; let us put sackcloth on our loins and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel; perhaps he will spare your life.”

So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-ha′dad says, ‘Pray, let me live.’” And he said, “Does he still live? He is my brother.”

And as your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.” The king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be; you yourself have decided it.”

Then he made haste to take the bandage away from his eyes; and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets.

And the king of Israel went to his house resentful and sullen, and came to Samar′ia.

“Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samar′ia; behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession.

But in the third year Jehosh′aphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel.

And the king of Israel said to his servants, “Do you know that Ra′moth-gil′ead belongs to us, and we keep quiet and do not take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?”

And he said to Jehosh′aphat, “Will you go with me to battle at Ra′moth-gil′ead?” And Jehosh′aphat said to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”

And Jehosh′aphat said to the king of Israel, “Inquire first for the word of the Lord.”

Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go to battle against Ra′moth-gil′ead, or shall I forbear?” And they said, “Go up; for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.”

And the king of Israel said to Jehosh′aphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, Micai′ah the son of Imlah; but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil.” And Jehosh′aphat said, “Let not the king say so.”

Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, “Bring quickly Micai′ah the son of Imlah.”

Now the king of Israel and Jehosh′aphat the king of Judah were sitting on their thrones, arrayed in their robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samar′ia; and all the prophets were prophesying before them.

And the king of Israel said to Jehosh′aphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”

And the king of Israel said, “Seize Micai′ah, and take him back to Amon the governor of the city and to Jo′ash the king’s son;

Defeat and Death of Ahab

So the king of Israel and Jehosh′aphat the king of Judah went up to Ra′moth-gil′ead.

And the king of Israel said to Jehosh′aphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your robes.” And the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, “Fight with neither small nor great, but only with the king of Israel.”

And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehosh′aphat, they said, “It is surely the king of Israel.” So they turned to fight against him; and Jehosh′aphat cried out.

And when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

But a certain man drew his bow at a venture, and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate; therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn about, and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded.”

Jehoshaphat Reigns over Judah

Jehosh′aphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.

Jehosh′aphat also made peace with the king of Israel.