الإصحَاحُ
الثَّامِنُ عَشَرَ

 

Chapter
18

1
Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with
Ahab.

2
And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep
and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he had with him, and
persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth-gilead.

3
And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with
me to Ramoth-gilead? And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as
thy people; and we will be with thee in the war.

4
And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word
of the LORD to day.

5
Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men,
and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?
And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the king’s hand.

6
But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we
might enquire of him?

7
And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we
may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me,
but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let
not the king say so.

8
And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and said, Fetch quickly
Micaiah the son of Imla.

9
And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his
throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat in a void place at the entering in
of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.

10
And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron, and said, Thus
saith the LORD, With these thou shalt push Syria until they be consumed.

11
And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and
prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.

12
And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the
words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let thy word
therefore, I pray thee, be like one of their’s, and speak thou good.

13
And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I
speak.

14
And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go
to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and
prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.

15
And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say
nothing but the truth to me in the name of the LORD?

16
Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that
have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master; let them return
therefore every man to his house in peace.

17
And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would
not prophesy good unto me, but evil?

18
Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon
his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his
left.

19
And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and
fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another
saying after that manner.

20
Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will
entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith?

21
And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his
prophets. And the LORD said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also
prevail: go out, and do even so.

22
Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these
thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee.

23
Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek,
and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?

24
And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou shalt go into an
inner chamber to hide thyself.

25
Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the
governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son;

26
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 return in peace.

27
And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, then hath not the LORD
spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, all ye people.

28
So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to
Ramoth-gilead.

29
And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and will
go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised
himself; and they went to the battle.

30
Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that were with
him, saying, Fight ye not with small or great, save only with the king of Israel.

31
And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that
they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to
fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them
to depart from him.

32
For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it
was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him.

33
And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between
the joints of the harness: therefore he said to his chariot man, Turn thine
hand, that thou mayest carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.

34
And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel stayed himself up
in his chariot against the Syrians until the even: and about the time of the
sun going down he died.