1 Kings 22
1 And there continued three years without war between Syria and Israel.
Then three years passed without war between Aram and Israel.
2 But it came to pass, in the third year, that Jehoshaphat king of Judah went down unto the king of Israel.
However, in the third year, Jehoshaphat king of Judah went down to visit the king of Israel,
3 And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that, ours, is Ramoth-gilead, —yet, we, are too idle to take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?
who said to his servants, “Do you not know that Ramoth-gilead is ours, but we have failed to take it from the hand of the king of Aram?”
4 And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to make war upon Ramoth-gilead?
So he asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight against Ramoth-gilead?” Jehoshaphat answered the king of Israel, “I am like you, my people are your people, and my horses are your horses.”
5 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people are us thy people, my horses as thy horses.
But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire first for the word of the LORD.”
6 Then said Jehoshaphat unto the king of Israel, —Seek, I pray thee, at once, the word of Yahweh. So the king of Israel gathered together the prophets, about four hundred men, and said unto them—Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead, to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said—Go up, that the Lord may deliver it into the hand of the king.
So the king of Israel assembled the prophets, about four hundred men, and asked them, “Should I go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I refrain?” “Go up,” they replied, “and the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.”
7 Then said Jehoshaphat, Is there not here a prophet of Yahweh, besides, —that we may seek, from him?
But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not still a prophet of the LORD here of whom we can inquire?”
8 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Besides, is a certain man, by whom we might seek Yahweh, but, I, hate him, for he is never moved to prophesy concerning me anything good, only evil, Micaiah, son of Imlah. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
The king of Israel answered, “There is still one man who can ask the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me, but only bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” “The king should not say that!” Jehoshaphat replied.
9 Then the king of Israel called a certain courtier, —and said, Hasten Micaiah son of Imlah.
So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, “Bring Micaiah son of Imlah at once.”
10 Now, the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat king of Judah, were sitting—each man upon his throne, having put on robes, in a level place, at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, —and, all the prophets, were being moved to prophesy before them;
Dressed in royal attire, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying before them.
11 when Zedekiah son of Chenaanah made himself horns of iron, —and said—Thus, saith Yahweh, —With these, shalt thou push down the Syrians, until thou hast consumed them.
Now Zedekiah son of Chenaanah had made for himself iron horns and declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘With these you shall gore the Arameans until they are finished off.’”
12 And, all the prophets, were being moved to prophesy, in like manner, saying, —Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and thou shalt prosper, and Yahweh will deliver it, into the hand of the king.
And all the prophets were prophesying the same, saying, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and prosper, for the LORD will deliver it into the hand of the king.”
13 Now, the messenger who went to call Micaiah, spake unto him, saying, Behold, I pray thee, the words of the prophets, with one mouth, are good, as touching the king, let thy word, I pray thee, be as the word of one of them, so wilt thou speak that which is good.
Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah instructed him, “Behold now, with one accord the words of the prophets are favorable to the king. So please let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.”
14 And Micaiah said, —By the life of Yahweh, what Yahweh saith unto me, that, will I, speak.
But Micaiah said, “As surely as the LORD lives, I will speak whatever the LORD tells me.”
15 So he came unto the king, and the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he said unto him—Go up and prosper, and Yahweh will deliver it into the hand of the king.
When Micaiah arrived, the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should we refrain?” “Go up and triumph,” Micaiah replied, “for the LORD will give it into the hand of the king.”
16 And the king said unto him, How many times must, I, adjure thee, —that thou speak unto me nothing but truth, in the name of Yahweh?
But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear not to tell me anything but the truth in the name of the LORD?”
17 And he said—I saw all Israel, scattered among the mountains, like sheep that have no shepherd, —so Yahweh said, These have, no masters, let them return every man unto his own house, in peace.
So Micaiah declared: “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These people have no master; let each one return home in peace.’”
18 Then said the king of Israel, unto Jehoshaphat, —Did I not say unto thee, He will not be moved to prophesy concerning me anything good, only calamity.
Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he never prophesies good for me, but only bad?”
19 Then he said, Therefore, hear thou the word of Yahweh, —I saw Yahweh, sitting upon his throne, and all the host of the heavens, standing by him, on his right hand, and on his left.
Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left.
20 And Yahweh said, Who will persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall, at Ramoth-gilead? And, one, said in this manner, and, another, said in that manner.
And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one suggested this, and another that.
21 Then came forth a spirit, and stood before Yahweh, and said—I, will persuade him.
Then a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ ‘By what means?’ asked the LORD.
22 And Yahweh said unto him—Wherewith? And he said—I will go forth, and become a spirit of falsehood in the mouth of all his prophets, —So he said, —Thou mayest persuade, yea and prevail, go forth, and do so.
And he replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ ‘You will surely entice him and prevail,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’
23 Now, therefore, lo! Yahweh hath suffered a spirit of falsehood to be put into the mouth of all these thy prophets. But, Yahweh himself, hath spoken concerning thee, calamity.
So you see, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours, and the LORD has pronounced disaster against you.”
24 Then drew near Zedekiah, son of Chenaanah, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, —and said—Where then passed the Spirit of Yahweh, from me, to speak unto thee?
Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah went up, struck Micaiah in the face, and demanded, “Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go when He departed from me to speak with you?”
25 Then said Micaiah, Lo! thou art about to see, on that day, —when thou enterest a chamber within a chamber, to hide thyself.
Micaiah replied, “You will soon see, on that day when you go and hide in an inner room.”
26 And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon captain of the city, —and unto Joash son of the king;
And the king of Israel declared, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son,
27 and thou shalt say—Thus, saith the king, Put this man into the prison, —and let him eat the bread of oppression, with the water of oppression, until I enter in peace.
and tell them that this is what the king says: ‘Put this man in prison and feed him only bread and water until I return safely.’”
28 Then said Micaiah, If thou, return, in peace, Yahweh hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hear, ye peoples, all of you!
But Micaiah replied, “If you ever return safely, the LORD has not spoken through me.” Then he added, “Take heed, all you people!”
29 So the king of Israel went up, with Jehoshaphat king of Judah, unto Ramoth-gilead.
So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.
30 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat—I am about to disguise myself, and enter into the battle, thou, therefore, put on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself, and entered into the battle.
And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.
31 Now, the king of Syria, had commanded the captains of chariots which he had, thirty and two, saying, Ye shall not fight with small or great, —save with the king of Israel alone.
Now the king of Aram had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.”
32 And it came to pass, when the chariot-captains saw Jehoshaphat, that, they, said: Surely it is, the king of Israel! But, when they turned aside against him to fight, Jehoshaphat cried out.
When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “Surely this is the king of Israel!” So they turned to fight against him, but Jehoshaphat cried out.
33 And it came to pass, when the chariot-captains saw that it was, not the king of Israel, that they turned back, from pursuing him.
And when the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.
34 But, a certain man, drawing a bow in his innocence, smote the king of Israel, between the shoulder-joints and the coat of mail, —wherefore he said to his charioteer—Turn thy hand, and convey me out of the host, for I am sore wounded.
However, a certain man drew his bow without taking special aim, and he struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So the king said to his charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded!”
35 But the battle increased that day, and, the king, was propped up in the chariot, before the Syrians, —and died in the evening, and so the blood of the wound ran out into the hollow of the chariot.
The battle raged throughout that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. And the blood from his wound ran out onto the floor of the chariot, and that evening he died.
36 And a loud cry went through the host, at the going in of the sun, saying—Every man to his own city! and every man to his own land!
As the sun was setting, the cry rang out in the army: “Every man to his own city, and every man to his own land!”
37 So the king died, and was brought into Samaria, —and they buried the king, in Samaria.
So the king died and was brought to Samaria, where they buried him.
38 And, when the chariot was washed out at the pool of Samaria, the dogs lapped up his blood, also, the harlots, bathed [there], —according to the word of Yahweh which he had spoken.
And the chariot was washed at the pool of Samaria where the prostitutes bathed, and the dogs licked up Ahab’s blood, according to the word that the LORD had spoken.
39 Now, the rest of the story of Ahab, and all that he did, and the house of ivory that he built, and all the cities that he built, are, they, not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel?
As for the rest of the acts of Ahab, along with all his accomplishments and the ivory palace and all the cities he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?
40 So Ahab slept with his fathers, —and, Ahaziah his son, reigned, in his stead.
And Ahab rested with his fathers, and his son Ahaziah reigned in his place.
41 Now, Jehoshaphat son of Asa, began to reign over Judah, —in the fourth year of Ahab, king of Israel.
In the fourth year of Ahab’s reign over Israel, Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king of Judah.
42 Jehoshaphat, was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and, twenty-five years, reigned he in Jerusalem, —and, the name of his mother, was Azubah, daughter of Shilhi.
Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.
43 And he walked in all the way of Asa his father, he turned not aside therefrom, —doing that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh: nevertheless, the high places, were not taken away, —still were the people offering sacrifices and burning incense in the high places.
And Jehoshaphat walked in all the ways of his father Asa; he did not turn away from them, but did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. The high places, however, were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
44 And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.
Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel.
45 Now, the rest of the story of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he shewed, and how he warred, are, they, not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah?
As for the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, along with the might he exercised and how he waged war, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?
46 Moreover, the rest of the male devotees who remained in the days of Asa his father, he consumed out of the land.
He banished from the land the male shrine prostitutes who remained from the days of his father Asa.
47 And, king, was there none in Edom, a prefect, was king.
And there was no king in Edom; a deputy served as king.
48 Jehoshaphat, made ships of Tarshish, to go to Ophir, for gold; but they went not, —for ships had been broken to pieces in Ezion-geber.
Jehoshaphat built ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they never set sail, because they were wrecked at Ezion-geber.
49 Then, said Ahaziah son of Ahab, unto Jehoshaphat, Let, my servants, go with, thy servants, in the ships, —but Jehoshaphat did not consent.
At that time Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants sail with your servants,” but Jehoshaphat refused.
50 So Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers, in the city of David his father, —and, Jehoram his son, reigned, in his stead.
And Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the city of his father David. And his son Jehoram reigned in his place.
51 Ahaziah son of Ahab, began to reign over Israel, in Samaria, in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, —and reigned over Israel, two years.
In the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat’s reign over Judah, Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria two years.
52 And he did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, —and went in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused, Israel, to sin.
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the ways of his father and mother and of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin.
53 Yea he served Baal, and bowed down to him, —and provoked to anger Yahweh, God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.
Ahaziah served and worshiped Baal, provoking the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger, just as his father had done.
