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, Inquire, 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 inquire of him?
7 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may inquire 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 theirs, 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.

1Now Iehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and ioyned affinitie with Ahab.

2And after certaine yeeres, he went downe to Ahab to Samaria: and Ahab killed sheepe and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he had with him, and perswaded him to goe vp with him to Ramoth Gilead.

3And Ahab king of Israel said vnto Iehoshaphat king of Iudah, Wilt thou goe 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 warre.

4 And Iehoshaphat saide vnto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the Lord to day.

5Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets foure hundred men, and said vnto them, Shal we goe to Ramoth Gilead to battel, or shal I forbeare? And they said, Goe vp, for God will deliuer it into the kings hand.

6But Iehoshaphat saide, Is there not here a Prophet of the Lord besides, that we might enquire of him?

7And the king of Israel said vnto Iehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the Lord: but I hate him, for he neuer prophesied good vnto me, but alwayes euill: the same is Micaiah the sonne of Iimla. And Iehoshaphat saide, Let not the king say so.

8And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and saide, Fetch quickly Micaiah the sonne of Iimla.

9And the king of Israel and Iehoshaphat king of Iudah sate, either of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sate in a voide place at the entring in of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets prophesied before them.

10And Zedekiah the sonne of Chenaanah, had made him hornes of yron, and said, Thus saith the Lord, With these thou shalt push Syria, vntil they be consumed.

11And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Goe vp to Ramoth Gilead, and prosper: for the Lord shall deliuer it into the hand of the king.

12And 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 theirs, and speake thou good.

13And Micaiah said, As the Lord liueth, euen what my God saith, that will I speake.

14And when hee was come to the king, the king sayd vnto him, Micaiah, shall we goe to Ramoth Gilead to battell, or shall I fobreare? and he sayd, Goe yee vp, and prosper, and they shall be deliuered into your hand.

15And the king sayd to him, Howe many times shall I adiure thee, that thou say nothing but the truth to me, in the name of the Lord?

16Then he sayd, I did see all Israel scattered vpon the mountaines, as sheepe that haue no shepheard: and the Lord sayd, These haue no master, let them returne therefore, euery man to his house in peace.

17(And the king of Israel sayd to Iehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee, that hee would not prophesie good vnto mee, but euill?)

18Againe he sayd; Therefore heare the word of the Lord: I sawe the Lord sitting vpon his throne, and all the hoste of heauen standing on his right hand, and on his left.

19And the Lord sayd, Who shall entise Ahab king of Israel, that hee may goe vp and fall at Ramoth Gilead? And one spake, saying after this maner, and another saying after that maner.

20Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and sayd, I will entise him. And the Lord sayd vnto him, Wherewith?

21And hee sayd, I will goe out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the Lord sayd, Thou shalt entise him, and thou shalt also preuaile: goe out, and doe euen so.

22Nowe therefore behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken euill against thee.

23Then Zedekiah the sonne of Chenaanah, came neere, and smote Micaiah vpon the cheeke, and sayd, Which way went the spirit of the Lord from mee, to speake vnto thee?

24And Micaiah sayd, Behold, thou shalt see on that day, when thou shalt goe into an inner chamber to hide thy selfe.

25Then the king of Israel sayd, Take yee Micaiah, and carie him backe to Amon the gouernour of the citie, and to Ioash the kings sonne:

26And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feede him with bread of affliction, and with water of affliction, vntill I returne in peace.

27And Micaiah sayd, If thou certainly returne in peace, then hath not the Lord spoken by mee. And hee sayd, Hearken all yee people.

28So the king of Israel, and Iehoshaphat the king of Iudah, went vp to Ramoth Gilead.

29And the king of Israel sayd vnto Iehoshaphat, I will disguise my selfe, and will goe to the battell, but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himselfe, and they went to the battell.

30Now the king of Syria had commaunded the captaines of the charets that were with him, saying, Fight ye not with small or great, saue onely with the king of Israel.

31And it came to passe when the captaines of the charets saw Iehoshaphat, that they sayd, It is the king of Israel: therefore they compassed about him to fight. But Iehoshaphat cryed out, and the Lord helped him, and God moued them to depart from him.

32For it came to passe, that when the captaines of the charets perceiued that it was not the king of Israel, they turned backe againe from pursuing him.

33And a certaine man drew a bowe at a venture, and smote the king of Israel betweene the ioints of the harnesse: therefore hee sayd to his charetman, Turne thine hand, that thou mayest carie me out of the hoste, for I am wounded.

34And the battell increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel stayed himselfe vp in his charet against the Syrians, vntill the Euen: and about the time of the sunne going downe, hee dyed.

 

I == 2nd Kings 8:18 ; 2nd Chr 17:5

 

II == 1st Kings 22:2

 

 

 

 

 

 

IV == 1st Sam 23:2 , 4 , 9 ; 2nd Sam 2:1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XIII == Num 22:18 , 20 , 35 ; 23:12 , 26 ; 24:13 ; 1st Kings 22:14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XX == Job 1:6

 

 

 

 

 

XXII Job 12:16 ; Isa 19:14 ; Ezek 14:9

 

XXIII == Jer 20:2 ; Mark 14:65 ; Acts 23:2

 

 

 

 

 

XXVI == 2nd Chr 16:10

1 Jehoshaphat therefore had wealth and glory in abundance; but he became related to Ahab by marriage.

 

2 After some years he went down to Ahab at Samaria; Ahab offered numerous sheep and oxen for him and the people with him, and persuaded him to go up against Ramoth-gilead.

3 Ahab, king of Israel, asked Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, "Will you come with me to Ramoth-gilead?" "You and I are as one," was his answer; "your people and my people as well. We will be with you in the battle."

4 But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, "Seek the word of the LORD at once."

5 The king of Israel gathered his prophets, four hundred in number, and asked them, "Shall we go to attack Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?" "Go up," they answered. "God will deliver it over to the king."

6 But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there no other prophet of the LORD here whom we may consult?"

7 The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, "There is still another through whom we may consult the LORD, but I hate him, for he prophesies not good but always evil about me. That is Micaiah, son of Imlah." Jeshoshaphat said, "Let not your Majesty speak of evil against you."

8 So the king of Israel called an official, to whom he said, "Get Micaiah, son of Imlah, at once."

9 The king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah were seated each on his throne, clothed in their robes of state on a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying before them.

10 Zedekiah, son of Chenaanah, made iron horns for himself and said: "The LORD says, 'With these you shall gore Aram until you have destroyed them.'"

11 The other prophets prophesied in the same vein, saying: "Go up to Ramoth-gilead. You shall succeed; the LORD will deliver it over to the king."

12 The messenger who had gone to call Micaiah said to him: "Look now, the prophets unanimously predict good for the king. Let your word, like each of theirs, predict good."

13 "As the LORD lives," Micaiah answered, "I will say what my God tells me."

14 When he came to the king, the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go to fight against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?" "Go up," he answered, "and succeed; they will be delivered into your power."

15 But the king said to him, "How many times must I adjure you to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?"

16 Then Micaiah answered: "I see all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep without a shepherd, and the LORD saying, 'These have no master!' Let each of them go back home in peace.'"

17 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell you that he prophesies no good about me, but only evil?"

18 But Micaiah continued: "Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD seated on his throne, with the whole host of heaven standing by to his right and to his left.

19 The LORD asked, 'Who will deceive Ahab, king of Israel, so that he will go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' And one said this, another that,

20 until a spirit came forward and presented himself to the LORD, saying, 'I will deceive him.' The LORD asked, 'How?'

21 He answered, 'I will go forth and become a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.' The LORD agreed: 'You shall succeed in deceiving him. Go forth and do this.'

22 So now the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of these your prophets, but the LORD himself has decreed evil against you."

23 Thereupon Zedekiah, son of Chenaanah, came up and slapped Micaiah on the cheek, saying, "Which way did the spirit of the LORD go when he left me to speak to you?"

24 "You shall find out," Micaiah replied, "on that day when you enter an innermost chamber to hide."

25 The king of Israel then said: "Seize Micaiah and take him back to Amon, prefect of the city, and to Joash the king's son,

26 and say, 'This is the king's order: Put this man in prison and feed him scanty rations of bread and water until I return in safety!'"

27 But Micaiah said, "If ever you return in safety, the LORD has not spoken through me." And he said, "Hear, O peoples, all of you!"

28 The king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead

29 and the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will go into battle disguised, but you put on your own clothes." So the king of Israel disguised himself and they entered the fray.

30 Meanwhile, the king of Aram had given his chariot commanders the order, "Fight with no one, small or great, except the king of Israel."

31 When the commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they exclaimed, "That must be the king of Israel!" and shifted to fight him. But Jehoshaphat cried out and the LORD helped him; God induced them to leave him.

32 The chariot commanders became aware that he was not the king of Israel and gave up their pursuit of him.

33 Someone, however, drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the joints of his breastplate. He ordered his charioteer, "Rein about and take me out of the ranks, for I am disabled."

34 The battle grew fierce during the day, and the king of Israel braced himself up on his chariot facing the Arameans until evening. He died as the sun was setting.

v 1-3. This adds detail to 1 Kings 22:1-4. Jehoshaphat was rich and honorable, as described in chapter 17, but he made a marriage alliance with Ahab. This contributed to peace and other alliances with Ahab, but it lead to many problems. When he visited Ahab, he and those with him were honored by a great feast, which put him in a mood of cooperation with Ahab.
Specifically, Jehoshaphat allowed his son Jehoram to marry Athalia the daughter of Ahab, 2 Chr. 21:6. She was extremely wicked like her mother, Jezebel, and turned Jehoram to wickedness. He killed his brothers, 2 Chr. 21;13, and they were better than he. She also taught her son Ahaziah, who followed Jehoram, to do wickedly, 2 Chr. 22:3. After Ahaziah’s death, she also killed all her grandsons, so she could be queen herself and rule, 2 Chr. 22:10-12. Exception was Ahaziah’s son, Joash (apparently her grandson, because her sons older than Ahaziah, who was her youngest, had been killed by Arabians, 2 Chr. 22:1), who was rescued by Ahaziah’s sister, Jehoshabeath, 22:11. Jehoshabeath was wife of Jehoida the priest, and they hid Jehoash in a bed chamber in priest’s area till he was seven years old.

V 4-11 Afterwards Jehoshaphat realized he should ask advice of the Lord. Ahab assembled 400 prophets who advised going. Jehoshaphat had enough spiritual insight that he asked for a prophet of God. Ahab was reluctant to call Michaiah, because he only prophesied what he didn’t want to hear. This is not unusual today, and spiritually, many people follow this kind of teacher, 2 Tim. 4:3. Jehoshaphat was not satisfied and persisted in wanting a prophet of the Lord.
Michaiah was summoned to where the kings were sitting in their robes at a threshing floor, an elevated area, and near the gate where business was transacted. Zedekiah fashioned horns of iron to illustrate pushing the enemy and destroying them, and all the other false prophets agreed.

V 12-27 The messenger to Michaiah cautioned him to agree with the other men, but he promised to speak what the Lord told him.
Michaiah agreed with the others with flippant sarcasm, but Ahab saw his motive and demanded a true answer in a sarcastic way.
Now Michaiah became serious and spoke of total defeat, with Israel being scattered like sheep without a shepherd, because their master would be gone. Instead of paying attention, Ahab just reminded Jehoshaphat that this man spoke evil of him.
Michaiah then told what the Lord had shown him in a vision. The Lord on His throne asked who would persuade Ahab to go and be defeated. After discussion, one spirit offered to go and be a lying spirit in the mouths of the prophets. The Lord knew that would work and dispatched the spirit to do that.
Zedekiah resorted to violence, striking Jehoshaphat on the cheek and disputing, asked how the word of the Lord had gone to him to Michaiah. Michaiah replied that he would find out when he went into an inner chamber to hide.
Ahab believed the lying prophet and stopped the exchange by commanding that Michaiah be thrown into prison until he returned in peace. Michaiah replied that if he returned in peace, the Lord hadn’t spoken by him. He called the attention of all the people assembled and observing at the gate, so they would know that this was the word of the Lord.

V 28-34 Jehoshaphat had no business siding with wicked Ahab and Israel in the first place, and definitely not after hearing the word of Michaiah, but he agreed to go to battle in his robe, while Ahab would be disguised. Much as American soldiers were told to mainly shoot the British officers at Bunker Hill, the king of Syria ordered that they concentrate on getting Ahab. He was probably angered that Ahab broke the treaty. They thought Jehoshaphat was Ahab, but when he cried out (possibly to God as well as aloud) and fled, the Syrians knew it wasn’t Ahab and quit pursuing him.
They hadn’t been able to locate Ahab, but he was shot at by an arrow shot at random, and guided by God to a vulnerable spot. Ahab had his driver take him aside and he was propped up, bleeding in his chariot facing the Syrians until he died in the evening. Then about sundown, the leaders ordered a dismissal and sent everyone back to their own homes and countries.
Ahab was taken back to Samaria and buried, and when the blood was washed out of his chariot, the dogs licked it up in the same place they had licked up the blood of Naboth, as prophesied in 21:19. His death also fulfilling 20:42.
Excavations have discovered many ivory items from Ahab’s treasures. In spite of his wickedness, the Lord had mercy on Israel and blessed his military skills. His son Ahaziah took his place,