Moff 2 CHR Chapter 18

◄ 2 CHR 18 ► ║ ═ ©

18 Jehoshaphat had abundant wealth and honour. He allied himself in marriage to Ahab. 2 Some years later he visited Ahab at Samaria, where Ahab killed large numbers of sheep and oxen for him and his company, pressing him to join in an attack on Ramoth-gilead. 3 Said Ahab king of Israel to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you accompany me me against Ramoth-gilead?” He replied, “I am one with you, my men are one with your men; we will join you in the war. 4 But first of all,” added Jehoshaphat, “pray find out what the Eternal has to say.”

5 So the king of Israel, gathering the prophets together, four hundred of them, asked them, “Shall we march to attack Ramoth-gilead, or shall I give it up?” “March,” they answered, “God will put it into the hands of the king.” 6 Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not some other prophet of the Eternal whom we might consult?” 7 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is another man through whom we may consult the Eternal, but I hate him, for he never will prophesy any good for me, he always prophesies some evil; it is Micaiah the son of Imlah.” “Let not the king say so,” replied Jehoshaphat. 8 So the king 8 of Israel called an officer and told him to bring Micaiah the son of Imlah quickly.

9 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were seated, each upon his throne, in full armour, seated at the entry to the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying in front of them. 10 Zedekiah the son of Kenaanah had made iron horns and given this message from the Eternal: “With these you shall push the Aramaeans till they perish.” 11 So said all the prophets, shouting, “March to Ramoth-gilead and win; for the Eternal will put it into the hands of the king.” 12 The messenger who went for Mieaiah told him that the prophets with one consent were predicting good for the king; “Pray let your message be like any one of theirs; say a good word.” 13 “As the Eternal lives,” said Mieaiah, “whatever my God tells me I will say.” 14 When he came to the king, the king asked him, “Mieaiah, shall we march to attack Ramoth-gilead or give it up?” “Oh march away and win,” said Mieaiah, “for it is sure to fall into your hands!” 15 The king retorted, “How often have I to adjure you to tell me the plain truth as from the Eternal?” 16 “Well,” said Mieaiah, “I had a vision: I saw all Israel scattered over the hills like sheep without a shepherd; and the Eternal said, ‘These folk have no master; better let each of them go home in peace!’ ” 17 So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy any good for me, but only evil?” 18 “No,” cried Mieaiah, “listen to this from the Eternal. I had a vision of the Eternal seated on his throne, with all the heavenly host standing right and left of him. 19 When the Eternal asked, ‘Who will delude Ahab into marching to his death at Ramoth-gilead?’ one said this, another said that, 20 till one spirit came forward and, standing before the Eternal, offered to delude Ahab. ‘How?’ said the Eternal. 21 The spirit answered, ‘By passing as a lying spirit into the mouth of all his prophets!’ ‘You shall delude him,’ said the Eternal, ‘you shall succeed in that; pass out and do it.’ 22 So the Eternal has put a lying spirit into the mouth of your prophets here; the Eternal has resolved on evil for you.”

23 At this, Zedekiah the son of Kenaanah stepped forward and struck Mieaiah on the cheek, saying, “Where is the spirit of the Eternal that speaks through you?” 24 “You will find that out,” said Mieaiah, “on the day when you have to take refuge in an inner chamber!” 25 Then the king of Israel said, “Take Mieaiah away back to Amon the governor of the town and to prince Joash, 26 with orders from the king that the fellow is to be clapped into prison and fed on bread and water, to keep him miserable, till I come home victorious.” 27 “If ever you come home victorious,” said Mieaiah, “then the Eternal has not spoken by me.”

28 Then the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah marched on Ramoth-gilead. 29 “I will go into the fray disguised,” said the king of Israel to Jehoshaphat, “but you can put on your own robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself before they entered the fray. 30 Now the king of Aram had ordered the captains of his chariots to fight with no one, young or old, except the king of Israel; 31 so, on seeing Jehoshaphat, the chariot-captains thought he was the king of Israel and surrounded him. Jehoshaphat gave a shout, and the Eternal helped him; God moved them to leave him alone. 32 Seeing that he was not the king of Israel, the chariot-captains stopped pursuing him. 33 But a certain archer, drawing his bow at a venture, struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armour. “Wheel round,” cried the king to the driver of his chariot, “get me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded.” 34 However, as the fight grew fiercer that day, the king remained to face the Aramaeans till night fell; about sunset he died.

2 CHR C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 C21 C22 C23 C24 C25 C26 C27 C28 C29 C30 C31 C32 C33 C34 C35 C36

Moff 2 CHR Chapter 18

Moff 2 CHR Chapter 18