18 King Yehoshafat became very wealthy and was highly honoured, but then he allied himself by marriage to Yisrael’s King Ahav. 2 Some years later, he went up to Ahav in Shomron (Samaria), and Ahab sacrificed lots of sheep and cattle for him and for the people who were with him, and he incited him to attack Ramot-Gilead—3 Yisrael’s King Ahav suggested to Yehudah’s King Yehoshafat, “Will you join me to attack Ramot-Gilead?”

“Wherever you’ll be, I’ll be there,” he responded. “Your people are like my own people, and we’re with you in battle.” 4 Then he added, “But we should get Yahweh’s advice first.”

5 So Yisrael’s king gathered four hundred of his prophets and asked them, “Should we attack Ramot-Gilead or not?”

“Go ahead,” they answered, “and God will give victory to the king.”

6 But Yehoshafat asked, “Is there no prophet of Yahweh here that we can ask?”

7 The king of Yisrael told Yehoshafat, “There’s still one man who would ask Yahweh, but I myself hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me—it’s always something evil. He’s Yimlah’s son, Mikayah.”

“You shouldn’t talk like that,” said Yehoshafat.

8 So Yisrael’s king ordered an official, “Get Yimlah’s son, Mikayah here as quick as possible.”

9 Now the kings of Yisrael and Yehudah were both clothed in their royal robes and sitting there on their thrones near Shomron’s (Samaria’s) entrance gate. They were up on a threshing floor, and all the prophets were prophesying in front of them. 10 Kenaanah’s son Tsidkiyah made himself some iron horns and said, “Yahweh says that you’ll gore Aram with these until they’re destroyed.” 11 All the rest of Ahav’s prophets agreed, saying, “Yes, go and attack Ramot-Gilead and you’ll succeed—Yahweh will give the king victory.”

12 The messenger who went to fetch Mikayah warned him, “Listen, the king is pleased with what the other prophets agreed on. Just say the same as them and give a favourable message.”

13 But Mikayah responded, “As sure as Yahweh lives, I’ll only say what my god tells me to say.”

14 When he got to the king, King Ahav asked him, “Mikayah, should we attack Ramot-Gilead for battle, or should I hold back?”

“Go ahead and succeed,” he answered. “You’ll be given victory over them.”

15 But the king said to him, “How many times must I keeping making you promise that you’ll only say what Yahweh says—not just what I want to hear?” 16 So Mikayah responded, “I saw all Yisrael scattered on the hills like sheep without shepherds, and Yahweh said, ‘They don’t have any master, so they’ll all just go home in peace.’ ”[ref]

17 Ahav remarked to Yehoshafat, “Didn’t I tell you that he wouldn’t prophesy anything good about me—only disaster?”

18 But Mikayah continued, “Well, listen to what Yahweh says. I saw Yahweh sitting on his throne and all the heavenly soldiers standing on each side of him, 19 and Yahweh said, ‘Who’ll entice Yisrael’s King Ahab so he’ll attack and then he’ll fall at Ramot-Gilead?’ Some suggested one thing, and others suggested something else. 20 Then a spirit went out, and stood in front of Yahweh and said, ‘I myself will entice him.’ ‘How would you do it?’ Yahweh asked him. 21 The spirit replied, ‘I’ll go and inspire all Ahav’s prophets to tell lies.’ Yahweh said, ‘That’ll work. Go and do it.’

22 “So now, listen. Yahweh placed a deceiving spirit in the mouth of those prophets of yours, and Yahweh has decreed that you’ll face disaster.”

23 Then Kenaanah’s son Tsidkiyah went up to Mikayah and slapped him hard on the cheek, saying, “Yeah! Since when did Yahweh’s spirit leave me and start speaking to you?”

24 “Well, you’ll find out soon,” answered Mikayah, “on the day when you go room by room in some house to try to hide.”

25 “Arrest Mikayah,” ordered King Ahav, “and return him to Amon the city governor, and to my son Yoash. 26 Tell them that the king’s ordered that this man be put in prison, and be given only strictly-rationed bread and water until I return safely.”

27 “If you return safely,” Mikayah retorted, “then Yahweh mustn’t have spoken to me.”