2nd Dabar-Hayamym (2 Chronicles) — 18

Micayahu Warns Ahab

1 Yahushaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and by marriage he allied himself with Ahab. 

2 After some years he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria; and Ahab killed sheep and oxen in abundance for him and the people who were with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramuth Gilaad. 

3 So Ahab king of Yashar'AL said to Yahushaphat king of Yahudah, “Will you go with me against Ramuth Gilaad?” And he answered him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will be with you in the war.”

4 Also Yahushaphat said to the king of Yashar'AL, “Please inquire for the Dabar of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH today.”

5 Then the king of Yashar'AL gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall we go to war against Ramuth-gilaad, or shall I refrain?” So they said, “Go up, for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH will deliver it into the king’s hand.”

6 But Yahushaphat said, “Is there not still a Nabym of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH here, that we may inquire of Him?”

7 So the king Ahab of Yashar'AL said to Yahushaphat, “There is still one man by whom we may inquire of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH; but I hate him, because he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil, he is Micayahu the son of Imla.” And Yahushaphat said, “Let not the king say such things!”

8 Then the king of Yashar'AL called one of his officers and said, “Bring Micayahu the son of Imla quickly!”

9 The king of Yashar'AL and Yahushaphat king of Yahudah, clothed in their robes, sat each on his throne; and they sat at a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them. 

10 Now Zadakyahu the son of Chanaanah had made horns of iron for himself; and he said, “Thus says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH: ‘With these you shall gore the Syrians until they are destroyed.’

11 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, “Go up to Ramuth-gilaad and prosper, for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH will deliver it into the king’s hand.”

12 Then the messenger who had gone to call Micayahu spoke to him, saying, “Now listen, the words of the prophets are with one accord encourage the king. Therefore please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak encouragement.”

13 And Micayahu said, “As 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH  lives, whatever my 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH says, that is what I will always speak.”

14 Then he came to the king; and the king said to him, “Micayahu, shall we go to war against Ramuth-gilaad, or shall I refrain?” And he said, “Go and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand!”

15 So the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you must tell me nothing but the truth in the name of  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH?”

16 Then he said, “I saw all Yashar'AL scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Dabar, ‘These have no master. Let each return to his house in Shalum.’ ”

17 And the king of Yashar'AL said to king Yahushaphat, “Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”

18 Then Micayahu said, “Therefore hear the Dabar of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH: I saw  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH sitting on His throne, and all the host of Shamaym standing on His right hand and His left. 

19 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Dabar, ‘Who will persuade Ahab king of Yashar'AL to go up, that he may fall at Ramuth Gilaad?’ So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner. 

20 Then a spirit came forward and stood before 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’ 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH said to him, ‘In what way?’ 

21 So the spirit said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Dabar, ‘You shall persuade him and also prevail; go out and do so.’ 

22 Therefore look! 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these prophets of yours, and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has declared disaster against you.”

23 Then Zadakyahu the son of Chanaanah went near and struck Micayahu on the cheek, and said, “Which way did the spirit from  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH go from me to speak to you?”

24 And Micayahu said, “Indeed you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide!”

25 Then the king of Yashar'AL said, “Take Micayahu, and return him to Amun the governor of the city and to Yuash the king’s son; 

26 and say, ‘Thus says the king: “Put this fellow in prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction, until I return in Shalum.” ’ ”

27 But Micayahu said, “If you ever return in Shalum, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Take heed, all you people!”

Ahab Dies in Battle

28 So the king of Yashar'AL and Yahushaphat the king of Yahudah went up to Ramuth Gilaad. 

29 And the king of Yashar'AL said to Yahushaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle; but you put on your robes.” So the king of Yashar'AL disguised himself, and they went into battle.

30 Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots who were with him, saying, “Fight with no one small or great, but only with the king of Yashar'AL.”

31 So it was, when the captains of the chariots saw Yahushaphat, that they said, “It is the king of Yashar'AL!” Therefore they surrounded him to attack; but Yahushaphat cried out, and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH helped him, and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH diverted them from him. 

32 For so it was, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Yashar'AL, that they turned back from pursuing him. 

33 Now a certain man drew a bow at random, and struck the king of Yashar'AL between the joints of his armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am wounded.” 

34 The battle increased that day, and the king of Yashar'AL propped himself up in his chariot facing the Syrians until evening; and about the time of sunset he died.