Jehoshaphat's Alliance with Ahab and the Battle at Ramoth-gilead
2 Chronicles 18:1-27
1And it came to pass that Jehoshaphat had riches and glory in abundance, and he was related to Ahab.2And he went down at the end of years to Ahab in Samaria, and Ahab sacrificed for him sheep and cattle in abundance and for the people who were with him, and he incited him to go up to Ramoth-gilead.3And Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, "Will you walk with me to Ramoth-gilead?" And he said to him, "Like me, like you, and like your people, my people, and with you in the battle."4And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Seek please this day the word of the LORD."5And the king of Israel gathered the prophets, four hundred men, and said to them, "Shall we walk to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I cease?" And they said, "Ascend, and God will give into the hand of the king."6And Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not here still a prophet of the LORD, that we may seek from him?"7And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man by whom to seek the LORD from him, and I hate him, for he does not prophesy upon me to welfare but all his days to evil; he is Micaiah son of Imlah." And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say so."8And the king of Israel called to one eunuch and said, "Hasten Micah and Micaiah son of Imlah."9And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were dwelling, each upon his throne, clothed with garments, and dwelling at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying before them.10And Zedekiah son of Chenaanah made for him horns of iron and said, "Thus says the LORD: With these you shall gore Aram until you finish them."11And all the prophets were prophesying so, saying, "Ascend to Ramoth-gilead and prosper, and the LORD will give into the hand of the king."12And the messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, "Behold, the words of the prophets are with one accord favorable toward the king; so let your word be like one of them, and speak favorably."13And Micaiah said, "As the LORD lives, what my God says, that I will speak."14And he came to the king, and the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I cease?" And he said, "Ascend and prosper, and they will be given into your hand."15And the king said to him, "Until how many times shall I make you swear that you will not speak to me except truth in the name of the LORD?"16And he said, "I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains like a flock that has no shepherd." And the LORD said, "These have no lords; let each return to his house in peace."17And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not say to you that he would not prophesy upon me pleasant, but only evil?"18And he said, "Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD dwelling upon his throne, and all the army of heaven standing upon his right and upon his left."19And the LORD said, "Who will entice Ahab king of Israel that he may ascend and fall at Ramoth-gilead?" And one said thus, and another said thus.20And the spirit came out and stood before the LORD and said, "I will entice him." And the LORD said to him, "By what?"21And he said, "I will come out and be a spirit of deception in the lip of all his prophets." And he said, "You will entice, and you will also be able; go out and do so."22And now, behold, the LORD has given a spirit of deception in the lip of these your prophets, and the LORD has spoken distress upon you.23And Zedekiah son of Chenaanah approached and struck Micaiah upon the cheek and said, "Where is the way by which the spirit of the LORD passed from with me to speak to you?"24And Micaiah said, "Behold, you will see on that day when you go chamber to chamber to hide."25And the king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah and return him to Amon ruler of the city and to Joash son of the king."26And you shall say, "Thus says the king: Set this one in the house of the prison, and feed him bread of oppression and water of oppression until I return in peace."27And Micaiah said, "If you return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me." And he said, "Hear, all peoples."