1Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and he allied himself with Ahab.

2After some years, he went down to Ahab to Samaria. Ahab killed sheep and cattle for him in abundance, and for the people who were with him, and moved him to go up with him to Ramoth Gilead.

3Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, "Will you go with me to Ramoth Gilead?"

4He answered him, "I am as you are, and my people as your people. We will be with you in the war." Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Please inquire first for Yahweh's word."

5Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, "Shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?"

6They said, "Go up; for God will deliver it into the hand of the king."

7But Jehoshaphat said, "Isn't there here a prophet of Yahweh besides, that we may inquire of him?"

8The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Yahweh; but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil. He is Micaiah the son of Imla."

9Jehoshaphat said, "Don't let the king say so."

10Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, "Get Micaiah the son of Imla quickly."

11Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah each sat on his throne, arrayed in their robes, and they were sitting in an open place at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them.

12Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made himself horns of iron and said, "Yahweh says, 'With these you shall push the Syrians, until they are consumed.'"

13All the prophets prophesied so, saying, "Go up to Ramoth Gilead, and prosper; for Yahweh will deliver it into the hand of the king."

14The messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, "Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one mouth. Let your word therefore, please be like one of theirs, and speak good."

15Micaiah said, "As Yahweh lives, I will say what my God says."

16When he had come to the king, the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?"

17He said, "Go up, and prosper. They shall be delivered into your hand."

18The king said to him, "How many times shall I adjure you that you speak to me nothing but the truth in Yahweh's name?"

19He said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. Yahweh said, 'These have no master. Let them each return to his house in peace.'"

20The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Didn't I tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?"

21Micaiah said, "Therefore hear Yahweh's word: I saw Yahweh sitting on his throne, and all the army of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.

22Yahweh said, 'Who will entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead?' One spoke saying in this way, and another saying in that way.

23A spirit came out, stood before Yahweh, and said, 'I will entice him.'

24"Yahweh said to him, 'How?'

25"He said, 'I will go, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.'

26"He said, 'You will entice him, and will prevail also. Go and do so.'

27"Now therefore, behold, Yahweh has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets; and Yahweh has spoken evil concerning you."

28Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, "Which way did Yahweh's Spirit go from me to speak to you?"

29Micaiah said, "Behold, you shall see on that day, when you go into an inner room to hide yourself."

30The king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;

31and say, 'The king says, "Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace."'"

32Micaiah said, "If you return at all in peace, Yahweh has not spoken by me." He said, "Listen, you people, all of you!"

33So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead.

34The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself, and go into the battle; but you put on your robes." So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went into the battle.