2 Chronicles 18

King James Version

Full text for 2 Chronicles Chapter 18

1¶ Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.

2And after [certain] years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that [he had] with him, and persuaded him to go up [with him] to Ramothgilead.

3And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramothgilead? And he answered him, I [am] as thou [art], and my people as thy people; and [we will be] with thee in the war.

4¶ And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.

5Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver [it] into the king's hand.

6But Jehoshaphat said, [Is there] not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?

7And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, [There is] yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same [is] Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

8And the king of Israel called for one [of his] officers, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.

9And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in [their] robes, and they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.

10And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt push Syria until they be consumed.

11And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver [it] into the hand of the king.

12And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets [declare] good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.

13And Micaiah said, [As] the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.

14And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.

15And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the LORD?

16Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master; let them return [therefore] every man to his house in peace.

17And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee [that] he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?

18Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and [on] his left.

19And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.

20Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith?

21And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And [the LORD] said, Thou shalt entice [him], and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do [even] so.

22Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee.

23Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?

24And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.

25Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;

26And say, Thus saith the king, Put this [fellow] in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.

27And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, [then] hath not the LORD spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, all ye people.

28¶ So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.

29And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle.

30Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that [were] with him, saying, Fight ye not with small or great, save only with the king of Israel.

31And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It [is] the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them [to depart] from him.

32For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him.

33And a [certain] man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: therefore he said to his chariot man, Turn thine hand, that thou mayest carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.

34And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel stayed [himself] up in [his] chariot against the Syrians until the even: and about the time of the sun going down he died.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

King Jehoshaphat of Judah allied with King Ahab of Israel for war against Ramothgilead. Despite 400 prophets predicting victory, Jehoshaphat insisted on consulting Micaiah, who prophesied Ahab's defeat and death, revealing a lying spirit sent by the LORD to deceive the other prophets. Ahab, disregarding the warning, went into battle disguised but was fatally wounded by a random arrow, fulfilling Micaiah's prophecy.

Medium Summary

King Jehoshaphat, having joined affinity with King Ahab, agreed to accompany him to war against Ramothgilead. Before battle, Jehoshaphat requested they inquire of the LORD, leading Ahab to gather 400 prophets who uniformly predicted victory. Dissatisfied, Jehoshaphat pressed for another prophet, prompting the reluctant summoning of Micaiah, whom Ahab despised for always prophesying evil. Micaiah, after an initial sarcastic affirmation, revealed a vision of Israel scattered and a lying spirit sent by the LORD to deceive Ahab's prophets into encouraging his fatal campaign. Despite Micaiah's clear warning and subsequent imprisonment, Ahab proceeded to battle, disguising himself while Jehoshaphat wore his royal robes. Ahab was mortally wounded by an arrow shot at random, dying by evening, thus confirming Micaiah's prophecy.

Long Summary

King Jehoshaphat of Judah, having established an alliance with King Ahab of Israel, visited Samaria and was persuaded to join a military campaign against Ramothgilead. Before engaging, Jehoshaphat prudently requested that they first seek counsel from the LORD. Ahab assembled four hundred prophets who, with one accord, declared that the LORD would deliver Ramothgilead into the king's hand, with Zedekiah reinforcing this with symbolic iron horns. Still unsatisfied, Jehoshaphat inquired if there was another prophet of the LORD, leading to the reluctant summoning of Micaiah, son of Imla, whom Ahab admitted to hating due to his consistently negative prophecies. Initially, Micaiah offered a sarcastic affirmation of victory, but when pressed by Ahab, he revealed a dire vision of Israel scattered like sheep without a shepherd and the LORD's intention to entice Ahab to his demise. Micaiah further explained that a lying spirit had been sent forth by the LORD to enter the mouths of Ahab's prophets, ensuring their false counsel would lead him to his destruction. Enraged, Zedekiah struck Micaiah, and Ahab ordered Micaiah imprisoned and subjected to harsh conditions until his return from battle. Micaiah defiantly declared that if Ahab returned in peace, the LORD had not spoken through him, calling all people to witness. Disregarding the divine warning, Ahab disguised himself for battle, while Jehoshaphat wore his royal attire. During the engagement, Syrian chariot captains mistakenly targeted Jehoshaphat, believing him to be the king of Israel, but the LORD intervened and saved him. A man, drawing his bow at a venture, struck Ahab between the joints of his armor, inflicting a mortal wound. Ahab remained propped in his chariot throughout the day, but by sunset, he succumbed to his injury, fulfilling Micaiah's prophecy and illustrating the consequences of rejecting divine truth.

Core Concepts

  • Alliance and CounselKing Jehoshaphat's alliance with King Ahab leads to a joint military venture, but Jehoshaphat insists on seeking divine counsel before proceeding.
  • False ProphecyFour hundred prophets assembled by Ahab unanimously predict victory, demonstrating a collective deception or self-deception, symbolized by Zedekiah's iron horns.
  • True Prophecy and RejectionMicaiah, despite being hated by Ahab, delivers a truthful but negative prophecy of Ahab's defeat and death, which is met with scorn and imprisonment.
  • The Lying SpiritMicaiah reveals a divine council where a lying spirit volunteers to deceive Ahab's prophets, illustrating God's sovereign control even over evil for His purposes.
  • Divine Judgment and FulfillmentAhab's death by a seemingly random arrow fulfills Micaiah's prophecy, demonstrating the inevitability of divine judgment when warnings are ignored.
  • Jehoshaphat's DeliveranceJehoshaphat is mistakenly targeted by Syrian forces but is miraculously saved by the LORD, highlighting divine protection amidst perilous alliances.