2 Chronicles 18
Jehoshaphat's Alliance with Ahab
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?” He answered him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people. We will be with you in the war.”
4Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire first for the LORD’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?” They said, “Go up, for God will deliver it into the hand of the king.”
6But Jehoshaphat said, “Isn’t there here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we may inquire of him?”
7The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil. He is Micaiah the son of Imla.” Jehoshaphat said, “Don’t let the king say so.”
8Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, “Get Micaiah the son of Imla quickly.”
9Now 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.
10Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made himself horns of iron and said, “The LORD says, ‘With these you shall push the Syrians, until they are consumed.’”
11All the prophets prophesied so, saying, “Go up to Ramoth Gilead, and prosper; for the LORD will deliver it into the hand of the king.”
12The 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.”
13Micaiah said, “As the LORD lives, I will say what my God says.”
14When he had come to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?” He said, “Go up, and prosper. They shall be delivered into your hand.”
15The king said to him, “How many times shall I adjure you that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the LORD’s name?”
16He said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. The LORD said, ‘These have no master. Let them each return to his house in peace.’”
17The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”
18Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the LORD’s word: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the army of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.
19The LORD 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.
20A spirit came out, stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ “The LORD said to him, ‘How?’
21“He said, ‘I will go, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ “He said, ‘You will entice him, and will prevail also. Go and do so.’
22“Now therefore, behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets; and the LORD has spoken evil concerning you.”
23Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, “Which way did the LORD’s Spirit go from me to speak to you?”
24Micaiah said, “Behold, you shall see on that day, when you go into an inner room to hide yourself.”
25The king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son;
26and 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.”’”
27Micaiah said, “If you return at all in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me.” He said, “Listen, you people, all of you!”
28So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead.
29The 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.
30Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, “Don’t fight with small nor great, except only with the king of Israel.”
31When the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is the king of Israel!” Therefore they turned around to fight against him. But Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.
32When the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.
33A certain man drew his bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of the armor. Therefore he said to the driver of the chariot, “Turn around and carry me out of the battle, for I am severely wounded.”
34The battle increased that day. However, the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the evening; and at about sunset, he died.
Jehoshaphat of Judah forms an alliance with Ahab of Israel and agrees to join him in battle against Ramoth Gilead. When Jehoshaphat requests divine guidance, Ahab's 400 prophets unanimously predict victory, but Jehoshaphat insists on hearing from Micaiah, the LORD's true prophet whom Ahab despises. Micaiah initially gives a sarcastic positive prophecy, but when pressed for truth, he reveals God's plan for Ahab's defeat and death, explaining that the LORD has sent a deceiving spirit to the false prophets to entice Ahab to his doom.
Context
This chapter follows Jehoshaphat's religious reforms in chapter 17 and demonstrates the consequences of his unwise alliance with wicked King Ahab.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-3Jehoshaphat's Alliance with AhabThe wealthy king of Judah allies with Israel's king and agrees to join him in battle.
- 4-8Seeking Divine GuidanceJehoshaphat requests prophetic counsel, leading to consultation with 400 prophets and eventually Micaiah.
- 9-14False Prophets vs. True ProphetThe false prophets dramatically predict victory while Micaiah initially gives a sarcastic positive response.
- 15-22Micaiah's True ProphecyUnder oath, Micaiah reveals God's vision of Israel's defeat and the divine deception of Ahab's prophets.
- 23-27Rejection and ImprisonmentZedekiah strikes Micaiah, who is imprisoned until Ahab's return from the doomed battle.
- 28-34Ahab's Death at Ramoth GileadDespite Ahab's disguise, he is mortally wounded by a random arrow, fulfilling Micaiah's prophecy.
Jehoshaphat's Alliance with Ahab
18:1–18:34Jehoshaphat allies with King Ahab for battle, but the prophet Micaiah warns of defeat despite false prophets promising victory. The passage illustrates the conflict between true and false prophecy.
person_contrast
Jehoshaphat, typically portrayed in contexts of disobedience and judgment, here uniquely encounters the spiritual warfare between true and false prophecy through Micaiah's divine vision.
2 Chronicles 18:1
2 Chronicles 17:5lexicalTherefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand. All Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and…
Esther 5:11lexicalHaman recounted to them the glory of his riches, the multitude of his children, all the things in which the king had pro…
2 Chronicles 18:2
2 Chronicles 5:6lexicalKing Solomon and all the congregation of Israel who were assembled to him were before the ark, sacrificing sheep and cat…
1 Kings 8:5lexicalKing Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who were assembled to him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sh…
1 Kings 1:25lexicalFor he has gone down today, and has slain cattle, fatlings, and sheep in abundance, and has called all the king’s sons,…
2 Kings 8:28lexicalHe went with Joram the son of Ahab to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth Gilead, and the Syrians wounded Joram.
2 Chronicles 22:5lexicalHe also followed their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria…
2 Chronicles 18:3
1 Kings 22:4lexicalHe said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to battle to Ramoth Gilead?” Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “I am…
2 Chronicles 22:5lexicalHe also followed their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria…
2 Kings 8:28lexicalHe went with Joram the son of Ahab to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth Gilead, and the Syrians wounded Joram.
2 Kings 9:14lexicalSo Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram was defending Ramoth Gilead, he and…
1 Kings 22:29lexicalSo the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead.
2 Chronicles 18:4
1 Kings 22:5lexicalJehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire first for the LORD’s word.”
2 Chronicles 18:5
1 Kings 22:6lexicalThen the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Should I go against R…
1 Kings 22:15lexicalWhen he had come to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall we forbea…
2 Kings 9:1lexicalElisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets, and said to him, “Put your belt on your waist, take this vial…
1 Kings 22:12lexicalAll the prophets prophesied so, saying, “Go up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper; for the LORD will deliver it into the hand…
2 Kings 9:4lexicalSo the young man, the young prophet, went to Ramoth Gilead.
2 Chronicles 18:6
2 Kings 3:11lexicalBut Jehoshaphat said, “Isn’t there a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of the LORD by him?” One of the king…
1 Kings 22:7lexicalBut Jehoshaphat said, “Isn’t there here a prophet of the LORD, that we may inquire of him?”
2 Chronicles 18:7
1 Kings 22:8lexicalThe king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, Micaiah the son of Iml…
1 Kings 22:9lexicalThen the king of Israel called an officer, and said, “Quickly get Micaiah the son of Imlah.”
2 Chronicles 18:8
1 Kings 22:9lexicalThen the king of Israel called an officer, and said, “Quickly get Micaiah the son of Imlah.”
2 Chronicles 18:9
1 Kings 22:10lexicalNow the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, in an…
1 Kings 22:30lexicalThe king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into the battle, but you put on your robes.” The…
Esther 5:1lexicalNow on the third day, Esther put on her royal clothing and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, next to the kin…
Ezekiel 26:16lexicalThen all the princes of the sea will come down from their thrones, and lay aside their robes, and strip off their embroi…
Zechariah 13:4lexicalIt will happen in that day that the prophets will each be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies; they won’t wear a ha…
2 Chronicles 18:10
1 Kings 22:11lexicalZedekiah the son of Chenaanah made himself horns of iron, and said, “The LORD says, ‘With these you will push the Syrian…
2 Chronicles 18:11
1 Kings 22:12lexicalAll the prophets prophesied so, saying, “Go up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper; for the LORD will deliver it into the hand…
1 Kings 22:15lexicalWhen he had come to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall we forbea…
1 Kings 22:6lexicalThen the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Should I go against R…
2 Kings 9:4lexicalSo the young man, the young prophet, went to Ramoth Gilead.
2 Kings 9:1lexicalElisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets, and said to him, “Put your belt on your waist, take this vial…
2 Chronicles 18:12
1 Kings 22:13lexicalThe messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, “See now, the prophets declare good to the king with one mo…
2 Chronicles 18:14
1 Kings 22:15lexicalWhen he had come to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall we forbea…
1 Kings 22:6lexicalThen the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Should I go against R…
1 Kings 22:12lexicalAll the prophets prophesied so, saying, “Go up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper; for the LORD will deliver it into the hand…
1 Kings 22:4lexicalHe said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to battle to Ramoth Gilead?” Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “I am…
2 Chronicles 22:5lexicalHe also followed their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria…
2 Chronicles 18:15
1 Kings 22:16lexicalThe king said to him, “How many times do I have to adjure you that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the LORD’s n…
2 Chronicles 18:16
1 Kings 22:17lexicalHe said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. The LORD said, ‘These have no mas…
Jeremiah 23:2lexicalTherefore the LORD, the God of Israel, says against the shepherds who feed my people: “You have scattered my flock, driv…
Jeremiah 23:1lexical“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” says the LORD.
Ezekiel 34:12lexicalAs a shepherd seeks out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered abroad, so I will seek out my…
Zechariah 13:7lexical“Awake, sword, against my shepherd, and against the man who is close to me,” says the LORD of Armies. “Strike the shephe…
2 Chronicles 18:18
1 Kings 22:19lexicalMicaiah said, “Therefore hear the LORD’s word. I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the army of heaven standing…
Daniel 12:7lexicalI heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left han…
2 Chronicles 18:19
1 Kings 22:20lexicalThe LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ One said one thing, and another said…
2 Chronicles 22:5lexicalHe also followed their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria…
2 Kings 8:28lexicalHe went with Joram the son of Ahab to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth Gilead, and the Syrians wounded Joram.
2 Chronicles 18:21
1 Kings 22:22lexicalThe LORD said to him, ‘How?’ He said, ‘I will go out and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ He sa…
2 Chronicles 18:22
1 Kings 22:23lexicalNow therefore, behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; and the LORD has spoken…
2 Chronicles 18:23
1 Kings 22:24lexicalThen Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, “Which way did the LORD’s Spirit…
2 Chronicles 18:24
1 Kings 22:25lexicalMicaiah said, “Behold, you will see on that day when you go into an inner room to hide yourself.”
2 Chronicles 18:25
1 Kings 22:26lexicalThe king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son.
2 Chronicles 18:26
1 Kings 22:27lexicalSay, ‘The king says, “Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction,…
2 Chronicles 18:28
1 Kings 22:4lexicalHe said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to battle to Ramoth Gilead?” Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “I am…
1 Kings 22:29lexicalSo the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead.
2 Kings 9:14lexicalSo Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram was defending Ramoth Gilead, he and…
2 Chronicles 18:29
1 Kings 22:30lexicalThe king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into the battle, but you put on your robes.” The…
1 Samuel 28:8lexicalSaul disguised himself and put on other clothing, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night…
1 Kings 22:10lexicalNow the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, in an…
2 Chronicles 18:30
1 Kings 22:31lexicalNow the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, saying, “Don’t fight with small nor great,…
1 Kings 20:1lexicalBen Hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together; and there were thirty-two kings with him, with horses and ch…
1 Chronicles 19:18lexicalThe Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed of the Syrian men seven thousand charioteers and forty thousand footmen…
2 Samuel 10:18lexicalThe Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed seven hundred charioteers of the Syrians and forty thousand horsemen, a…
1 Kings 22:32lexicalWhen the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “Surely that is the king of Israel!” and they came over to…
2 Chronicles 18:31
1 Kings 22:32lexicalWhen the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “Surely that is the king of Israel!” and they came over to…
2 Kings 8:21lexicalThen Joram crossed over to Zair, and all his chariots with him; and he rose up by night and struck the Edomites who surr…
2 Chronicles 21:9lexicalThen Jehoram went there with his captains and all his chariots with him. He rose up by night and struck the Edomites who…
1 Kings 22:31lexicalNow the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, saying, “Don’t fight with small nor great,…
2 Chronicles 18:33
1 Kings 22:34lexicalA certain man drew his bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of the armor. Therefore he said t…
2 Chronicles 18:34
1 Kings 22:35lexicalThe battle increased that day. The king was propped up in his chariot facing the Syrians, and died at evening. The blood…
1 Kings 20:29lexicalThey encamped opposite each other for seven days. Then on the seventh day the battle was joined; and the children of Isr…
Joshua 8:29lexicalHe hanged the king of Ai on a tree until the evening. At sundown, Joshua commanded, and they took his body down from the…
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