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Chapter 18
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1
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Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance,
and joined affinity with Ahab. |
2
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And 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. |
3
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And 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
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And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire,
I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day. |
5
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Therefore 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. |
6
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But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of
the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him? |
7
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And 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. |
8
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And the king of Israel called for one of his officers,
and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla. |
9
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And 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. |
10
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And 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. |
11
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And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to
Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver
it into the hand of the king. |
12
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And 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. |
13
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And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my
God saith, that will I speak. |
14
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And 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. |
15
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And 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? |
16
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Then 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. |
17
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And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not
tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but
evil? |
18
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Again 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. |
19
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And 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. |
20
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Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the
LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said
unto him, Wherewith? |
21
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And 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. |
22
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Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit
in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath
spoken evil against thee. |
23
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Then 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? |
24
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And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day
when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself. |
25
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Then 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; |
26
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And 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. |
27
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And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace,
then hath not the LORD spoken by me. And he said, Hearken,
all ye people. |
28
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So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah
went up to Ramothgilead. |
29
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And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will
disguise myself, and I will go to the battle; but put
thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself;
and they went to the battle. |
30
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Now 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. |
31
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And 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. |
32
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For 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. |
33
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And 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. |
34
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And 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. |
