1 Kings 22

And they continued three years without war between Syria and Israel.

For three peaceful years, Syria and Israel coexisted without conflict.

And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel.

In the third year, King Jehoshaphat of Judah, filled with anticipation, journeyed to meet the King of Israel.

And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we be still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria?

The king of Israel passionately told his servants, "Don't you realize Ramoth in Gilead is ours? Why are we idle, letting the king of Syria keep it?"

And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramothgilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.

He asked Jehoshaphat, "Will you join me in the battle at Ramothgilead?" Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, "We are one and the same, your people are my people, your horses are my horses."

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

Jehoshaphat pleaded with the king of Israel, "Please, seek God's guidance today."

Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.

The king of Israel gathered about 400 prophets and asked them, 'Should I go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or should I hold back?' They answered, 'Go, for the Lord will hand it over to the king.'

And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?

Jehoshaphat pleaded, "Isn't there a prophet of God here? We need his guidance."

And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

The king of Israel told Jehoshaphat, "There's one man, Micaiah, son of Imlah, who can ask God for us. But I despise him; he only predicts bad things about me, never good." Jehoshaphat replied, "Don't say such things, king."

Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah.

The king of Israel urgently summoned an officer, "Quickly, bring me Micaiah, Imlah's son."

And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.

The Israeli king and Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, sat regally on their thrones, adorned in their royal robes. They were in an empty space at Samaria's gate, where prophets shared their visions before them.

And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them.

Zedekiah, Chenaanah's son, crafted iron horns, declaring with conviction, "The Lord commands, use these to defeat the Syrians, until they are utterly vanquished."

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

Every prophet echoed the same message: "March to Ramothgilead, victory awaits you. God will ensure the city falls into the king's hands."

And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good.

The messenger sent to fetch Micaiah pleaded with him, saying, "Look, all the prophets are predicting good things for the king. Please, I beg you, join them and say something positive."

And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak.

Micaiah declared passionately, "As surely as the Lord lives, I will speak only what He tells me."

So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.

So Micaiah came to the king. The king asked him, "Micaiah, should we fight for Ramothgilead, or hold back?" Micaiah replied, "Go forth, my king. Success awaits you. The Lord will ensure victory is yours."

And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD?

The king pleaded, "How many times must I beg you to only speak the truth, for the sake of God?"

And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.

He expressed, "I witnessed all of Israel, lost and aimless on the hills, like unguided sheep. The Lord observed their plight, saying, 'They lack a leader. Let them each find peace in their own homes.'"

And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?

The king of Israel turned to Jehoshaphat, frustration clear in his voice, "Didn't I warn you? He never predicts anything good for me, only misfortune!"

And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.

He spoke, "Listen to God's message: I witnessed God, seated on His throne, with all the heavenly beings surrounding Him, on both His right and left."

And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.

The LORD asked, "Who will lure Ahab into marching up to Ramothgilead, so that he falls there?" Different voices offered various suggestions.

And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.

A spirit emerged, standing before God, confidently declaring, "I will convince him."

And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persude him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.

The Lord asked, "How?" The response was, "I'll go and become a deceptive voice in the mouths of all his prophets." The Lord then commanded, "Convince him and succeed. Go ahead, do it."

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

So now, see this: God has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours, and He has decreed disaster for you.

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

Zedekiah, Chenaanah's son, approached Micaiah, striking him on the face. He questioned, filled with disbelief and resentment, "How did God's Spirit leave me to communicate with you?"

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

Micaiah declared, "You'll realize when the day comes, as you seek refuge in a hidden room."

And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son;

The king of Israel commanded, "Escort Micaiah back to Amon, the city's governor, and to Joash, my son."

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 come in peace.

The king commands, "Lock this man away, let his meals be of hardship and his drink of suffering, until I return in tranquility."

And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, the LORD hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you.

Micaiah declared, "If you return unharmed, then I am not the Lord's messenger." He pleaded, "Listen, everyone, heed my words."

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

The rulers of Israel and Judah, united in purpose, journeyed together towards Ramothgilead.

And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle.

The king of Israel told Jehoshaphat, "I'll hide my identity and join the fight. You, however, should wear your royal attire." So, the king of Israel concealed himself and bravely stepped into the battlefield.

But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel.

The king of Syria ordered his 32 chariot commanders, 'Do not fight anyone, great or small, except the king of Israel.'

And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it is the king of Israel. And they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out.

When the chariot leaders spotted Jehoshaphat, they were certain he was the king of Israel. They diverted their attack towards him, and Jehoshaphat cried out in fear and desperation.

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

When the chariot leaders realized they were not chasing the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.

In a twist of fate, a man shot an arrow, striking the King of Israel in a vulnerable spot in his armor. Feeling the pain, the king ordered his chariot driver, "Steer us away, I've been injured."

And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot.

The fight grew fiercer that day. The king was propped up in his chariot, facing the Syrians, and he died at dusk. His lifeblood ran from his wound onto the floor of his chariot.

And there went a proclamation throughout the host about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his own country.

As the sun began to set, a message spread among the people: "Return home, each to your own city and country."

So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria.

The king breathed his last, his journey ended in Samaria. There, amidst sorrow and reverence, they laid the king to rest.

And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the word of the LORD which he spake.

In the pool of Samaria, someone washed the king's chariot, and dogs lapped up Ahab's blood. His armor was also washed, all in accordance with God's spoken word.

Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Aren't all of Ahab's deeds, his ivory palace, and the cities he built documented in Israel's royal chronicles?

So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.

Ahab joined his ancestors in eternal rest, and his son Ahaziah took his place as king.

And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.

Jehoshaphat, Asa's son, took the throne of Judah in the fourth year of Ahab's rule in Israel.

Jehoshaphat was thirty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.

Jehoshaphat was 35 when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for 25 years. His mother was Azubah, daughter of Shilhi.

And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the LORD: nevertheless the high places were not taken away; for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places.

He followed his father Asa's path, never straying, always doing what was right by God. Yet, despite this, the high places remained, where people continued to burn incense in worship.

And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.

Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.

Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he shewed, and how he warred, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

Aren't all of Jehoshaphat's brave deeds, his strength, and his battles, recorded in the history book of Judah's kings?

And the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land.

He drove out of the land the remaining male shrine prostitutes, a task his father Asa had begun.

There was then no king in Edom: a deputy was king.

In Edom, there was no true king, only a stand-in ruler held the throne.

Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber.

Jehoshaphat built grand ships, destined for Ophir's golden shores. But alas, they never embarked, for they were tragically shattered at Eziongeber.

Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not.

Ahaziah, Ahab's son, pleaded with Jehoshaphat, "Please, let my people accompany yours on the ships." But Jehoshaphat firmly refused.

And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.

Jehoshaphat peacefully joined his ancestors in eternal rest, laid to rest in the city of his father, David. His son, Jehoram, took up the mantle of leadership in his absence.

Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel.

In the seventeenth year of King Jehoshaphat's rule in Judah, Ahaziah, Ahab's son, took the throne in Samaria, Israel. His reign, however, only lasted for two years.

And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin:

He acted wickedly, breaking God's heart, following the sinful paths of his parents and Jeroboam, leading Israel astray.

For he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the LORD God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.

He served Baal and worshipped him, and in doing so provoked the Lord God of Israel to anger, just as his father had done before him.