2 Chronicles 18:12-27
Micaiahs Message of Defeat
12 The messenger who went to call Micaiah instructed him, “Look, the words of the prophets are unanimously favorable for the king. So let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.”
14 So he went to the king, and the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to Ramoth-gilead for war, or should I(b) refrain?”
Micaiah said, “March up and succeed, for they will be handed over to you.”
Micaiah said, “March up and succeed, for they will be handed over to you.”
15 But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear not to tell me anything but the truth in the name of Yahweh?”
16 So Micaiah said:
I saw all Israel scattered on the hills
like sheep without a shepherd.(B)
And the Lord said,
“They have no master;
let each return home in peace.”
like sheep without a shepherd.(B)
And the Lord said,
“They have no master;
let each return home in peace.”
17 So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you he never prophesies good about me, but only disaster?”
18 Then Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and the whole heavenly host was standing at His right hand and at His left hand.(C)
19 And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ So one was saying this and another was saying that.
20 “Then(D) a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will entice him.’
“The Lord asked him, ‘How?’
“The Lord asked him, ‘How?’
21 “So he said, ‘I will go and become a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’
“Then He said, ‘You will entice him and also prevail. Go and do that.’
“Then He said, ‘You will entice him and also prevail. Go and do that.’
22 “Now, you see, the Lord has put a lying spirit into the mouth of(c) these prophets of yours, and the Lord has pronounced disaster against you.”
23 Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah came up, hit Micaiah in the face, and demanded, “Which way did the spirit from the Lord leave me to speak to you?”
24 Micaiah replied, “You will soon see when you go to hide yourself in an inner chamber on that day.”(E)
Footnotes:
a.
2 Chronicles 18:13: LXX, Vg add to me; 1Kg 22:14
b.
2 Chronicles 18:14: LXX reads we; 1Kg 22:15
c.
2 Chronicles 18:22: Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg add all; 1Kg 22:23
d.
2 Chronicles 18:26: Lit him on bread of oppression and water of oppression