Holy Bible
(King James Version)
Second
Chronicles: Chapter 18
1. NOW
Je-hosh-a-phat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity
with Ahab.
2. 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 Ramoth-gil-e-ad.
3. And Ahab king of Israel said unto Je-hosh-a-phat king of Judah, Wilt
thou go with me to Ra-moth-gil-e-ad? 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 Je-hosh-a-phat said unto the king of Israel, Inquire, I pray
thee, at the word of the LORD to-day.
5. Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four
hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramoth-gil-e-ad to
battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will
deliver it into the king's hand.
6. But Je-hosh-a-phat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD
besides, that we might inquire of him?
7. And the king of Israel said unto Je-hosh-a-phat, There is yet one
man, by whom we may inquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never
prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Mi-cai-ah the son
of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
8. And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and said,
Fetch quickly Mi-cai-ah the son of Imla.
9. And the king of Israel and Je-hosh-a-phat 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. And Zed-e-ki-ah the son of Che-na-a-nah had made him horns of iron,
and said, Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt push Syria until
they be consumed.
11. And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gil-e-ad,
and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
12. And the messenger that went to call Mi-cai-ah 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. And Mi-cai-ah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that
will I speak.
14. And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Mi-cai-ah,
shall we go to Ramoth-gil-e-ad to battle, or shall I forbear? And
he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your
hand.
15. 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. 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. And the king of Israel said to Je-hosh-a-phat, Did I not tell thee
that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?
18. 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. And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may
go up and fall at Ramoth-gil-e-ad? And one spake saying after this
manner, and another saying after that manner.
20. 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. 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. 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. Then Zed-e-ki-ah the son of Che-na-a-nah came near, and smote Mi-cai-ah
upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the spirit of the LORD from me
to speak unto thee?
24. And Mi-cai-ah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou
shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.
25. Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Mi-cai-ah, and carry him back
to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;
26. 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. And Mi-cai-ah 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 Je-hosh-a-phat the king of Judah went up
to Ramoth-gil-e-ad.
29. And the king of Israel said unto Je-hosh-a-phat, 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.
30. 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. And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw
Je-hosh-a-phat, 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. 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. 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. 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.
June 2
Daily reading schedule.. go to
John
13
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