2 Chronicles 18

All 34 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1Jehoshaphat had great wealth and honor, and he allied himself with Ahab.
2. 2After a few years, Jehoshaphat traveled down to visit Ahab in Samaria. Ahab slaughtered large numbers of sheep and cattle for Jehoshaphat and everyone who came with him, and he persuaded Jehoshaphat to go with him to Ramoth Gilead.
3. 3Ahab king of Israel asked Jehoshaphat king of Judah, "Will you go with me to Ramothgilead?" Jehoshaphat replied, "I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will be with you in the war."
4. 4Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Please seek the word of the LORD today."
5. 5So the king of Israel gathered 400 prophets and said to them, "Shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear?" They said, "Go up, for God will deliver it into the king's hand."
6. 6But Jehoshaphat asked, "Isn't there another prophet of the LORD we can consult?"
7. 7The king of Israel told Jehoshaphat, "There is one more man we could ask — Micaiah son of Imla — but I hate him. He never has anything good to say about me. It's always bad news." Jehoshaphat said, "The king shouldn't talk like that."
8. 8So the king of Israel called one of his officers and said, "Go get Micaiah son of Imla — quickly."
9. 9Meanwhile, the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah were sitting on their thrones, dressed in their royal robes, in an open area near the entrance of the gate of Samaria. All 400 prophets were prophesying in front of them.
10. 10One of them, Zedekiah son of Chenaanah, had made iron horns for himself and declared, "This is what the LORD says: 'With these you will gore the Syrians until they are completely destroyed.'"
11. 11All the other prophets agreed, saying, "Attack Ramoth Gilead and you'll succeed! The LORD will hand it over to the king."
12. 12The messenger who went to call Micaiah said to him, "Look, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one voice. Let your word be like one of theirs, and speak good."
13. 13But Micaiah said, "As surely as the LORD lives, I will only say what my God tells me to say."
14. 14When Micaiah arrived before the king, the king asked him, "Micaiah, should we attack Ramoth Gilead, or should we hold back?" Micaiah answered, "Go up and succeed; they will be delivered into your hand."
15. 15And the king said to him, "How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?"
16. 16Then Micaiah said, "I saw all of Israel scattered across the mountains like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, 'These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.'"
17. 17The king of Israel turned to Jehoshaphat and said, "See? I told you he never prophesies anything good about me — only bad news."
18. 18Micaiah continued, "Then listen to the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, with the entire host of heaven standing at his right and his left.
19. 19The LORD asked, 'Who will entice Ahab king of Israel to go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead?' One suggested this way, and another suggested that way.
20. 20Then a spirit stepped forward, stood before the LORD, and said, 'I will entice him.' The LORD asked, 'With what?'
21. 21He said, "I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets." The LORD said, "You will entice him, and you will also prevail. Go out and do even so."
22. 22So now, look: the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these prophets of yours, and the LORD has spoken evil against you.
23. 23Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah approached and struck Micaiah on the cheek, saying, "Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go from me to speak to you?"
24. 24Micaiah said, "Look, you will see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide yourself."
25. 25The king of Israel ordered, "Seize Micaiah and take him back to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, the king's son.
26. 26Tell them, 'The king says: Throw this man in prison and give him nothing but bread and water until I come back safely.'"
27. 27Micaiah declared, "If you come back safely, then the LORD has not spoken through me." Then he called out, "Listen, all you people!"
28. 28So the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah marched out to attack Ramoth Gilead.
29. 29The king of Israel told Jehoshaphat, "I'll disguise myself before going into battle, but you wear your royal robes." So the king of Israel put on a disguise, and they went into battle.
30. 30Now the king of Syria had given strict orders to his chariot commanders, saying, 'Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.'
31. 31When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they thought he was the king of Israel and surrounded him to fight. But Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; God caused them to move away from him.
32. 32Once the chariot commanders realized he wasn't the king of Israel, they stopped chasing him.
33. 33But a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the sections of his armor. So he said to his chariot driver, "Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am wounded."
34. 34The battle raged on all day. The king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot, facing the Syrians, but around sunset he died.