18. The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you he wouldn’t prophesy anything good about me, only evil?”
19. Micaiah added, “Then hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and the entire army of heaven was standing near him on his right and his left.
20. The Lord asked, ‘Who will deceive Ahab so that he will attack and be killed at Ramoth in Gilead?’ Some answered one way, while others said something else.
21. “Then the Spirit stepped forward, stood in front of the Lord, and said, ‘I will deceive him.’“‘How?’ the Lord asked.
22. “The Spirit answered, ‘I will go out and be a spirit that tells lies through the mouths of all of Ahab’s prophets.’“The Lord said, ‘You will succeed in deceiving him. Go and do it.’
23. “So, the Lord has put into the mouths of all these prophets of yours a spirit that makes them tell lies. The Lord has spoken evil about you.”
24. Then Zedekiah, son of Chenaanah, went to Micaiah and struck him on the cheek. “How did the Lord’s Spirit leave me to talk to you?” he asked.
25. Micaiah answered, “You will find out on the day you go into an inner room to hide.”
26. The king of Israel then said, “Send Micaiah back to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, the prince.
27. Say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this man in prison, and feed him nothing but bread and water until I come home safely.’ ”
28. Micaiah said, “If you really do come back safely, then the Lord wasn’t speaking through me. Pay attention to this, everyone!”
29. So the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to Ramoth in Gilead.
30. The king of Israel told Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you should wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.