Holman Christian Standard Bible

1 Kings 22:16-33 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

16. 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? ”

17. So Micaiah said:I saw all Israel scattered on the hillslike sheep without a shepherd. And the Lord said,“They have no master;let everyone return home in peace.”

18. So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you he never prophesies good about me, but only disaster? ”

19. 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 by Him at His right hand and at His left hand.

20. And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? ’ So one was saying this and another was saying that.

21. “Then a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will entice him.’

22. “The Lord asked him, ‘How? ’“He said, ‘I will go and become a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’“Then He said, ‘You will certainly entice him and prevail. Go and do that.’

23. “You see, the Lord has put a lying spirit into the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the Lord has pronounced disaster against you.”

24. Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah came up, hit Micaiah in the face, and demanded, “Did the Spirit of the Lord leave me to speak to you? ”

25. Micaiah replied, “You will soon see when you go to hide yourself in an inner chamber on that day.”

26. Then the king of Israel ordered, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, the king’s son,

27. and say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this guy in prison and feed him only bread and water until I come back safely.’ ”

28. But Micaiah said, “If you ever return safely, the Lord has not spoken through me.” Then he said, “Listen, all you people! ”

29. Then the king of Israel and Judah’s King Jehoshaphat went up to Ramoth-gilead.

30. But the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal attire.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

31. Now the king of Aram had ordered his 32 chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone at all except the king of Israel.”

32. When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they shouted, “He must be the king of Israel! ” So they turned to fight against him, but Jehoshaphat cried out.

33. When the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.