1. Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor; and he allied himself by marriage with Ahab.
2. Some years later he went down to visit Ahab at Samaria. And Ahab slaughtered many sheep and oxen for him and the people who were with him, and induced him to go up against Ramoth-gilead.
3. Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, "Will you go with me against Ramoth-gilead?" And he said to him, "I am as you are, and my people as your people, and we will be with you in the battle."
4. Moreover, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Please inquire first for the word of the Lord."
5. Then the king of Israel assembled the prophets, four hundred men, and said to them, "Shall we go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I refrain?" And they said, "Go up, for God will give it into the hand of the king."
6. But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not yet a prophet of the Lord here that we may inquire of him?"
7. The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me but always evil. He is Micaiah, son of Imla." But Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say so."
8. Then the king of Israel called an officer and said, "Bring quickly Micaiah, Imla's son."
9. Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, and they were sitting at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them.
10. Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made horns of iron for himself and said, "Thus says the Lord, 'With these you shall gore the Arameans until they are consumed.'"
11. All the prophets were prophesying thus, saying, "Go up to Ramoth-gilead and succeed, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king."
12. Then the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, "Behold, the words of the prophets are uniformly favorable to the king. So please let your word be like one of them and speak favorably."
13. But Micaiah said, "As the Lord lives, what my God says, that I will speak."
14. When he came to the king, the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I refrain?" He said, "Go up and succeed, for they will be given into your hand."
15. Then the king said to him, "How many times must I adjure you to speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?"
16. So he said, "I saw all Israel Scattered on the mountains, Like sheep which have no shepherd; And the Lord said, 'These have no master. Let each of them return to his house in peace.'"