Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahab
(1 Kings 22:1–12)

1  וַיְהִ֧י (And were) לִֽיהוֹשָׁפָ֛ט (unto Jehoshaphat) עֹ֥שֶׁר (riches) וְכָב֖וֹד (and honor) לָרֹ֑ב (in abundance), וַיִּתְחַתֵּ֖ן (and he became son-in-law) לְאַחְאָֽב׃ (to Ahab). 2  וַיֵּרֶד֩ (And he went down) לְקֵ֨ץ (after) שָׁנִ֤ים (some years) אֶל־ (to) אַחְאָב֙ (Ahab) לְשֹׁ֣מְר֔וֹן (in Samaria). וַיִּֽזְבַּֽח־ (And killed) ל֨וֹ (for him) אַחְאָ֜ב (Ahab) צֹ֤אן (sheep) וּבָקָר֙ (and oxen) לָרֹ֔ב (in abundance), וְלָעָ֖ם (and for the people) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who were) עִמּ֑וֹ (with him), וַיְסִיתֵ֕הוּ (and he incited him) לַעֲל֖וֹת (to go up) אֶל־ (to) רָמ֥וֹת (Ramoth-) גִּלְעָֽד׃ (gilead).

3  וַיֹּ֜אמֶר (And said) אַחְאָ֣ב (Ahab) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (of Israel) אֶל־ (to) יְהֽוֹשָׁפָט֙ (Jehoshaphat) מֶ֣לֶךְ (king) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah), הֲתֵלֵ֥ךְ (Will you go) עִמִּ֖י (with me) רָמֹ֣ת (against Ramoth-) גִּלְעָ֑ד (gilead)?

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And he answered) ל֗וֹ (him), כָּמ֤וֹנִי (I am) כָמ֙וֹךָ֙ (as you are), וּכְעַמְּךָ֣ (and as your people) עַמִּ֔י (are my people), וְעִמְּךָ֖ (and with you) בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ (in the war).

4  וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And said) יְהוֹשָׁפָ֖ט (Jehoshaphat) אֶל־ (to) מֶ֣לֶךְ (the king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel), דְּרָשׁ־ (Inquire), נָ֥א (please), כַיּ֖וֹם (this day) for the word אֶת־ (-) דְּבַ֥ר (for the word) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).

5  וַיִּקְבֹּ֨ץ (And gathered together) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (the king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל (of Israel) אֶֽת־ (-) הַנְּבִאִים֮ (the prophets) אַרְבַּ֣ע (four) מֵא֣וֹת (hundred) אִישׁ֒ (men), וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and he said) אֲלֵהֶ֗ם (to them), הֲנֵלֵ֞ךְ (Shall we go) אֶל־ (against) רָמֹ֥ת (Ramoth-) גִּלְעָ֛ד (gilead) לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה (to war), אִם־ (or) אֶחְדָּ֑ל (shall I refrain)?

וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ (And they said), עֲלֵ֔ה (Go up), וְיִתֵּ֥ן (and for will deliver it) הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (God) בְּיַ֥ד (into hand) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (of the king).

6  וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And said) יְה֣וֹשָׁפָ֔ט (Jehoshaphat), הַאֵ֨ין (Is not) פֹּ֥ה (here) נָבִ֛יא (a prophet) לַיהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) ע֑וֹד (still), וְנִדְרְשָׁ֖ה (that we may inquire) מֵאֹתֽוֹ׃ (of Him).

7  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (the king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל׀ (of Israel) אֶֽל־ (to) יְהוֹשָׁפָ֡ט (Jehoshaphat), ע֣וֹד (Still) אִישׁ־ (there is man), אֶחָ֡ד (one) לִדְרוֹשׁ֩ (to inquire of) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָ֨ה (YHWH) מֵֽאֹת֜וֹ (by him), וַאֲנִ֣י (and I) שְׂנֵאתִ֗יהוּ (hate him) כִּֽי־ (because) אֵ֠ינֶנּוּ (not) מִתְנַבֵּ֨א (he prophesies) עָלַ֤י (concerning me) לְטוֹבָה֙ (good), כִּ֣י (but) כָל־ (always) יָמָ֣יו (-) לְרָעָ֔ה (evil). ה֖וּא (He is) מִיכָ֣יְהוּ (Micaiah) בֶן־ (son) יִמְלָ֑א (of Imlah).

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And said) יְה֣וֹשָׁפָ֔ט (Jehoshaphat), אַל־ (Not) יֹאמַ֥ר (should say) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king) כֵּֽן׃ (thus).

8  וַיִּקְרָא֙ (And called) מֶ֣לֶךְ (the king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) אֶל־ (to) סָרִ֖יס (officer) אֶחָ֑ד (one), וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (and he said), מַהֵ֖ר (Hasten) מִיכָהוּ (Micaiah) בֶן־ (son) יִמְלָֽא׃ (of Imlah).

9  וּמֶ֣לֶךְ (And the king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֡ל (of Israel) וִֽיהוֹשָׁפָ֣ט (and Jehoshaphat) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) יְהוּדָ֡ה (of Judah) יוֹשְׁבִים֩ (sat) אִ֨ישׁ (each man) עַל־ (upon) כִּסְא֜וֹ (his throne), מְלֻבָּשִׁ֤ים (clothed) בְּגָדִים֙ (with garments), וְיֹשְׁבִ֣ים (and they sat) בְּגֹ֔רֶן (at a threshing floor) פֶּ֖תַח (at the entrance) שַׁ֣עַר (of the gate) שֹׁמְר֑וֹן (of Samaria), וְכָל־ (and all) הַ֨נְּבִיאִ֔ים (the prophets) מִֽתְנַבְּאִ֖ים (prophesied) לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃ (before them).

10  וַיַּ֥עַשׂ (And had made) ל֛וֹ (for himself) צִדְקִיָּ֥הוּ (Zedekiah) בֶֽן־ (son) כְּנַעֲנָ֖ה (of Chenaanah) קַרְנֵ֣י (horns) בַרְזֶ֑ל (of iron), וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (and he said), כֹּֽה־ (Thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH): בְּאֵ֛לֶּה (With these) תְּנַגַּ֥ח (you shall gore) אֶת־ (-) אֲרָ֖ם (Aram) עַד־ (until) כַּלּוֹתָֽם׃ (they are finished).

11  וְכָל־ (And all) הַ֨נְּבִאִ֔ים (the prophets) נִבְּאִ֥ים (prophesied) כֵּ֖ן (thus), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), עֲלֵ֞ה (Go up) רָמֹ֤ת (to Ramoth-) גִּלְעָד֙ (gilead) וְהַצְלַ֔ח (and prosper), וְנָתַ֥ן (and for will deliver it) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) בְּיַ֥ד (into hand) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (of the king).

Micaiah Prophesies against Ahab
(1 Kings 22:13–28)

12  וְהַמַּלְאָ֞ךְ (And the messenger) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) הָלַ֣ךְ׀ (had gone) לִקְרֹ֣א (to call) לְמִיכָ֗יְהוּ (Micaiah) דִּבֶּ֤ר (spoke) אֵלָיו֙ (to him), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), הִנֵּ֞ה (Behold), דִּבְרֵ֧י (the words) הַנְּבִאִ֛ים (of the prophets) פֶּֽה־ (mouth) אֶחָ֥ד (with one) ט֖וֹב (are good) אֶל־ (unto) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (the king); וִֽיהִי־ (and let be) נָ֧א (please) דְבָרְךָ֛ (your word) כְּאַחַ֥ד (like one) מֵהֶ֖ם (of them), וְדִבַּ֥רְתָּ (and speak) טּֽוֹב׃ (good).

13  וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (And said) מִיכָ֑יְהוּ (Micaiah), חַי־ (As lives) יְהוָ֕ה (YHWH), כִּ֛י (surely) אֶת־ (-) אֲשֶׁר־ (that which) יֹאמַ֥ר (says) אֱלֹהַ֖י (my God), אֹת֥וֹ (that) אֲדַבֵּֽר׃ (I will speak).

14  וַיָּבֹא֮ (And he came) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּלֶךְ֒ (the king), וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (and said) הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ (the king) אֵלָ֗יו (to him), מִיכָה֙ (Micaiah), הֲנֵלֵ֞ךְ (shall we go) אֶל־ (against) רָמֹ֥ת (Ramoth-) גִּלְעָ֛ד (gilead) לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה (to the war), אִם־ (or) אֶחְדָּ֑ל (shall I refrain)?

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And he said), עֲל֣וּ (Go) וְהַצְלִ֔יחוּ (and prosper), וְיִנָּתְנ֖וּ (and they shall be delivered) בְּיֶדְכֶֽם׃ (into your⁺ hands).

15  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) אֵלָיו֙ (to him) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king) עַד־ (How) כַּמֶּ֥ה (many) פְעָמִ֖ים (times) אֲנִ֣י (I) מַשְׁבִּיעֶ֑ךָ (shall make you swear) אֲ֠שֶׁר (that) לֹֽא־ (nothing) תְדַבֵּ֥ר (you will speak) אֵלַ֛י (to me), רַק־ (but) אֱמֶ֖ת (the truth) בְּשֵׁ֥ם (in the name) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH)?

16  וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (And he said),

רָאִ֤יתִי (I saw) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (Israel) נְפוֹצִ֣ים (scattered) עַל־ (on) הֶֽהָרִ֔ים (the mountains)

כַּצֹּ֕אן (as sheep) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) אֵין־ (not) לָהֶ֖ן (unto them) רֹעֶ֑ה (is a shepherd).

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH), לֹֽא־ (No) אֲדֹנִ֣ים (masters are) לָאֵ֔לֶּה (unto these);

יָשׁ֥וּבוּ (let return) אִישׁ־ (each man) לְבֵית֖וֹ (to his house) בְּשָׁלֽוֹם׃ (in peace).

17  וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And said) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (the king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) אֶל־ (to) יְהוֹשָׁפָ֑ט (Jehoshaphat), הֲלֹא֙ (Did not) אָמַ֣רְתִּי (I say) אֵלֶ֔יךָ (to you that) לֹא־ (not) יִתְנַבֵּ֥א (he would prophesy) עָלַ֛י (concerning me) ט֖וֹב (good) כִּ֥י (but) אִם־ (only) לְרָֽע׃ס (evil)?

18  וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (And he said), לָכֵ֖ן (Therefore) שִׁמְע֣וּ (hear) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH): רָאִ֤יתִי (I saw) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) יוֹשֵׁ֣ב (sitting) עַל־ (on) כִּסְא֔וֹ (His throne), וְכָל־ (and all) צְבָ֤א (the host) הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ (of the heavens) עֹֽמְדִ֔ים (standing) עַל־ (on) יְמִינ֖וֹ (His right) וּשְׂמֹאלֽוֹ׃ (and His left).

19  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH), מִ֤י (Who) יְפַתֶּה֙ (will persuade) אֶת־ (-) אַחְאָ֣ב (Ahab) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) וְיַ֕עַל (and to go up), וְיִפֹּ֖ל (that he may fall) בְּרָמ֣וֹת (at Ramoth-) גִּלְעָ֑ד (gilead)?

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (And spoke) זֶ֚ה (this one) אֹמֵ֣ר (saying) כָּ֔כָה (thus), וְזֶ֖ה (and this one) אֹמֵ֥ר (saying) כָּֽכָה׃ (thus). 20  וַיֵּצֵ֣א (And came forward)

הָר֗וּחַ (a spirit) וַֽיַּעֲמֹד֙ (and stood) לִפְנֵ֣י (before) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (and said), אֲנִ֣י (I) אֲפַתֶּ֑נּוּ (will persuade him).

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (And said) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) אֵלָ֖יו (to him), בַּמָּֽה׃ (With what)?

21  וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (And he said), אֵצֵא֙ (I will go out) וְהָיִ֙יתִי֙ (and be) לְר֣וּחַ (a spirit) שֶׁ֔קֶר (of falsehood) בְּפִ֖י (in the mouth) כָּל־ (of all) נְבִיאָ֑יו (his prophets).

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (And He said), תְּפַתֶּה֙ (You shall persuade) וְגַם־ (and also) תּוּכָ֔ל (you shall prevail); צֵ֖א (go out) וַעֲשֵׂה־ (and do) כֵֽן׃ (so).

22  וְעַתָּ֗ה (And) הִנֵּ֨ה (behold), נָתַ֤ן (has put) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) ר֣וּחַ (a spirit) שֶׁ֔קֶר (of falsehood) בְּפִ֖י (in the mouth) נְבִיאֶ֣יךָ (prophets of yours) אֵ֑לֶּה (these), וַֽיהוָ֔ה (and YHWH) דִּבֶּ֥ר (has declared) עָלֶ֖יךָ (against you) רָעָֽה׃ס (disaster).

23  וַיִּגַּשׁ֙ (And went near) צִדְקִיָּ֣הוּ (Zedekiah) בֶֽן־ (son) כְּנַעֲנָ֔ה (of Chenaanah), וַיַּ֥ךְ (and he struck) אֶת־ (-) מִיכָ֖יְהוּ (Micaiah) עַל־ (on) הַלֶּ֑חִי (the cheek), וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (and said), אֵ֣י (Where) זֶ֤ה (is this)— הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ (the way) עָבַ֧ר (passed over) רֽוּחַ־ (the Spirit) יְהוָ֛ה (of YHWH) מֵאִתִּ֖י (from me) לְדַבֵּ֥ר (to speak) אֹתָֽךְ׃ (with you)?

24  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) מִיכָ֔יְהוּ (Micaiah), הִנְּךָ֥ (Behold), רֹאֶ֖ה (you shall see) בַּיּ֣וֹם (on day) הַה֑וּא (that), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (when) תָּב֛וֹא (you go) חֶ֥דֶר (into a chamber) בְּחֶ֖דֶר (of a chamber) לְהֵחָבֵֽא׃ (to hide).

25  וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And said) מֶ֣לֶךְ (the king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), קְחוּ֙ (Take) אֶת־ (-) מִיכָ֔יְהוּ (Micaiah) וַהֲשִׁיבֻ֖הוּ (and return him) אֶל־ (to) אָמ֣וֹן (Amon) שַׂר־ (the governor) הָעִ֑יר (of the city) וְאֶל־ (and to) יוֹאָ֖שׁ (Joash) בֶּן־ (son) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (of the king). 26  וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֗ם (And say), כֹּ֚ה (Thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king): שִׂ֥ימוּ (Put) זֶ֖ה (this one) בֵּ֣ית (in the house) הַכֶּ֑לֶא (of restraint), וְהַאֲכִלֻ֜הוּ (and feed him) לֶ֤חֶם (with bread) לַ֙חַץ֙ (of affliction) וּמַ֣יִם (and water) לַ֔חַץ (of affliction), עַ֖ד (until) שׁוּבִ֥י (I return) בְשָׁלֽוֹם׃ (in peace).

27  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) מִיכָ֔יְהוּ (Micaiah), אִם־ (If) שׁ֤וֹב (returning) תָּשׁוּב֙ (you return) בְּשָׁל֔וֹם (in peace), לֹא־ (not) דִבֶּ֥ר (has spoken) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) בִּ֑י (by me). וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (And he said), שִׁמְע֖וּ (Hear), עַמִּ֥ים (O peoples), כֻּלָּֽם׃פ (all of them)!

Ahab’s Defeat and Death
(1 Kings 22:29–40)

28  וַיַּ֧עַל (And went up) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (the king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל (of Israel) וִֽיהוֹשָׁפָ֥ט (and Jehoshaphat) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (the king) יְהוּדָ֖ה (of Judah) אֶל־ (to) רָמֹ֥ת (Ramoth-) גִּלְעָֽד׃ (gilead). 29  וַיֹּאמֶר֩ (And said) מֶ֨לֶךְ (the king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל (of Israel) אֶל־ (to) יְהוֹשָׁפָ֗ט (Jehoshaphat), הִתְחַפֵּשׂ֙ (I will disguise myself), וָב֣וֹא (and go) בַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה (into the battle), וְאַתָּ֖ה (and you) לְבַ֣שׁ (put on) בְּגָדֶ֑יךָ (your garments). וַיִּתְחַפֵּשׂ֙ (And disguised himself) מֶ֣לֶךְ (the king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ (and they went) בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ (into the battle).

30  וּמֶ֣לֶךְ (And the king) אֲרָ֡ם (of Aram) צִוָּה֩ (had commanded) אֶת־ (-) שָׂרֵ֨י (the captains) הָרֶ֤כֶב (of the chariots) אֲשֶׁר־ (who were) לוֹ֙ (with him), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), לֹ֚א (Not) תִּלָּ֣חֲמ֔וּ (do fight) אֶת־ (with) הַקָּטֹ֖ן (the small) אֶת־ (or with) הַגָּד֑וֹל (the great), כִּ֛י (except) אִֽם־ (but) אֶת־ (with) מֶ֥לֶךְ (the king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) לְבַדּֽוֹ׃ (only).

31  וַיְהִ֡י (And it came to pass), כִּרְאוֹת֩ (when saw) שָׂרֵ֨י (the captains) הָרֶ֜כֶב (of the chariots) אֶת־ (-) יְהוֹשָׁפָ֗ט (Jehoshaphat), וְהֵ֤מָּה (that they) אָֽמְרוּ֙ (said), מֶ֣לֶךְ (The king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל (of Israel) ה֔וּא (it is). וַיָּסֹ֥בּוּ (And they turned round) עָלָ֖יו (against him) לְהִלָּחֵ֑ם (to fight), וַיִּזְעַ֤ק (and cried out) יְהֽוֹשָׁפָט֙ (Jehoshaphat), וַֽיהוָ֣ה (and YHWH) עֲזָר֔וֹ (helped him). וַיְסִיתֵ֥ם (And diverted them) אֱלֹהִ֖ים (God) מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ (from him). 32  וַיְהִ֗י (And it came to pass), כִּרְאוֹת֙ (when saw) שָׂרֵ֣י (the captains) הָרֶ֔כֶב (of the chariots) כִּ֥י (that) לֹא־ (not) הָיָ֖ה (it was) מֶ֣לֶךְ (the king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel), וַיָּשֻׁ֖בוּ (that they turned back) מֵאַחֲרָֽיו׃ (from after him).

33  וְאִ֗ישׁ (And a certain man) מָשַׁ֤ךְ (drew) בַּקֶּ֙שֶׁת֙ (with the bow) לְתֻמּ֔וֹ (in his simplicity), וַיַּךְ֙ (and he struck) אֶת־ (-) מֶ֣לֶךְ (the king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) בֵּ֥ין (between) הַדְּבָקִ֖ים (the joints) וּבֵ֣ין (and between) הַשִּׁרְיָ֑ן (his armor). וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And he said) לָֽרַכָּ֗ב (to the charioteer), הֲפֹ֧ךְ (Turn) יָדֶיךָ (your hand) וְהוֹצֵאתַ֥נִי (and take me out) מִן־ (of) הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה (the battle), כִּ֥י (for) הָחֳלֵֽיתִי׃ (I am badly wounded).

34  וַתַּ֤עַל (And increased) הַמִּלְחָמָה֙ (the battle) בַּיּ֣וֹם (the day) הַה֔וּא (that), וּמֶ֣לֶךְ (and the king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (of Israel) הָיָ֨ה (was) מַעֲמִ֧יד (propped up) בַּמֶּרְכָּבָ֛ה (in the chariot) נֹ֥כַח (over against) אֲרָ֖ם (Aram) עַד־ (until) הָעָ֑רֶב (the evening), וַיָּ֕מָת (and he died) לְעֵ֖ת (at the time) בּ֥וֹא (of the going in) הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ (of the sun).