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Hebrew Study Bible

1After Jehoshaphat had become wealthy and was enjoying abundant honor, he allied himself to Ahab.

1וַיְהִ֧י לִֽיהוֹשָׁפָ֛ט עֹ֥שֶׁר וְכָב֖וֹד לָרֹ֑ב וַיִּתְחַתֵּ֖ן לְאַחְאָֽב׃

2After a few years, he visited Ahab in Samaria. Ahab slaughtered lots of sheep and oxen for him, and the people who were with him persuaded Jehoshaphat to attack Ramoth-gilead.

2וַיֵּרֶד֩ לְקֵ֨ץ שָׁנִ֤ים אֶל־ אַחְאָב֙ לְשֹׁ֣מְר֔וֹן וַיִּֽזְבַּֽח־ ל֨וֹ אַחְאָ֜ב צֹ֤אן וּבָקָר֙ לָרֹ֔ב וְלָעָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר עִמּ֑וֹ וַיְסִיתֵ֕הוּ לַעֲל֖וֹת אֶל־ רָמ֥וֹת גִּלְעָֽד׃

3King Ahab of Israel asked King Jehoshaphat of Judah, "Will you join me in attacking Ramoth-gilead?" "I'm with you," Jehoshaphat replied. "and my army is with you. We'll join you in the battle."

3וַיֹּ֜אמֶר אַחְאָ֣ב מֶֽלֶךְ־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֶל־ יְהֽוֹשָׁפָט֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֔ה הֲתֵלֵ֥ךְ עִמִּ֖י רָמֹ֣ת גִּלְעָ֑ד וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ כָּמ֤וֹנִי כָמ֙וֹךָ֙ וּכְעַמְּךָ֣ עַמִּ֔י וְעִמְּךָ֖ בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃

4But then Jehoshaphat asked the king of Israel, "Please ask for a message from the LORD, first."

4וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוֹשָׁפָ֖ט אֶל־ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל דְּרָשׁ־ נָ֥א כַיּ֖וֹם אֶת־ דְּבַ֥ר יְהוָֽה׃

5So the king of Israel gathered together 400 prophets and asked them, "Should we go attack Ramoth-gilead, or should I call off the attack?" "Go attack them," they all said, "because God will drop them right in the king's hand."

5וַיִּקְבֹּ֨ץ מֶֽלֶךְ־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל אֶֽת־ הַנְּבִאִים֮ אַרְבַּ֣ע מֵא֣וֹת אִישׁ֒ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֗ם הֲנֵלֵ֞ךְ אֶל־ רָמֹ֥ת גִּלְעָ֛ד לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה אִם־ אֶחְדָּ֑ל וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ עֲלֵ֔ה וְיִתֵּ֥ן הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּיַ֥ד הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

6But Jehoshaphat asked, "Isn't there a prophet of the LORD left here that we could talk to?"

6וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יְה֣וֹשָׁפָ֔ט הַאֵ֨ין פֹּ֥ה נָבִ֛יא לַיהוָ֖ה ע֑וֹד וְנִדְרְשָׁ֖ה מֵאֹתֽוֹ׃

7"There is still one man left by whom we could ask the LORD what to do," the king of Israel replied to Jehoshaphat, "but I hate him because he won't prophesy anything good about me. Instead, he always prophesies evil. He is Imla's son Micaiah." But Jehoshaphat rebuked Ahab, "Kings should never talk like that."

7וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֶֽלֶךְ־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל ׀ אֶֽל־ יְהוֹשָׁפָ֡ט ע֣וֹד אִישׁ־ אֶחָ֡ד לִדְרוֹשׁ֩ אֶת־ יְהוָ֨ה מֵֽאֹת֜וֹ וַאֲנִ֣י שְׂנֵאתִ֗יהוּ כִּֽי־ אֵ֠ינֶנּוּ מִתְנַבֵּ֨א עָלַ֤י לְטוֹבָה֙ כִּ֣י כָל־ יָמָ֣יו לְרָעָ֔ה ה֖וּא מִיכָ֣יְהוּ בֶן־ יִמְלָ֑א וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יְה֣וֹשָׁפָ֔ט אַל־ יֹאמַ֥ר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ כֵּֽן׃

8Nevertheless, the king of Israel called an officer and ordered him, "Bring me Imla's son Micaiah quickly."

8וַיִּקְרָא֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶל־ סָרִ֖יס אֶחָ֑ד וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מַהֵ֖ר [מיכהו] (מִיכָ֥יְהוּ) בֶן־ יִמְלָֽא׃

9Now the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah were each sitting on their own thrones, arrayed in their robes, and sitting on the threshing floor at the entrance to the city gate of Samaria, and all of the prophets were prophesying in front of them.

9וּמֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֡ל וִֽיהוֹשָׁפָ֣ט מֶֽלֶךְ־ יְהוּדָ֡ה יוֹשְׁבִים֩ אִ֨ישׁ עַל־ כִּסְא֜וֹ מְלֻבָּשִׁ֤ים בְּגָדִים֙ וְיֹשְׁבִ֣ים בְּגֹ֔רֶן פֶּ֖תַח שַׁ֣עַר שֹׁמְר֑וֹן וְכָל־ הַ֨נְּבִיאִ֔ים מִֽתְנַבְּאִ֖ים לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃

10Chenaanah's son Zedekiah made iron horns for himself and told them, "This is what the LORD says, 'With these horns you are to gore the Arameans until they are eliminated!'"

10וַיַּ֥עַשׂ ל֛וֹ צִדְקִיָּ֥הוּ בֶֽן־ כְּנַעֲנָ֖ה קַרְנֵ֣י בַרְזֶ֑ל וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ כֹּֽה־ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה בְּאֵ֛לֶּה תְּנַגַּ֥ח אֶת־ אֲרָ֖ם עַד־ כַּלּוֹתָֽם׃

11All the other prophets were saying similar things, like "Go up to Ramoth-gilead and you will be successful, because the LORD will hand it over to the king!"

11וְכָל־ הַ֨נְּבִאִ֔ים נִבְּאִ֥ים כֵּ֖ן לֵאמֹ֑ר עֲלֵ֞ה רָמֹ֤ת גִּלְעָד֙ וְהַצְלַ֔ח וְנָתַ֥ן יְהוָ֖ה בְּיַ֥ד הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

12Meanwhile, the messenger who had gone off to summon Micaiah advised him, "Look, everything that the other prophets were saying has been unanimously favorable to the king. So please, cooperate with them and speak favorably."

12וְהַמַּלְאָ֞ךְ אֲשֶׁר־ הָלַ֣ךְ ׀ לִקְרֹ֣א לְמִיכָ֗יְהוּ דִּבֶּ֤ר אֵלָיו֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הִנֵּ֞ה דִּבְרֵ֧י הַנְּבִאִ֛ים פֶּֽה־ אֶחָ֥ד ט֖וֹב אֶל־ הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וִֽיהִי־ נָ֧א דְבָרְךָ֛ כְּאַחַ֥ד מֵהֶ֖ם וְדִבַּ֥רְתָּ טּֽוֹב׃

13"As the LORD lives," Micaiah replied, "I'll say what my God tells me to say."

13וַיֹּ֖אמֶר מִיכָ֑יְהוּ חַי־ יְהוָ֕ה כִּ֛י אֶת־ אֲשֶׁר־ יֹאמַ֥ר אֱלֹהַ֖י אֹת֥וֹ אֲדַבֵּֽר׃

14When Micaiah approached the king, the king asked him, "Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I not?" "Go to war," Micaiah replied, "and you will be successful, because the LORD will hand it over to the king!"

14וַיָּבֹא֮ אֶל־ הַמֶּלֶךְ֒ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֵלָ֗יו מִיכָה֙ הֲנֵלֵ֞ךְ אֶל־ רָמֹ֥ת גִּלְעָ֛ד לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה אִם־ אֶחְדָּ֑ל וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ עֲל֣וּ וְהַצְלִ֔יחוּ וְיִנָּתְנ֖וּ בְּיֶדְכֶֽם׃

15When he heard this, the king asked him, "How many times do I have to ask you? Tell me nothing but the truth, and do it in the name of the LORD!"

15וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ עַד־ כַּמֶּ֥ה פְעָמִ֖ים אֲנִ֣י מַשְׁבִּיעֶ֑ךָ אֲ֠שֶׁר לֹֽא־ תְדַבֵּ֥ר אֵלַ֛י רַק־ אֱמֶ֖ת בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְהוָֽה׃

16And so Micaiah replied: I saw all of Israel scattered on the mountains like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD told me, 'These have no master, so let them each return to his own home in peace.'"

16וַיֹּ֗אמֶר רָאִ֤יתִי אֶת־ כָּל־ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ נְפוֹצִ֣ים עַל־ הֶֽהָרִ֔ים כַּצֹּ֕אן אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֵין־ לָהֶ֖ן רֹעֶ֑ה וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ לֹֽא־ אֲדֹנִ֣ים לָאֵ֔לֶּה יָשׁ֥וּבוּ אִישׁ־ לְבֵית֖וֹ בְּשָׁלֽוֹם׃

17Then the king of Israel told Jehoshaphat, "Didn't I tell you that he wouldn't prophesy anything good about me, but only evil?"

17וַיֹּ֥אמֶר מֶֽלֶךְ־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶל־ יְהוֹשָׁפָ֑ט הֲלֹא֙ אָמַ֣רְתִּי אֵלֶ֔יךָ לֹא־ יִתְנַבֵּ֥א עָלַ֛י ט֖וֹב כִּ֥י אִם־ לְרָֽע׃ ס

18But Micaiah responded, "Therefore, listen to what the LORD has to say. I saw the LORD, sitting on his throne, and the entire Heavenly Army was surrounding him on his right hand and on his left hand.

18וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לָכֵ֖ן שִׁמְע֣וּ דְבַר־ יְהוָ֑ה רָאִ֤יתִי אֶת־ יְהוָה֙ יוֹשֵׁ֣ב עַל־ כִּסְא֔וֹ וְכָל־ צְבָ֤א הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ עֹֽמְדִ֔ים עַל־ יְמִינ֖וֹ וּשְׂמֹאלֽוֹ׃

19"The LORD asked, 'Who will tempt King Ahab of Israel to attack Ramoth-gilead, so that he will die there?' And one was saying one thing and one was saying another.

19וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָ֗ה מִ֤י יְפַתֶּה֙ אֶת־ אַחְאָ֣ב מֶֽלֶךְ־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְיַ֕עַל וְיִפֹּ֖ל בְּרָמ֣וֹת גִּלְעָ֑ד וַיֹּ֕אמֶר זֶ֚ה אֹמֵ֣ר כָּ֔כָה וְזֶ֖ה אֹמֵ֥ר כָּֽכָה׃

20"But then a spirit approached, stood in front of the LORD, and said, 'I will entice him.' "And the LORD asked him, 'How?'

20וַיֵּצֵ֣א הָר֗וּחַ וַֽיַּעֲמֹד֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֲנִ֣י אֲפַתֶּ֑נּוּ וַיֹּ֧אמֶר יְהוָ֛ה אֵלָ֖יו בַּמָּֽה׃

21"'I will go,' he announced, 'and I will be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all of his prophets!' "So the LORD said, 'You're just the one to deceive him. You will be successful. Go and do it.'

21וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֵצֵא֙ וְהָיִ֙יתִי֙ לְר֣וּחַ שֶׁ֔קֶר בְּפִ֖י כָּל־ נְבִיאָ֑יו וַיֹּ֗אמֶר תְּפַתֶּה֙ וְגַם־ תּוּכָ֔ל צֵ֖א וַעֲשֵׂה־ כֵֽן׃

22Now therefore, listen! The LORD has placed a lying spirit in the mouth of all of these prophets of yours, because the LORD has determined to bring disaster upon you."

22וְעַתָּ֗ה הִנֵּ֨ה נָתַ֤ן יְהוָה֙ ר֣וּחַ שֶׁ֔קֶר בְּפִ֖י נְבִיאֶ֣יךָ אֵ֑לֶּה וַֽיהוָ֔ה דִּבֶּ֥ר עָלֶ֖יךָ רָעָֽה׃ ס

23As if on cue, Chenaanah's son Zedekiah approached Micaiah and struck him on the cheek. Then he asked him, "How did the Spirit of the LORD move from me to speak to you?"

23וַיִּגַּשׁ֙ צִדְקִיָּ֣הוּ בֶֽן־ כְּנַעֲנָ֔ה וַיַּ֥ךְ אֶת־ מִיכָ֖יְהוּ עַל־ הַלֶּ֑חִי וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֵ֣י זֶ֤ה הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ עָבַ֧ר רֽוּחַ־ יְהוָ֛ה מֵאִתִּ֖י לְדַבֵּ֥ר אֹתָֽךְ׃

24Micaiah replied, "You'll learn the answer to that question when the day comes that you run away to hide yourself in a closet!"

24וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מִיכָ֔יְהוּ הִנְּךָ֥ רֹאֶ֖ה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא אֲשֶׁ֥ר תָּב֛וֹא חֶ֥דֶר בְּחֶ֖דֶר לְהֵחָבֵֽא׃

25Then the king of Israel ordered, "Take Micaiah and place him in the custody of Amon, the city governor. Hand him over to Joash, the king's son.

25וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל קְחוּ֙ אֶת־ מִיכָ֔יְהוּ וַהֲשִׁיבֻ֖הוּ אֶל־ אָמ֣וֹן שַׂר־ הָעִ֑יר וְאֶל־ יוֹאָ֖שׁ בֶּן־ הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

26Give him this order: 'Place him in prison on survival rations only until I come back safely.'"

26וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֗ם כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ שִׂ֥ימוּ זֶ֖ה בֵּ֣ית הַכֶּ֑לֶא וְהַאֲכִלֻ֜הוּ לֶ֤חֶם לַ֙חַץ֙ וּמַ֣יִם לַ֔חַץ עַ֖ד שׁוּבִ֥י בְשָׁלֽוֹם׃

27"If you return alive," Micaiah responded, "then the LORD has not spoken by me." Then he added, "Listen, everybody!"

27וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מִיכָ֔יְהוּ אִם־ שׁ֤וֹב תָּשׁוּב֙ בְּשָׁל֔וֹם לֹא־ דִבֶּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה בִּ֑י וַיֹּ֕אמֶר שִׁמְע֖וּ עַמִּ֥ים כֻּלָּֽם׃ פ

28So the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah both attacked Ramoth-gilead.

28וַיַּ֧עַל מֶֽלֶךְ־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל וִֽיהוֹשָׁפָ֥ט מֶֽלֶךְ־ יְהוּדָ֖ה אֶל־ רָמֹ֥ת גִּלְעָֽד׃

29The king of Israel suggested to Jehoshaphat, "I'll go into battle in disguise, but you keep your royal uniform on." So the king of Israel disguised himself and they both went into the battle.

29וַיֹּאמֶר֩ מֶ֨לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶל־ יְהוֹשָׁפָ֗ט הִתְחַפֵּשׂ֙ וָב֣וֹא בַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְאַתָּ֖ה לְבַ֣שׁ בְּגָדֶ֑יךָ וַיִּתְחַפֵּשׂ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃

30Meanwhile, the king of Aram had issued these orders to his chariot commanders: "Don't attack unimportant soldiers or ranking officers. Go after only the king of Israel."

30וּמֶ֣לֶךְ אֲרָ֡ם צִוָּה֩ אֶת־ שָׂרֵ֨י הָרֶ֤כֶב אֲשֶׁר־ לוֹ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לֹ֚א תִּלָּ֣חֲמ֔וּ אֶת־ הַקָּטֹ֖ן אֶת־ הַגָּד֑וֹל כִּ֛י אִֽם־ אֶת־ מֶ֥לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְבַדּֽוֹ׃

31So when the chariot commanders observed Jehoshaphat, they said by mistake, "It's the king of Israel!" and they turned aside to attack him. But Jehoshaphat cried out to the LORD, who helped him, and God diverted them from him.

31וַיְהִ֡י כִּרְאוֹת֩ שָׂרֵ֨י הָרֶ֜כֶב אֶת־ יְהוֹשָׁפָ֗ט וְהֵ֤מָּה אָֽמְרוּ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל ה֔וּא וַיָּסֹ֥בּוּ עָלָ֖יו לְהִלָּחֵ֑ם וַיִּזְעַ֤ק יְהֽוֹשָׁפָט֙ וַֽיהוָ֣ה עֲזָר֔וֹ וַיְסִיתֵ֥ם אֱלֹהִ֖ים מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃

32When the chariot commanders saw that their target was not the king of Israel, they stopped pursuing him.

32וַיְהִ֗י כִּרְאוֹת֙ שָׂרֵ֣י הָרֶ֔כֶב כִּ֥י לֹא־ הָיָ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיָּשֻׁ֖בוּ מֵאַחֲרָֽיו׃

33Meanwhile, somebody drew his bow and struck the king of Israel at a weak spot where his armor plates joined, so he instructed his chariot driver, "Turn around and take me out of the battle, because I've been severely wounded."

33וְאִ֗ישׁ מָשַׁ֤ךְ בַּקֶּ֙שֶׁת֙ לְתֻמּ֔וֹ וַיַּךְ֙ אֶת־ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בֵּ֥ין הַדְּבָקִ֖ים וּבֵ֣ין הַשִּׁרְיָ֑ן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָֽרַכָּ֗ב הֲפֹ֧ךְ [ידיך] (יָדְךָ֛) וְהוֹצֵאתַ֥נִי מִן־ הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה כִּ֥י הָחֳלֵֽיתִי׃

34The battle continued on for the rest of the day while the king of Israel propped himself up in front of the Arameans until the sun set, at which time he died."

34וַתַּ֤עַל הַמִּלְחָמָה֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא וּמֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל הָיָ֨ה מַעֲמִ֧יד בַּמֶּרְכָּבָ֛ה נֹ֥כַח אֲרָ֖ם עַד־ הָעָ֑רֶב וַיָּ֕מָת לְעֵ֖ת בּ֥וֹא הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

Greek and Hebrew Study Bible courtesy Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible team.