Ahab

17Then the LORD spoke to Elijah, a prophet from Tishbe.

And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,

NoteA prophet is someone who tells people what God says.

18God said, "Get up and go meet Ahab, the king of Israel. He lives in Samaria. Right now he is in Naboth's vineyard. He went there to take it."

Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess it.

NoteSamaria was the capital city. The king's main palace was there.

19"Tell him this is what the LORD says. 'You killed a man and took his land.' Then tell him this too. 'Dogs licked up Naboth's blood in that place. In that same place, dogs will lick up your blood.'"

And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.

NoteThese dogs were not pets. They ran wild in the streets and ate scraps.

20Ahab said to Elijah, "So you have found me, my enemy." Elijah answered, "I have found you. You have given yourself over to doing evil in the LORD's sight."

And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD.

21"The LORD says, 'I will bring trouble on you. I will end your family line. Every male in Ahab's family will be cut off from Israel, rich or poor.'"

Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel,

NoteThe King James says God will cut off "him that pisseth against the wall." That rough old phrase simply means every man and boy. "Shut up and left" meant every kind of person, slave or free.

22"'I will do to your family what I did to two other families. I did this to the family of Jeroboam and the family of Baasha. You made me angry, and you led Israel to sin.'"

And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin.

NoteJeroboam and Baasha were kings of Israel before Ahab. Their whole families were killed, and their family lines ended. People hearing this knew those old stories.

23The LORD also spoke about Jezebel. He said, "Dogs will eat Jezebel beside the wall of Jezreel."

And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.

NoteBack then, people wanted to be buried in a family grave. Having animals eat a body was the worst end they could imagine.

24"Anyone in Ahab's family who dies in the city will be eaten by dogs. Anyone who dies out in the fields will be eaten by birds."

Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat.

25No king was ever like Ahab. He gave himself over to doing evil in the LORD's sight. His wife Jezebel pushed him to do it.

But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.

26He did very shameful things. He worshiped idols, which are statues people pray to. He acted just like the Amorites. The LORD had driven them out before the people of Israel.

And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.

NoteThe Amorites were people who lived in this land before Israel came.

27When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes to show his sorrow. He put on rough cloth called sackcloth. He went without food. He slept in the sackcloth. He walked around quietly and sadly.

And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.

NoteTearing your clothes showed everyone you were very sad or sorry. Sackcloth was rough, scratchy cloth made from goat hair. People made sacks from it, and wore it when they grieved.

28Then the LORD spoke to Elijah the Tishbite again.

And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,

29God said, "Do you see how Ahab has made himself low before me? Because he has done that, I will wait. I will not send the trouble while he is alive. I will send it on his family when his son is king."

Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son’s days will I bring the evil upon his house.

Note"Made himself low" means he stopped acting proud. He showed he was sorry.

1For three years there was no war between Syria and Israel.

And they continued three years without war between Syria and Israel.

NoteSyria was a country just north of Israel. The two often fought over land near their border.

2In the third year, Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, came to visit the king of Israel.

And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel.

NoteLong before this, God's people split into two kingdoms. Judah was in the south, with Jerusalem as its capital. Israel was in the north. Each had its own king.

3The king of Israel said to his servants, "You know the town of Ramoth in Gilead belongs to us. But we sit still. We have not taken it back from the king of Syria."

And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we be still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria?

NoteThe king of Israel here is Ahab. Ramoth in Gilead was a town east of the Jordan River. Syria had taken it away from Israel.

4He asked Jehoshaphat, "Will you go fight with me at Ramoth-gilead?" Jehoshaphat said, "I am with you. My people are your people. My horses are your horses."

And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramothgilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.

5But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, "Please ask the LORD first what he says."

And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.

NoteKings asked God by asking a prophet to speak for him. A prophet was someone who told people what God said.

6So the king of Israel called his prophets together, about four hundred men. Prophets were people who told others what God said. He asked them, "Should I go fight at Ramoth-gilead, or should I stay home?" They said, "Go. The Lord will hand the town to the king."

Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.

NoteThese four hundred prophets lived and worked at the king's palace. They usually told him what he wanted to hear.

7But Jehoshaphat asked, "Is there no prophet of the LORD here too? We could ask him."

And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?

NoteJehoshaphat wanted a prophet who spoke only for the LORD, and for no other god.

8The king of Israel said, "There is one more man, Micaiah son of Imlah. We can ask the LORD through him. But I hate him. He never says good things about me, only bad." Jehoshaphat said, "The king should not talk like that."

And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

9So the king of Israel called one of his officers. He said, "Bring Micaiah son of Imlah here quickly."

Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah.

10The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat sat on their thrones in their royal robes. They were in an open place by the gate of the city of Samaria. All the prophets were giving their messages in front of them.

And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.

NoteSamaria was the capital city, where Israel's king lived. The open place by the city gate was where kings met people and made big choices.

11Zedekiah son of Chenaanah had made horns out of iron, like a bull's horns. He said, "The LORD says this: with these you will push the Syrians until they are all gone."

And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them.

NoteProphets sometimes acted out a message so people could see it. Iron horns stood for a strong bull knocking enemies down.

12All the other prophets said the same thing. "Go up to Ramoth-gilead and win. The LORD will hand it to the king."

And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the king’s hand.

13The messenger who went to get Micaiah spoke to him. "Listen. All the prophets are saying good things to the king. Please say what they say. Say something good."

And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good.

14But Micaiah said, "As surely as the LORD lives, I will say only what the LORD tells me."

And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak.

Note"As the LORD liveth" was a very strong promise. It meant, "I am telling you the truth."

15So he came to the king. The king asked, "Micaiah, should we go fight at Ramoth-gilead, or should we stay home?" Micaiah answered, "Go and win. The LORD will hand it to the king."

So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.

16The king said to him, "How many times must I make you promise? Tell me only the truth in the name of the LORD."

And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD?

NoteThe king made Micaiah swear in God's name. That meant God himself was listening to the promise.

17So Micaiah said, "I saw all Israel spread out on the hills. They were like sheep with no shepherd. And the LORD said, 'These people have no leader. Let each man go home in peace.'"

And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.

NoteSheep without a shepherd wander off and get lost. Here it means soldiers with no king to lead them home.

18The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "See? I told you. He never says anything good about me, only bad."

And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?

19Micaiah said, "Then listen to the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sitting on his throne. All the armies of heaven stood beside him, on his right and his left.

And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.

NoteThe "host of heaven" means the angels who serve God. They are pictured standing around his throne like helpers around a king.

20The LORD said, 'Who will talk Ahab into going up to Ramoth-gilead, so he falls there?' One spoke up one way, and another spoke up another way.

And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.

21Then a spirit came out and stood in front of the LORD. The spirit said, 'I will talk him into it.'

And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.

22The LORD asked, 'How will you do it?' The spirit said, 'I will go out and make all his prophets speak lies.' The LORD said, 'You will talk him into it. It will work. Go and do it.'

And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.

23So now the LORD has put lies in the mouths of all these prophets of yours. And the LORD has said that trouble is coming to you."

Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.

24Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah walked up and hit Micaiah on the cheek. He said, "Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go? Did he leave me to speak to you?"

But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?

NoteHitting someone on the cheek was a way to shame him. It was a way of saying, "You are lying."

25Micaiah said, "You will see it on the day you run and hide in a back room."

And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.

NoteAn inner room was a small room deep inside a house. People hid there when enemies came.

26The king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah back to Amon, the ruler of the city. Take him to Joash, the king's son.

And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son;

NoteAmon ran the city of Samaria for the king. He and Joash took care of prisoners.

27Tell them the king says this: Put this man in prison. Give him nothing but bread and water until I come home safely."

And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.

NoteOnly bread and water was prison food, and very little of it. It was meant to make the prisoner miserable.

28Micaiah said, "If you ever come home safely, then the LORD has not spoken through me." Then he said, "Listen to this, all you people!"

And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, the LORD hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you.

29So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, went up to Ramoth-gilead.

So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.

30The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will change my clothes so no one knows me. You wear your royal robes." So the king of Israel went into the battle in a disguise.

And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle.

NoteKings wore bright robes so their own soldiers could find them. Ahab dressed like a plain soldier so no one would spot him.

31The king of Syria had thirty-two leaders over his chariots, which are war carts pulled by horses. He told them, "Do not fight anyone, big or small. Fight only the king of Israel."

But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel.

32When the chariot leaders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, "That must be the king of Israel." So they turned to fight him. Then Jehoshaphat cried out.

And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it is the king of Israel. And they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out.

33When the chariot leaders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they stopped chasing him.

And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.

34A man shot an arrow without aiming at anyone. It hit the king of Israel in a gap in his armor. The king told his chariot driver, "Turn around. Take me out of the fight. I am hurt badly."

And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.

NoteArmor was made of hard plates joined together. There were small gaps where the plates met.

35The fighting grew worse all that day. The king was propped up in his chariot, facing the Syrians. Blood ran from his wound onto the floor of the chariot. That evening he died.

And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot.

36As the sun went down, a call went out through the army. "Every man go to his own city. Every man go to his own land."

And there went a proclamation throughout the host about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his own country.

NoteAn army stayed together as long as its king was alive. Once Ahab died, there was no one to follow.

37So the king died. They brought him to Samaria and buried him there.

So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria.

38Someone washed the chariot at the pool of Samaria. The dogs licked up his blood. Prostitutes, women who sold their bodies, washed there too. It all happened just as the LORD had said.

And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the word of the LORD which he spake.

NoteGod had already said this would happen to Ahab. The prophet Elijah told him so after Ahab took a poor man's vineyard. The King James says they washed his armor here, but the Hebrew word means prostitutes.

39The rest of Ahab's story is written down in another book. It tells all he did, the palace he made from ivory, and the cities he built. That book is the history of the kings of Israel.

Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

NoteIvory is the smooth white part of an elephant's tusk. Only very rich people could decorate a house with it.

40So Ahab died, as his fathers had died before him. His son Ahaziah became king in his place.

So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.

NoteThe King James says Ahab "slept with his fathers." That was a gentle way of saying he died and was buried with his family.

21Joram shouted, "Get my chariot ready!" So they got it ready. Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah rode out. Each man rode in his own chariot. They met Jehu on the land that had belonged to Naboth of Jezreel.

And Joram said, Make ready. And his chariot was made ready. And Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out against Jehu, and met him in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite.

NoteA man named Naboth once owned a vineyard on this land. King Ahab wanted it, and Jezebel had Naboth killed to get it.

22When Joram saw Jehu, he asked, "Do you come in peace, Jehu?" Jehu answered, "How can there be peace? Your mother Jezebel worships false gods. She uses magic, and she does it again and again."

And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?

NoteThe King James word "whoredoms" means leaving God to worship other gods. Witchcraft meant using magic to try to learn the future.

23Joram turned his chariot around and fled. He shouted to Ahaziah, "It is a trap, Ahaziah!"

And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, O Ahaziah.

24Jehu pulled his bow back with all his strength. He shot Joram between the shoulders. The arrow went through his heart. Joram slumped down in his chariot.

And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength, and smote Jehoram between his arms, and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot.

Note"Between his arms" means between the shoulders, in the back.

25Jehu said to Bidkar, his officer, "Pick him up. Throw him on Naboth's field. Remember when you and I rode behind his father Ahab? The LORD spoke these hard words against Ahab that day."

Then said Jehu to Bidkar his captain, Take up, and cast him in the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite: for remember how that, when I and thou rode together after Ahab his father, the LORD laid this burden upon him;

Note"Burden" is an old word for a heavy message from God. It was usually a warning that something bad would come.

26"The LORD said, 'I saw the blood of Naboth and his sons. I will pay you back on this very piece of land.' So do what the LORD said. Pick Joram up and throw him on that land."

Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, saith the LORD; and I will requite thee in this plat, saith the LORD. Now therefore take and cast him into the plat of ground, according to the word of the LORD.

Note"Plat" is an old word for a small piece of ground. "Requite" means to pay someone back.

1Ahab had seventy sons living in Samaria. Jehu was the new king. He wrote letters and sent them to Samaria. They went to the city leaders, to the older leaders, and to the men who raised Ahab's sons.

And Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, unto the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to them that brought up Ahab’s children, saying,

NoteSamaria was the biggest city in Israel, where the king lived. Ahab had been the king before Jehu. His seventy sons means his sons and grandsons. The older leaders were men who helped run a city.

2The letter said, "Your master's sons are with you. You also have chariots and horses. You have a city with strong walls and plenty of weapons."

Now as soon as this letter cometh to you, seeing your master’s sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, a fenced city also, and armour;

NoteA chariot was a small cart pulled by horses. Soldiers rode in chariots when they went to fight.

3"So pick the best and most fitting of your master's sons. Put him on his father's throne. Then fight for your master's family."

Look even out the best and meetest of your master’s sons, and set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.

NoteA throne is the special chair a king sits on. Sitting on it means you are the new king.

4But the men were very afraid. They said, "Two kings could not stand up to Jehu. How can we?"

But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, two kings stood not before him: how then shall we stand?

5The man in charge of the palace sent Jehu a message. The man in charge of the city sent one too. So did the older leaders and the men who raised the boys. They said, "We are your servants. We will do whatever you say. We will not make anyone king. Do what you think is right."

And he that was over the house, and he that was over the city, the elders also, and the bringers up of the children, sent to Jehu, saying, We are thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us; we will not make any king: do thou that which is good in thine eyes.

NoteA palace is the very big house where a king lives.

6Then Jehu wrote them a second letter. It said, "If you are on my side, then obey me. Bring me the heads of your master's sons. Come to me in Jezreel by this time tomorrow." The king's seventy sons were being raised by the leading men of the city.

Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, If ye be mine, and if ye will hearken unto my voice, take ye the heads of the men your master’s sons, and come to me to Jezreel by to morrow this time. Now the king’s sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, which brought them up.

NoteJezreel was another city in Israel. Jehu was staying there when he wrote.

7When the letter came, they took the king's sons. They killed all seventy of them. They put their heads in baskets. They sent the baskets to Jehu in Jezreel.

And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the king’s sons, and slew seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent him them to Jezreel.

8A messenger came and told Jehu, "They have brought the heads of the king's sons." Jehu said, "Pile them in two heaps at the city gate until morning."

And there came a messenger, and told him, saying, They have brought the heads of the king’s sons. And he said, Lay ye them in two heaps at the entering in of the gate until the morning.

NoteThe city gate was the doorway in the city wall. People met and talked there every day. Everyone going in or out would see the heaps.

9In the morning Jehu went out and stood before all the people. He said, "You did nothing wrong. I am the one who planned against my master and killed him. But who killed all these?"

And it came to pass in the morning, that he went out, and stood, and said to all the people, Ye be righteous: behold, I conspired against my master, and slew him: but who slew all these?

10"So know this. Nothing the LORD said about Ahab's family will fail. The LORD has done what he promised through his servant Elijah."

Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORD spake concerning the house of Ahab: for the LORD hath done that which he spake by his servant Elijah.

NoteWriting LORD in big letters shows God's own special name. Elijah was a prophet. A prophet is someone who tells people what God says.

11So Jehu killed everyone left of Ahab's family in Jezreel. He also killed Ahab's important men, his close friends, and his priests. Not one of them was left.

So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his kinsfolks, and his priests, until he left him none remaining.

NoteA priest was a man who led people when they worshiped.

1Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, was very rich. People gave him great honor. He joined his family to King Ahab's family by marriage.

Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.

NoteIsrael and Judah were two small lands next to each other. Long before this, they were one country with one king. Joining families by marriage was how two kings became friends and promised to help each other.

2Some years later he went to see Ahab in Samaria. Ahab killed many sheep and cattle for a big meal. It was for Jehoshaphat and all the men with him. Then Ahab urged him to go fight for the town of Ramoth-gilead.

And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramothgilead.

NoteSamaria was the biggest city in Israel. It was where King Ahab lived. Ramoth-gilead was a town far away that the king of Syria had taken. Ahab wanted it back.

3Ahab, king of Israel, asked Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, "Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?" Jehoshaphat answered, "I am like you, and my people are like your people. We will fight in this war with you."

And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramothgilead? And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the war.

4But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, "Please ask the LORD first what he says."

And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.

NoteWhen you see LORD in big letters, it stands for God's own special name. People long ago said that name with great care.

5So the king of Israel called together four hundred prophets. He asked them, "Should we go fight at Ramoth-gilead, or should we stay home?" They said, "Go. God will hand the town to the king."

Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the king’s hand.

NoteThese four hundred prophets worked for King Ahab. Ahab paid them and fed them. A prophet was a man who told people God's messages.

6But Jehoshaphat asked, "Is there not one more prophet of the LORD here? We could ask him too."

But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?

7The king of Israel said, "There is one more man who can ask the LORD. His name is Micaiah son of Imla. But I hate him. He never tells me good news, only bad." Jehoshaphat said, "The king should not talk that way."

And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

8So the king of Israel called one of his officers. He said, "Bring Micaiah son of Imla here quickly."

And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.

9The two kings sat on their thrones in their royal robes. They sat on an open floor near the gate of Samaria. All the prophets stood in front of them, telling their messages.

And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.

NoteA throne is the special chair a king sits on. The open floor was a wide, flat, hard place outside the gate. Farmers used it to beat the grain out of their wheat. It was the biggest open space in town, so crowds could gather there.

10Zedekiah son of Chenaanah had made horns out of iron. He said, "The LORD says: with these horns you will push Syria until they are all gone."

And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt push Syria until they be consumed.

NoteSyria was a country just north of Israel. The two lands often fought each other. Zedekiah made iron horns like a bull's horns. A bull pushes and shoves with its horns. He held them up to show what he thought the army would do.

11All the other prophets said the same thing. "Go to Ramoth-gilead and win. The LORD will hand the town to the king."

And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.

12The messenger who went to get Micaiah spoke to him. "Listen. Every one of the prophets is telling the king good news. Please say what they say. Say something good."

And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.

13But Micaiah said, "As surely as the LORD lives, I will say what my God tells me."

And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.

Note"As surely as the LORD lives" was a way of making a very strong promise. It meant: I am telling the truth, no matter what.

14When Micaiah came, the king asked him, "Micaiah, should we go fight at Ramoth-gilead, or should we stay home?" Micaiah said, "Go and win. They will be handed over to you."

And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.

15The king said to him, "How many times must I make you promise? Tell me only the truth in the name of the LORD."

And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the LORD?

16Then Micaiah said, "I saw all Israel spread out on the hills. They were like sheep with no shepherd. And the LORD said, 'These people have no master. Let each man go home in peace.'"

Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace.

NoteA shepherd is a person who takes care of sheep. Sheep with no shepherd wander off and get lost. People back then often called a king the shepherd of his people. So Micaiah was saying the king would be gone.

17The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I told you so. He never tells me good news, only bad."

And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?

18Micaiah kept speaking. "So hear what the LORD says. I saw the LORD sitting on his throne. All the armies of heaven stood at his right side and his left.

Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.

NoteThe armies of heaven means God's helpers, whom we call angels. Micaiah saw them standing around God the way helpers stand around a king.

19The LORD said, 'Who will talk Ahab king of Israel into going up to Ramoth-gilead, so he dies there?' One said one thing, and another said something else.

And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.

20Then a spirit came and stood in front of the LORD. The spirit said, 'I will talk him into it.' The LORD asked, 'How will you do it?'

Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith?

21The spirit said, 'I will go out and make all his prophets speak lies.' The LORD said, 'You will talk him into it, and it will work. Go and do it.'

And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the Lord said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so.

22So look. The LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of these prophets of yours. The LORD has said that trouble is coming to you."

Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee.

23Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah walked up and hit Micaiah on the face. He said, "Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go when he left me to speak to you?"

Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?

NoteHitting someone on the face was a way of shaming him in front of everyone. Zedekiah was very angry that Micaiah said his message was false.

24Micaiah said, "You will find that out on the day you hide in a back room."

And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.

NoteA back room is a small room deep inside a house, with no window to the street. It was the last place someone would look for you.

25Then the king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah back to Amon, the ruler of the city. Take him also to Joash, the king's son.

Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son;

26Tell them the king says this: put this man in prison. Give him only bread and water until I come home safely."

And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.

NotePrison food meant only plain bread and water, and not very much of it. It was meant to make the prisoner miserable.

27Micaiah said, "If you ever do come home safely, the LORD did not speak through me." Then he said, "All you people, listen to this!"

And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, then hath not the LORD spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, all ye people.