2 Chronicles 18

Jehoshaphat's Alliance with Ahab

¹Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and he allied himself with Ahab.

²After some years, he went down to Ahab to Samaria. Ahab killed sheep and cattle for him in abundance, and for the people who were with him, and moved him to go up with him to Ramoth Gilead.

³Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me to Ramoth Gilead?” He answered him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people. We will be with you in the war.”

⁴Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire first for the LORD’s word.”

⁵Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?” They said, “Go up, for God will deliver it into the hand of the king.”

⁶But Jehoshaphat said, “Isn’t there here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we may inquire of him?”

⁷The 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 the son of Imla.” Jehoshaphat said, “Don’t let the king say so.”

⁸Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, “Get Micaiah the son of Imla quickly.”

⁹Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah each sat on his throne, arrayed in their robes, and they were sitting in an open place at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them.

¹⁰Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made himself horns of iron and said, “The LORD says, ‘With these you shall push the Syrians, until they are consumed.’”

¹¹All the prophets prophesied so, saying, “Go up to Ramoth Gilead, and prosper; for the LORD will deliver it into the hand of the king.”

¹²The messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, “Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one mouth. Let your word therefore, please be like one of theirs, and speak good.”

¹³Micaiah said, “As the LORD lives, I will say what my God says.”

¹⁴When he had come to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?” He said, “Go up, and prosper. They shall be delivered into your hand.”

¹⁵The king said to him, “How many times shall I adjure you that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the LORD’s name?”

¹⁶He said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. The LORD said, ‘These have no master. Let them each return to his house in peace.’”

¹⁷The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”

¹⁸Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the LORD’s word: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the army of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.

¹⁹The LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ One spoke saying in this way, and another saying in that way.

²⁰A spirit came out, stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ “The LORD said to him, ‘How?’

²¹“He said, ‘I will go, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ “He said, ‘You will entice him, and will prevail also. Go and do so.’

²²“Now therefore, behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets; and the LORD has spoken evil concerning you.”

²³Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, “Which way did the LORD’s Spirit go from me to speak to you?”

²⁴Micaiah said, “Behold, you shall see on that day, when you go into an inner room to hide yourself.”

²⁵The king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son;

²⁶and say, ‘The king says, “Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.”’”

²⁷Micaiah said, “If you return at all in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me.” He said, “Listen, you people, all of you!”

²⁸So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead.

²⁹The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself, and go into the battle; but you put on your robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went into the battle.

³⁰Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, “Don’t fight with small nor great, except only with the king of Israel.”

³¹When the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is the king of Israel!” Therefore they turned around to fight against him. But Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.

³²When the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

³³A certain man drew his bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of the armor. Therefore he said to the driver of the chariot, “Turn around and carry me out of the battle, for I am severely wounded.”

³⁴The battle increased that day. However, the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the evening; and at about sunset, he died.

Previous 2 Chronicles 17

Next 2 Chronicles 19

Jehoshaphat of Judah forms an alliance with Ahab of Israel and agrees to join him in battle against Ramoth Gilead. When Jehoshaphat requests divine guidance, Ahab's 400 prophets unanimously predict victory, but Jehoshaphat insists on hearing from Micaiah, the LORD's true prophet whom Ahab despises. Micaiah initially gives a sarcastic positive prophecy, but when pressed for truth, he reveals God's plan for Ahab's defeat and death, explaining that the LORD has sent a deceiving spirit to the false prophets to entice Ahab to his doom.

Context

This chapter follows Jehoshaphat's religious reforms in chapter 17 and demonstrates the consequences of his unwise alliance with wicked King Ahab.

Key Themes

Outline

1-3
Jehoshaphat's Alliance with Ahab The wealthy king of Judah allies with Israel's king and agrees to join him in battle.
4-8
Seeking Divine Guidance Jehoshaphat requests prophetic counsel, leading to consultation with 400 prophets and eventually Micaiah.
9-14
False Prophets vs. True Prophet The false prophets dramatically predict victory while Micaiah initially gives a sarcastic positive response.
15-22
Micaiah's True Prophecy Under oath, Micaiah reveals God's vision of Israel's defeat and the divine deception of Ahab's prophets.
23-27
Rejection and Imprisonment Zedekiah strikes Micaiah, who is imprisoned until Ahab's return from the doomed battle.
28-34
Ahab's Death at Ramoth Gilead Despite Ahab's disguise, he is mortally wounded by a random arrow, fulfilling Micaiah's prophecy.

Jehoshaphat's Alliance with Ahab

18:1–18:34

narrative dialogue urgent

Jehoshaphat allies with King Ahab for battle, but the prophet Micaiah warns of defeat despite false prophets promising victory. The passage illustrates the conflict between true and false prophecy.

person_contrast

Jehoshaphat, typically portrayed in contexts of disobedience and judgment, here uniquely encounters the spiritual warfare between true and false prophecy through Micaiah's divine vision.

Insight Character Study

Jehoshaphat, typically portrayed in contexts of disobedience and judgment, here uniquely encounters the spiritual warfare between true and false prophecy through Micaiah's divine vision.

Cross-References

Connected passages across Scripture

2 Chronicles 18:1 2 references

Lexicals 2

2 Chronicles 17:5 Lexical

Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand. All Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and…

4 shared words

Esther 5:11 Lexical

Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, the multitude of his children, all the things in which the king had pro…

2 Chronicles 18

Jehoshaphat's Alliance with Ahab

Jehoshaphat's Alliance with Ahab

Insights

Cross-References

2 Chronicles 18:1 2 references

2 Chronicles 18:2 5 references

2 Chronicles 18:3 5 references

2 Chronicles 18:4 1 reference

2 Chronicles 18:5 5 references

2 Chronicles 18:6 2 references

2 Chronicles 18:7 2 references

2 Chronicles 18:8 1 reference

2 Chronicles 18:9 5 references

2 Chronicles 18:10 1 reference

2 Chronicles 18:11 5 references

2 Chronicles 18:12 1 reference

2 Chronicles 18:14 5 references

2 Chronicles 18:15 1 reference

2 Chronicles 18:16 5 references

2 Chronicles 18:18 2 references

2 Chronicles 18:19 3 references

2 Chronicles 18:21 1 reference

2 Chronicles 18:22 1 reference

2 Chronicles 18:23 1 reference

2 Chronicles 18:24 1 reference

2 Chronicles 18:25 1 reference

2 Chronicles 18:26 1 reference

2 Chronicles 18:28 3 references

2 Chronicles 18:29 3 references

2 Chronicles 18:30 5 references

2 Chronicles 18:31 4 references

2 Chronicles 18:33 1 reference

2 Chronicles 18:34 3 references

Interlinear

Historical Context