The One Year Bible for Men - Flipbook - Page 83
661
the surrounding kingdoms so that none of
them wanted to declare war on Jehoshaphat.
11 Some of the Phi
listines brought him gifts
and silver as tribute, and the Arabs brought
7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats.
12 So Jehoshaphat became more and more
powerful and built fortresses and storage cit
ies throughout Judah. 13 He stored numerous
supplies in Judah’s towns and stationed an
army of seasoned troops at Jerusalem. 14 His
army was enrolled according to ancestral
clans.
From Judah there were 300,000 troops
organized in units of 1,000, under the
command of Adnah. 15 Next in command
was Jehohanan, who commanded 280,000
troops. 16 Next was Amasiah son of Zicri,
who volunteered for the Lord’s service,
with 200,000 troops under his command.
17 From Benjamin there were 200,000 troops
equipped with bows and shields. They
were under the command of Eliada, a
veteran soldier. 18 Next in command was
Jehozabad, who commanded 180,000
armed men.
19 These were the troops stationed in Je
ru
salem to serve the king, besides those Je
hoshaphat stationed in the fortified towns
throughout Judah.
18:1 Jehoshap
hat enjoyed great riches and high
esteem, and he made an alliance with Ahab of
Israel by having his son marry Ahab’s daugh
ter. 2 A few years later he went to Samaria to
visit Ahab, who prepared a great banquet for
him and his officials. They butchered great
numbers of sheep, goats, and cattle for the
feast. Then Ahab enticed Jehoshaphat to join
forces with him to recover R
amoth-gilead.
3 “Will you go with me to R
amoth-gilead?”
King Ahab of Israel asked King Jehoshaphat
of Judah.
Jehoshap
hat replied, “Why, of course! You
and I are as one, and my troops are your
troops. We will certainly join you in battle.”
4 Then Jehoshaphat added, “But first let’s find
out what the Lord says.”
5 So the king of Is
ra
el summoned the
prophets, 400 of them, and asked them,
“Should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead,
or should I hold back?”
They all replied, “Yes, go right ahead! God
will give the king victory.”
6 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not also a
prophet of the Lord here? We should ask him
the same question.”
7 The king of Israel replied to Jehoshap
hat,
07_Jul_OY_Men.indd 661
July 26
“There is one more man who could consult the
Lord for us, but I hate him. He never proph
esies anything but trouble for me! His name is
Micaiah son of Imlah.”
Jehoshaphat replied, “That’s not the way a
king should talk! Let’s hear what he has to say.”
8 So the king of Israel called one of his of
ficials and said, “Quick! Bring Micaiah son of
Imlah.”
9 King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat
of Judah, dressed in their royal robes, were sit
ting on thrones at the threshing floor near the
gate of Samaria. All of Ahab’s prophets were
prophesying there in front of them. 10 One of
them, Zedekiah son of Kenaanah, made some
iron horns and proclaimed, “This is what the
Lord says: With these horns you will gore the
Arameans to death!”
11 All the other prophets agreed. “Yes,” they
said, “go up to R
amoth-gilead and be victori
ous, for the Lord will give the king victory!”
12 Meanwhile, the messenger who went to
get Micaiah said to him, “Look, all the prophets
are promising victory for the king. Be sure that
you agree with them and promise success.”
13 But Micaiah replied, “As surely as the Lord
lives, I will say only what my God says.”
14 When Mi
caiah arrived before the king,
Ahab asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to
war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I hold
back?”
Micaiah replied sarcastically, “Yes, go up
and be victorious, for you will have victory
over them!”
15 But the king replied sharply, “How many
times must I demand that you speak only the
truth to me when you speak for the Lord?”
16 Then Micaiah told him, “In a vision I saw
all Israel scattered on the mountains, like
sheep without a shepherd. And the Lord said,
‘Their master has been killed.* Send them
home in peace.’”
17 “Didn’t I tell you?” the king of Israel ex
claimed to Jehoshaphat. “He never prophesies
anything but trouble for me.”
18 Then Micaiah continued, “Listen to what
the Lord says! I saw the Lord sitting on his
throne with all the armies of heaven around
him, on his right and on his left. 19 And the
Lord said, ‘Who can entice King Ahab of Israel
to go into battle against Ramoth-gilead so he
can be killed?’
“There were many suggestions, 20 and fi
nally a spirit approached the Lord and said,
‘I can do it!’
“‘How will you do this?’ the Lord asked.
21 “And the spirit replied, ‘I will go out and
inspire all of Ahab’s prophets to speak lies.’
5/19/2022 3:47:01 PM
