II Chronicles 18

וַיְהִ֧י לִיהוֹשָׁפָ֛ט עֹ֥שֶׁר וְכָב֖וֹד לָרֹ֑ב וַיִּתְחַתֵּ֖ן לְאַחְאָֽב׃

So Jehoshaphat had wealth and honor in abundance, and he allied himself by marriage to Ahab.

וַיֵּ֩רֶד֩ לְקֵ֨ץ שָׁנִ֤ים אֶל־אַחְאָב֙ לְשֹׁ֣מְר֔וֹן וַיִּֽזְבַּֽח־ל֨וֹ אַחְאָ֜ב צֹ֤אן וּבָקָר֙ לָרֹ֔ב וְלָעָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר עִמּ֑וֹ וַיְסִיתֵ֕הוּ לַעֲל֖וֹת אֶל־רָמֹ֥ת גִּלְעָֽד׃

After some years had passed, he came to visit Ahab at Samaria. Ahab slaughtered sheep and oxen in abundance for him and for the people with him, and persuaded him to march against Ramoth-gilead.

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

King Ahab of Israel said to King Jehoshaphat of Judah, “Will you accompany me to Ramoth-gilead?” He answered him, “I will do what you do; my troops shall be your troops and shall accompany you in battle.”

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוֹשָׁפָ֖ט אֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל דְּרׇשׁ־נָ֥א כַיּ֖וֹם אֶת־דְּבַ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה׃

Jehoshaphat then said to the king of Israel, “But first inquire for the word of G OD .”

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

So the king of Israel gathered the prophets, four hundred of them, and asked them, “Shall I march upon Ramoth-gilead for battle, or shall I not?” “March,” they said, “and God will deliver it into the king’s hands.”

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יְה֣וֹשָׁפָ֔ט הַאֵ֨ין פֹּ֥ה נָבִ֛יא לַיהֹוָ֖ה ע֑וֹד וְנִדְרְשָׁ֖ה מֵאֹתֽוֹ׃

Then Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not another prophet of G OD here through whom we can inquire?”

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל׀אֶֽל־יְהוֹשָׁפָ֡ט ע֣וֹד אִישׁ־אֶחָ֡ד לִדְרוֹשׁ֩ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֨ה מֵאֹת֜וֹ וַאֲנִ֣י שְׂנֵאתִ֗יהוּ כִּֽי־אֵ֠ינֶ֠נּוּ מִתְנַבֵּ֨א עָלַ֤י לְטוֹבָה֙ כִּ֣י כׇל־יָמָ֣יו לְרָעָ֔ה ה֖וּא מִיכָ֣יְהוּ בֶן־יִמְלָ֑א וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יְה֣וֹשָׁפָ֔ט אַל־יֹאמַ֥ר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ כֵּֽן׃

And the king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is one more through whom we can inquire of G OD ; but I hate him, because he never prophesies anything good for me but always misfortune. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” Jehoshaphat replied, “Let the king not say such a thing.”

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

So the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, “Bring Micaiah son of Imlah at once.”

וּמֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֡ל וִיהוֹשָׁפָ֣ט מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֡ה יוֹשְׁבִים֩ אִ֨ישׁ עַל־כִּסְא֜וֹ מְלֻבָּשִׁ֤ים בְּגָדִים֙ וְיֹשְׁבִ֣ים בְּגֹ֔רֶן פֶּ֖תַח שַׁ֣עַר שֹׁמְר֑וֹן וְכׇ֨ל־הַנְּבִיאִ֔ים מִֽתְנַבְּאִ֖ים לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃

The king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah, wearing their robes, were seated on their thrones situated in the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them.

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

Zedekiah son of Chenaanah had provided himself with iron horns; and he said, “Thus said G OD : With these you shall gore the Arameans till you make an end of them.”

וְכׇ֨ל־הַנְּבִאִ֔ים נִבְּאִ֥ים כֵּ֖ן לֵאמֹ֑ר עֲלֵ֞ה רָמֹ֤ת גִּלְעָד֙ וְהַצְלַ֔ח וְנָתַ֥ן יְהֹוָ֖ה בְּיַ֥ד הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

All the other prophets were prophesying similarly, “March against Ramoth-gilead and be victorious! G OD will deliver it into Your Majesty’s hands.”

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

The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, “Look, the words of the prophets are unanimously favorable to the king. Let your word be like that of the rest of them; speak a favorable word.”

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

“By the life of G OD ,” Micaiah answered, “I will speak only what my God tells me.”

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

When he came before the king, the king said to him, “Micah, shall we march against Ramoth-gilead for battle or shall we not?” He answered him, “March and be victorious! They will be delivered into your hands.”

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ עַד־כַּמֶּ֥ה פְעָמִ֖ים אֲנִ֣י מַשְׁבִּיעֶ֑ךָ אֲ֠שֶׁ֠ר לֹֽא־תְדַבֵּ֥ר אֵלַ֛י רַק־אֱמֶ֖ת בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְהֹוָֽה׃

The king said to him, “How many times must I adjure you to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of G OD ?”

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר רָאִ֤יתִי אֶת־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ נְפוֹצִ֣ים עַל־הֶהָרִ֔ים כַּצֹּ֕אן אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֵין־לָהֶ֖ן רֹעֶ֑ה וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ לֹֽא־אֲדֹנִ֣ים לָאֵ֔לֶּה יָשׁ֥וּבוּ אִישׁ־לְבֵית֖וֹ בְּשָׁלֽוֹם׃

Then he said, “I saw all Israel scattered over the hills like sheep without a shepherd; and G OD said, ‘These have no master; let everyone return home in safety.’”

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶל־יְהוֹשָׁפָ֑ט הֲלֹא֙ אָמַ֣רְתִּי אֵלֶ֔יךָ לֹא־יִתְנַבֵּ֥א עָלַ֛י ט֖וֹב כִּ֥י אִם־לְרָֽע׃ {ס}

The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good fortune for me, but only misfortune?”

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לָכֵ֖ן שִׁמְע֣וּ דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֑ה רָאִ֤יתִי אֶת־יְהֹוָה֙ יוֹשֵׁ֣ב עַל־כִּסְא֔וֹ וְכׇל־צְבָ֤א הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ עֹמְדִ֔ים עַל־יְמִינ֖וֹ וּשְׂמֹאלֽוֹ׃

Then [Micaiah] said, “Indeed, hear now the word of G OD ! I saw G OD seated upon a throne, with all the host of heaven standing in attendance to the right and to the left.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָ֗ה מִ֤י יְפַתֶּה֙ אֶת־אַחְאָ֣ב מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְיַ֕עַל וְיִפֹּ֖ל בְּרָמ֣וֹת גִּלְעָ֑ד וַיֹּ֕אמֶר זֶ֚ה אֹמֵ֣ר כָּ֔כָה וְזֶ֖ה אֹמֵ֥ר כָּֽכָה׃

G OD asked, ‘Who will entice King Ahab of Israel so that he will march and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ Then one said this and another said that,

וַיֵּצֵ֣א הָר֗וּחַ וַֽיַּעֲמֹד֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֲנִ֣י אֲפַתֶּ֑נּוּ וַיֹּ֧אמֶר יְהֹוָ֛ה אֵלָ֖יו בַּמָּֽה׃

until a certain spirit came forward and stood before G OD and said, ‘I will entice him.’ ‘How?’ said G OD to him.

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

And he replied, ‘I will go forth and become a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ Then I heard, ‘You will entice with success. Go forth and do it.’

וְעַתָּ֗ה הִנֵּ֨ה נָתַ֤ן יְהֹוָה֙ ר֣וּחַ שֶׁ֔קֶר בְּפִ֖י נְבִיאֶ֣יךָ אֵ֑לֶּה וַֽיהֹוָ֔ה דִּבֶּ֥ר עָלֶ֖יךָ רָעָֽה׃ {ס}

Thus G OD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours; for G OD has decreed misfortune for you.”

וַיִּגַּשׁ֙ צִדְקִיָּ֣הוּ בֶֽן־כְּנַעֲנָ֔ה וַיַּ֥ךְ אֶת־מִיכָ֖יְהוּ עַל־הַלֶּ֑חִי וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֵ֣י זֶ֤ה הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ עָבַ֧ר רוּחַ־יְהֹוָ֛ה מֵאִתִּ֖י לְדַבֵּ֥ר אֹתָֽךְ׃

Thereupon Zedekiah son of Chenaanah came up and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and exclaimed, “However did the spirit of G OD pass from me to speak with you!”

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

Micaiah replied, “You will see on the day when you try to hide in the innermost room.”

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

Then the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah and turn him over to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Prince Joash,

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

and say, ‘The king’s orders are: Put this fellow in prison, and let his fare be scant bread and scant water until I come home safe.’”

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מִיכָ֔יְהוּ אִם־שׁ֤וֹב תָּשׁוּב֙ בְּשָׁל֔וֹם לֹא־דִבֶּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה בִּ֑י וַיֹּ֕אמֶר שִׁמְע֖וּ עַמִּ֥ים כֻּלָּֽם׃

To which Micaiah retorted, “If you ever come home safe, G OD has not spoken through me.” He said further, “Listen, all you peoples!”

וַיַּ֧עַל מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל וִיהוֹשָׁפָ֥ט מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֖ה אֶל־רָמֹ֥ת גִּלְעָֽד׃

The king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah marched against Ramoth-gilead.

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

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

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

The king of Aram had given these instructions to his chariot officers: “Do not attack anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.”

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

When the chariot officers saw Jehoshaphat, whom they took for the king of Israel, they wheeled around to attack him, and Jehoshaphat cried out and G OD helped him, and God diverted them from him.

וַיְהִ֗י כִּרְאוֹת֙ שָׂרֵ֣י הָרֶ֔כֶב כִּ֥י לֹֽא־הָיָ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיָּשׁ֖וּבוּ מֵאַחֲרָֽיו׃

And when the chariot officers realized that he was not the king of Israel, they gave up the pursuit.

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

Then another man drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the plates of the armor and he said to his charioteer, “Turn around and get me behind the lines; I am wounded.”

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

The battle raged all day long, and the king remained propped up in the chariot facing Aram until dusk; he died as the sun was setting.