The Divided Kingdom

His behavior in following idols was grossly abominable; he did everything the Emori had done, whom ADONAI expelled ahead of the people of Isra'el.

Ach'av, on hearing these words, tore his clothes, put sackcloth on himself and fasted. He slept in the sackcloth and went about dejectedly.

Then the word of ADONAI came to Eliyahu from Tishbe:

"Do you see how Ach'av has humbled himself before me? Since he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring this evil during his lifetime; but during his son's lifetime I will bring the evil on his house."

For three years there was no war between Aram and Isra'el.

Then, in the third year, Y'hoshafat the king of Y'hudah came down to the king of Isra'el.

The king of Isra'el said to his servants, "Are you aware that Ramot-Gil'ad belongs to us; yet, we're doing nothing to recover it from the king of Aram?"

He said to Y'hoshafat, "Will you go with me to attack Ramot-Gil'ad?" Y'hoshafat answered the king of Isra'el, "I'm with you all the way; think of my troops and horses as yours."

But Y'hoshafat said to the king of Isra'el, "First, we should seek the word of ADONAI."

So the king of Isra'el assembled the prophets, about 400 men. "Should I attack Ramot-Gil'ad?" he asked them, "Or should I hold off?" They said, "Attack! Adonai will hand it over to the king."

But Y'hoshafat said, "Besides these, isn't there a prophet of ADONAI here that we can consult?"

The king of Isra'el said to Y'hoshafat, "Yes, there is still one man through whom we can consult ADONAI, Mikhay'hu the son of Yimlah; but I hate him, because he doesn't prophesy good things for me, but bad!" Y'hoshafat replied, "The king shouldn't say such a thing."

Then the king of Isra'el called an officer and said, "Quickly! Bring Mikhay'hu the son of Yimlah."

Now the king of Isra'el and Y'hoshafat the king of Y'hudah were each sitting on his throne, dressed in their royal robes, on a threshing-floor at the entrance to the gate of Shomron; and all the prophets were there, prophesying in their presence.

Tzidkiyah the son of Kena'anah had made himself some horns out of iron and said, "This is what ADONAI says: 'With these you will gore Aram until they are destroyed.'"

All the prophets prophesied the same thing: "Go up and attack Ramot-Gil'ad. You will succeed, for ADONAI will hand it over to the king."

The messenger who had gone to call Mikhay'hu said to him, "Here, now, the prophets are unanimously predicting success for the king. Please let your word be like the word of one of them - say something good."

But Mikhay'hu answered, "As ADONAI lives, whatever ADONAI says to me is what I will say."

When he reached the king, the king asked him, "Mikhay'hu, should we go up and attack Ramot-Gil'ad; or should we hold off?" He answered, "Go up, you will succeed, ADONAI will hand it over to the king."

The king said to him, "How many times do I have to warn you to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of ADONAI?"

Then he said, "I saw all Isra'el scattered over the hills like sheep without a shepherd; and ADONAI said, 'These men have no leader; let everyone go home in peace.'"

The king of Isra'el said to Y'hoshafat, "Didn't I tell you that he wouldn't prophesy good things about me, but bad?"

Mikhay'hu continued: "Therefore hear the word of ADONAI. I saw ADONAI sitting on his throne with the whole army of heaven standing by him on his right and on his left.

ADONAI asked, 'Who will entice Ach'av to go up to his death at Ramot-Gil'ad?' One of them said, 'Do it this way,' and another, 'Do it that way.'

Then a spirit stepped up, stood in front of ADONAI and said, 'I will entice him.'