2Chronicles:17-18

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* And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead , and strengthened himself against Israel . * And he placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah , and set garrisons in the land of Judah , and in the cities of Ephraim , which Asa his father had taken . * And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat , because he walked in the first ways of his father David , and sought not unto the Baalim ; * but sought to the God of his father , and walked in His commandments , and not after the doings of Israel . * Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand ; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents ; and he had riches and honour in abundance . * And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD ; and furthermore he took away the high places and the Asherim out of Judah . * Also in the third year of his reign he sent his princes , even Ben-hail , and Obadiah , and Zechariah , and Nethanel , and Micaiah , to teach in the cities of Judah ; * and with them the Levites , even Shemaiah , and Nethaniah , and Zebadiah , and Asahel , and Shemiramoth , and Jehonathan , and Adonijah , and Tobijah , and Tob-adonijah , the Levites ; and with them Elishama and Jehoram , the priests . * And they taught in Judah , having the book of the Law of the LORD with them ; and they went about throughout all the cities of Judah , and taught among the people . * And a terror from the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah , so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat . * And some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents , and silver for tribute ; the Arabians also brought him flocks , seven thousand and seven hundred rams , and seven thousand and seven hundred he-goats . * And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly ; and he built in Judah castles and cities of store . * And he had many works in the cities of Judah ; and men of war , mighty men of valour , in Jerusalem . * And this was the numbering of them according to their fathers ' houses : of Judah , the captains of thousands : Adnah the captain , and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand ; * and next to him Jehohanan the captain , and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand ; * and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri , who willingly offered himself unto the LORD , and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour ; * and of Benjamin : Eliada a mighty man of valour , and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield ; * and next to him Jehozabad , and with him a hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for war . * These were they that waited on the king beside those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah . * Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance ; and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage . * And after a lapse of years he went down to Ahab to Samaria . And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance , and for the people that were with him , and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth-gilead . * And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah : 'Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth-gilead ?' And he answered him : 'I am as thou art , and my people as thy people ; and we will be with thee in the war .' * And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel : 'Inquire , I pray thee , at the word of the LORD today .' * Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together , four hundred men , and said unto them : 'Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle , or shall I forbear ?' And they said : 'Go up ; for God will deliver it into the hand of the king .' * But Jehoshaphat said : 'Is there not here besides a prophet of the LORD , that we might inquire of him ?' * And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat : 'There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD ; but I hate him ; for he never prophesieth good concerning me , but always evil ; the same is Micaiah the son of Imla .' And Jehoshaphat said : 'Let not the king say so .' * Then the king of Israel called an officer , and said : 'Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla .' * Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne , arrayed in their robes , and they sat in a threshing-floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria ; and all the prophets were prophesying before them . * And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron , and said : 'Thus saith the LORD : With these shalt thou gore the Arameans , until they be consumed .' * And all the prophets prophesied so , saying : 'Go up to Ramoth-gilead , and prosper ; for the LORD will deliver it into the hand of the king .' * And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spoke to him , saying : 'Behold , the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one mouth ; let thy word therefore , I pray thee , be like one of theirs , and speak thou good .' * And Micaiah said : 'As the LORD liveth , what my God saith , that will I speak .' * And when he was come to the king , the king said unto him : 'Micaiah , shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle , or shall I forbear ?' And he said : 'Go ye up , and prosper ; and they shall be delivered into your hand .' * And the king said to him : 'How many times shall I adjure thee that thou speak unto me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD .' * And he said : 'I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains , as sheep that have no shepherd ; and the LORD said : These have no master , let them return every man to his house in peace .' * And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat : 'Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good concerning me , but evil ?' * And he said : 'Therefore hear ye 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 . * And the LORD said : who shall entice Ahab king of Israel , that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead ? And one spoke saying after this manner , and another saying after that manner . * And there came forth the spirit , and stood before the LORD , and said : I will entice him . And the LORD said unto him : Wherewith ? * And he said : I will go forth , and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets . And He said : Thou shalt entice him , and shalt prevail also ; go forth , and do so . * Now therefore , behold , the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets ; and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee .' * Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near , and smote Micaiah upon the check , and said : 'Which way went the spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee ?' * And Micaiah said : 'Behold , thou shalt see on that day , when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself .' * And the king of Israel said : 'Take ye Micaiah ; and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city , and to Joash the king 's son ; * and say : Thus saith the king : Put this fellow in the prison , and feed him with scant bread and with scant water , until I return in peace .' * And Micaiah said : 'If thou return at all in peace , the LORD hath not spoken by me .' And he said : 'Hear , ye peoples , all of you .' * So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the kind of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead . * And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat : 'I will disguise myself , and go into the battle ; but put thou on thy robes .' So the king of Israel disguised himself ; and they went into the battle . * Now the king of Aram had commanded the captains of his chariots , saying : 'Fight neither with small nor great , save only with the king of Israel .' * And it came to pass , when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat , that they said : 'It is the king of Israel .' Therefore they turned about to fight against him ; but Jehoshaphat cried out , and the LORD helped him ; and God moved them to depart from him . * And it came to pass , when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel , that they turned back from pursuing him . * And a certain man drew his bow at a venture , and smote the king of Israel between the lower armour and the breastplate ; wherefore he said to the driver of the chariot : 'Turn thy hand , and carry me out of the host ; for I am sore wounded .' * And the battle increased that day ; howbeit the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Arameans until the even ; and about the time of the going down of the sun he died . * And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem .

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