1 In the six and
thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came
up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might
let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
2 Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures
of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent to
Ben-hadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,
3 There is a league between me and thee, as there was between
my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and
gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that
he may depart from me.
4 And Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains
of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon,
and Dan, and Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.
5 And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off
building of Ramah, and let his work cease.
6 Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the
stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was
building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.
7 And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah,
and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria,
and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of
the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.
8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very
many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on
the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand.
9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole
earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart
is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore
from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
10 Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison
house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing.
And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.
11 And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are
written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
12 And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased
in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his
disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.
13 And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth
year of his reign.
14 And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made
for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which
was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared
by the apothecaries' art: and they made a very great burning
for him.
Chapter 17
1 And Jehoshaphat
his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against
Israel.
2 And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and
set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim,
which Asa his father had taken.
3 And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the
first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;
4 But sought to the LORD God of his father, and walked in his
commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.
5 Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand; and
all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches
and honour in abundance.
6 And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD: moreover
he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.
7 Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes,
even to Ben-hail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel,
and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.
8 And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah,
and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and
Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah, Levites; and with them
Elishama and Jehoram, priests.
9 And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the
LORD with them, and went about throughout all the cities of
Judah, and taught the people.
10 And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the
lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war
against Jehoshaphat.
11 Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents,
and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven
thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven
hundred he goats.
12 And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in
Judah castles, and cities of store.
13 And he had much business in the cities of Judah: and the
men of war, mighty men of valour, were in Jerusalem.
14 And these are the numbers of them according to the house
of their fathers: Of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah
the chief, and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand.
15 And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two
hundred and fourscore thousand.
16 And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly
offered himself unto the LORD; and with him two hundred thousand
mighty men of valour.
17 And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with
him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand.
18 And next him was Jehozabad, and with him an hundred and fourscore
thousand ready prepared for the war.
19 These waited on the king, beside those whom the king put
in the fenced cities throughout all Judah.
Chapter 18
1 Now Jehoshaphat
had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with
Ahab.
2 And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And
Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the
people that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with
him to Ramoth-gilead.
3 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.
4 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray
thee, at the word of the LORD to day.
5 Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets
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 king's hand.
6 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD
besides, that we might enquire of him?
7 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet
one man, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him;
for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same
is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the
king say so.
8 And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and
said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.
9 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either
of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat
in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and
all the prophets prophesied before them.
10 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron,
and said, Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt push Syria
until they be consumed.
11 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead,
and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of
the king.
12 And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him,
saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the
king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be
like one of theirs, and speak thou good.
13 And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith,
that will I speak.
14 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.
15 And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee
that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the
LORD?
16 Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains,
as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have
no master; let them return therefore every man to his house
in peace.
17 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell
thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?
18 Again he said, Therefore hear 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.
19 And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel,
that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one spake saying
after this manner, and another saying after that manner.
20 Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD,
and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith?
21 And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the
mouth of all his prophets. And the LORD said, Thou shalt entice
him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so.
22 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in
the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil
against thee.
23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah
upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD
from me to speak unto thee?
24 And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when
thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.
25 Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry
him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the
king's son;
26 And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison,
and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction,
until I return in peace.
27 And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, then
hath not the LORD spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, all ye
people.
28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went
up to Ramoth-gilead.
29 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise
myself, and will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes.
So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the
battle.
30 Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots
that were with him, saying, Fight ye not with small or great,
save only with the king of Israel.
31 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw
Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore
they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out,
and the LORD helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.
32 For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the chariots
perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back
again from pursuing him.
33 And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the
king of Israel between the joints of the harness: therefore
he said to his chariot man, Turn thine hand, that thou mayest
carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.
34 And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel
stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the
even: and about the time of the sun going down he died. |