Chapter 6
CHAPTER XVI. In the sixth and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa, Baisha, 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. 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, 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 Baisha, king of Israel, that he may depart from me. Then Ben-Hadad hearkened unto king Asa and sent the captains of his armies against the
cities of Israel. And they smote Aijan and Dan and Abomain and all the store cities of Nephtali. And it came to pass when Baisha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah and let his work cease. Then Asa the king took all Judah and they carried away the stones of Ramah and the timber
thereof wherewith Baisha was building and he built therewith Gippah and Mizpah. 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 escape out of thine hand. Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubens a huge host with very many chariots and horsemen?
Yet, because thou didst rely on the Lord, he delivered them into thine hand. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show 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. Then Asa was wrought 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 at the same time. And behold the Acts of Asa first and last. Lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. And Asa in the thirtieth 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. And Asa slept with his fathers and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign. 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 odors and divers kinds of
spices prepared by the Apothecaries' art. And they made a great burning for him. Chapter 17. And Jehoshaphat, his son, reigned in his stead and strengthened himself against Israel. 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. And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the first ways of his father David and sought not unto Balaam, but sought to the Lord God of his father and walked in his commandments and not after the doings of Israel. And so the Lord established the kingdom in his hand and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat
presents and he had riches and honor and abundance. And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord. Moreover, he took away the high places and groves out of Judah. Also in the third year of his reign, he sent to his princes, even to Ben-Hael and Obadiah and Zechariah and to Nathanael and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah.
And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah and Nathaniah and Zebediah and Asherah and Shema Ramoth and Jeho-Nathan and Adonijah and Tobijah and Tobadonijah. And with them, Levites and with them, Elishamah and Jehoram, priests. 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.
And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the land that were round about Judah so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat. So some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and tribute silver and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, seven thousand and seven hundred he-goats.
And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly and he built in Judah castles and cities of store business in the cities of Judah. And the men of war, mighty men of valor, were in Jerusalem. And these are the numbers of them according to the house of their fathers. Of Judah, the captains of thousands, Adonah the chief and with him, mighty men of valor,
three hundred thousand. And next to him was Jehoi-Hanan the captain and with him, two hundred and four score thousand. And next to him was Amasaha, the son of Zikri, who willingly offered himself unto the Lord and with him, two hundred thousand mighty men of valor. And of Benjamin, Eliadah, a mighty man of valor, and with him armed men with bow and
shield, two hundred thousand. And next to him was Jehoshaphat and with him, a hundred and four score thousand, ready, prepared for the war. These waited on the king beside those whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah.
Chapter 18 Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor and abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab. 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. And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, will 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. 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 into the king's hand. But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides these 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 prophesied good unto me, but always evil. The same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so. And the king of Israel called for one of his officers and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.
And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in his robes, and they sat in a void place at the entering inn of the gate of Samaria. And all the prophets prophesied before them. And Zedekiah the son of Shenanah had made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the Lord, with these thou shalt push Syria until they be consumed.
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. 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. And Micaiah said, As the Lord liveth, even what may God sayeth 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 say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the Lord? 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.
And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me but evil? Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting upon his throne, and all the hosts 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 spake, saying, After this manner, and another, saying, After that manner. Then there came out a 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 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. 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.
Then Zedekiah the son of Shanaena came near and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, 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. Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah and carry him back to Ammon 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 bread of affliction and with water of affliction until I return in peace. And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, then hath not the Lord spoken by me.
And he said, Harken, all ye people. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-Gilead. And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and I will go to the battle. But put thou on thy robes.
So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went to the battle. 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. 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. That when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him.
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.
And the battle increased that day, howbeit the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians, until the evening, about the time of the sun going down, he died.
