1 Kings 22:13-28 - Micaiah's Message Of Defeat
13 The messenger who went to get Micaiah said to him: All the other prophets have prophesied success for the king. You had better do the same.
14 Micaiah answered: By the living God Jehovah I promise that I will say what he tells me to say!
15 He appeared before King Ahab. The king asked him: Micaiah, should King Jehoshaphat and I go and attack Ramoth, or not? Attack! Micaiah answered. You will win. Jehovah will give you victory.
16 But Ahab replied: Tell the truth when you speak to me in the name of Jehovah! How many times do I have to tell you that?
17 Micaiah answered: I can see the army of Israel scattered over the hills like sheep without a shepherd. Jehovah said: These men have no leader. Let them go home in peace.
18 Israel's king said to Jehoshaphat: Did I not say to you, He will prophesy about me? It is always something bad!
19 Micaiah continued: Now listen to what Jehovah says! I saw Jehovah sitting on his throne in heaven, with all his angels standing beside him. 20 Jehovah asked: Who will deceive Ahab so that he will go and be killed at Ramoth? Some of the angels said one thing, and others said something else,
21 until a spirit stepped forward, approached Jehovah, and said: I will deceive him.
22 How will you deceive him? Jehovah asked. The spirit replied: I will make all of Ahab's prophets tell lies. Jehovah said: Go and deceive him. You will succeed.
23 Micaiah concluded: This is what has happened. Jehovah made these prophets of yours lie to you. He has decreed that you will meet with disaster!
24 The prophet Zedekiah went to Micaiah and slapped his face. He asked: Since when did Jehovah's spirit leave me and speak to you?
25 You will see when you go into an inner chamber to hide. Micaiah replied.
26 The king of Israel said: Take Micaiah and send him back to Amon, the ruler of the town, and to Joash, the king's son. 27 Tell them: 'It is the king's order that this man is to be put in prison and given prison food till I come again in peace.'
28 Micaiah said: If you come back at all in peace, Jehovah has not sent his word by me.