Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahab
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Jehoshaphat a had riches and honor in abundance; and by marriage he b allied himself with c Ahab.
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d After some years he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria; and Ahab killed sheep and oxen in abundance for him and the people who were with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth Gilead.
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So Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, "Will you go with me against Ramoth Gilead?" And he answered him, "I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will be with you in the war."
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Also Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, e "Please inquire for the word of the LORD today."
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Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, "Shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?" So they said, "Go up, for God will deliver it into the king's hand."
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But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not still a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of f Him?"
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So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, because he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil. He is Micaiah the son of Imla." And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say such things!"
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Then the king of Israel called one of his officers and said, "Bring Micaiah the son of Imla quickly!"
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The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah, clothed in their robes, sat each on his throne; and they sat at a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.
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Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made g horns of iron for himself; and he said, "Thus says the LORD: 'With these you shall gore the Syrians until they are destroyed.' "
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And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, "Go up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper, for the LORD will deliver it into the king's hand."
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Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, "Now listen, the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king. Therefore please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak encouragement."
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And Micaiah said, "As the LORD lives, h whatever my God says, that I will speak."
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Then he came to the king; and the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?" And he said, "Go and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand!"
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So the king said to him, "How many times shall I make you swear that you tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?"
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Then he said, "I saw all Israel i scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no j shepherd. And the LORD said, 'These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.' "
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And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?"
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Then Micaiah said, "Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His k throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right hand and His left.
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"And the LORD said, 'Who will persuade Ahab king of Israel to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?' So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner.
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"Then a l spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, and said, 'I will persuade him.' The LORD said to him, 'In what way?'
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"So he said, 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And the LORD said, 'You shall persuade him and also prevail; go out and do so.'
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"Therefore look! m The LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these prophets of yours, and the LORD has declared disaster against you."
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Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near and n struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, "Which way did the spirit from the LORD go from me to speak to you?"
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And Micaiah said, "Indeed you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide!"
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Then the king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah, and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king's son;
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"and say, 'Thus says the king: o "Put this fellow in prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction, until I return in peace." ' "
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But Micaiah said, "If you ever return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by p me." And he said, "Take heed, all you people!"
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Cross References
2 Chronicles 17:5
Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah gave presents to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honor in abundance.
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Cross References
1 Kings 22:44
Also Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.
2 Kings 8:18
And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife; and he did evil in the sight of the LORD.
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Cross References
1 Kings 22:40
So Ahab rested with his fathers. Then Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.
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Cross References
Exodus 23:2
You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice.
1 Kings 22:2
Then it came to pass, in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went down to visit the king of Israel.
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Cross References
1 Samuel 23:2
Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I go and attack these Philistines?" And the LORD said to David, "Go and attack the Philistines, and save Keilah.
1 Samuel 23:4
Then David inquired of the LORD once again. And the LORD answered him and said, "Arise, go down to Keilah. For I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.
1 Samuel 23:9
When David knew that Saul plotted evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod here.
2 Samuel 2:1
It happened after this that David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I go up to any of the cities of Judah?" And the LORD said to him, "Go up." David said, "Where shall I go up?" And He said, "To Hebron.
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Cross References
2 Kings 3:11
But Jehoshaphat said, " Is there no prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of the LORD by him?" So one of the servants of the king of Israel answered and said, "Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.
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Cross References
Zechariah 1:18 - 21
Then I raised my eyes and looked, and there were four horns.
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Cross References
Numbers 22:18 - 20
Then Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, "Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.
Numbers 22:35
Then the Angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but only the word that I speak to you, that you shall speak." So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
Numbers 23:12
So he answered and said, "Must I not take heed to speak what the LORD has put in my mouth?
Numbers 23:26
So Balaam answered and said to Balak, "Did I not tell you, saying, 'All that the LORD speaks, that I must do'?
1 Kings 22:14
And Micaiah said, " As the LORD lives, whatever the LORD says to me, that I will speak.
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Cross References
Jeremiah 23:1 - 8
Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!" says the LORD.
Jeremiah 31:10
"Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, And declare it in the isles afar off, and say, 'He who scattered Israel will gather him, And keep him as a shepherd does his flock.'
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Cross References
Numbers 27:17
"who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be like sheep which have no shepherd."
1 Kings 22:17
Then he said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, 'These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.'
Ezekiel 34:5 - 8
So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered.
Matthew 9:36
But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
Mark 6:34
And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.
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Cross References
Isaiah 6:1 - 5
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.
Daniel 7:9
I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire.
Daniel 7:10
A fiery stream issued And came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, And the books were opened.
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Cross References
Job 1:6
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.
2 Thessalonians 2:9
The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders.
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Cross References
Job 12:16
With Him are strength and prudence. The deceived and the deceiver are His.
Job 12:17
He leads counselors away plundered, And makes fools of the judges.
Isaiah 19:12 - 14
Where are they? Where are your wise men? Let them tell you now, And let them know what the LORD of hosts has purposed against Egypt.
Ezekiel 14:9
And if the prophet is induced to speak anything, I the LORD have induced that prophet, and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel.
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Cross References
Jeremiah 20:2
Then Pashhur struck Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.
Mark 14:65
Then some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, and to say to Him, "Prophesy!" And the officers struck Him with the palms of their hands.
Acts 23:2
And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.
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Cross References
2 Chronicles 16:10
Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in prison, for he was enraged at him because of this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at that time.
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Cross References
Deuteronomy 18:22
When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.