La royauté
Jehoshaphat and Ahab: The War over Ramoth in Gilead
King Jehoshaphat joins King Ahab in a war against Aram but insists on consulting a true prophet of the Lord. The prophet Michah reveals that a lying spirit has deceived Ahab's 400 prophets into speaking lies and predicts Ahab's death, which indeed occurs at the battle of Ramoth in Gilead.
2 Chroniques 18,1-34
1Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor, and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage.
וַיְהִ֧י לִֽיהוֹשָׁפָ֛ט עֹ֥שֶׁר וְכָב֖וֹד לָרֹ֑ב וַיִּתְחַתֵּ֖ן לְאַחְאָֽב׃
2Some years later he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria, and Ahab slaughtered sheep and cattle in abundance for him and for the people who were with him, and he urged him to march against Ramoth-gilead.
וַיֵּרֶד֩ לְקֵ֨ץ שָׁנִ֤ים אֶל־אַחְאָב֙ לְשֹׁ֣מְר֔וֹן וַיִּֽזְבַּֽח־ל֨וֹ אַחְאָ֜ב צֹ֤אן וּבָקָר֙ לָרֹ֔ב וְלָעָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר עִמּ֑וֹ וַיְסִיתֵ֕הוּ לַעֲל֖וֹת אֶל־רָמ֥וֹת גִּלְעָֽד׃
3Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, "Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?" He answered him, "I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will join you in the battle."
וַיֹּ֜אמֶר אַחְאָ֣ב מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֶל־יְהֽוֹשָׁפָט֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֔ה הֲתֵלֵ֥ךְ עִמִּ֖י רָמֹ֣ת גִּלְעָ֑ד וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ כָּמ֤וֹנִי כָמ֙וֹךָ֙ וּכְעַמְּךָ֣ עַמִּ֔י וְעִמְּךָ֖ בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃
4But Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Please seek the word of the LORD first."
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוֹשָׁפָ֖ט אֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל דְּרָשׁ־נָ֥א כַיּ֖וֹם אֶת־דְּבַ֥ר יְהוָֽה׃
5So the king of Israel gathered the prophets, four hundred men, and asked them, "Shall we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I hold back?" They said, "Go up, and God will give it into the king's hand."
וַיִּקְבֹּ֨ץ מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל אֶֽת־הַנְּבִאִים֮ אַרְבַּ֣ע מֵא֣וֹת אִישׁ֒ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֗ם הֲנֵלֵ֞ךְ אֶל־רָמֹ֥ת גִּלְעָ֛ד לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה אִם־אֶחְדָּ֑ל וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ עֲלֵ֔ה וְיִתֵּ֥ן הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּיַ֥ד הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
6But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there no other prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of him?"
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יְה֣וֹשָׁפָ֔ט הַאֵ֨ין פֹּ֥ה נָבִ֛יא לַיהוָ֖ה ע֑וֹד וְנִדְרְשָׁ֖ה מֵאֹתֽוֹ׃
7The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man through whom we may inquire of the LORD, but I hate him, because he never prophesies anything good about me, only trouble, all his days. He is Micaiah son of Imlah." Jehoshaphat said, "The king should not say such a thing."
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל ׀ אֶֽל־יְהוֹשָׁפָ֡ט ע֣וֹד אִישׁ־אֶחָ֡ד לִדְרוֹשׁ֩ אֶת־יְהוָ֨ה מֽ͏ֵאֹת֜וֹ וַאֲנִ֣י שְׂנֵאתִ֗יהוּ כִּֽי־אֵ֠ינֶנּוּ מִתְנַבֵּ֨א עָלַ֤י לְטוֹבָה֙ כִּ֣י כָל־יָמָ֣יו לְרָעָ֔ה ה֖וּא מִיכָ֣יְהוּ בֶן־יִמְלָ֑א וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יְה֣וֹשָׁפָ֔ט אַל־יֹאמַ֥ר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ כֵּֽן׃
8So the king of Israel summoned one of his officers and said, "Bring Micaiah son of Imlah at once."
וַיִּקְרָא֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶל־סָרִ֖יס אֶחָ֑ד וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מַהֵ֖ר *מיכהו **מִיכָ֥יְהוּ בֶן־יִמְלָֽא׃
9Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting on their thrones, dressed in their robes, at the threshing floor by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying before them.
וּמֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֡ל וִֽיהוֹשָׁפָ֣ט מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֡ה יוֹשְׁבִים֩ אִ֨ישׁ עַל־כִּסְא֜וֹ מְלֻבָּשִׁ֤ים בְּגָדִים֙ וְיֹשְׁבִ֣ים בְּגֹ֔רֶן פֶּ֖תַח שַׁ֣עַר שֹׁמְר֑וֹן וְכָל־הַ֨נְּבִיאִ֔ים מִֽתְנַבְּאִ֖ים לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃
10Zedekiah son of Chenaanah had made himself horns of iron, and he declared, "Thus says the LORD: With these you shall gore the Arameans until they are destroyed."
וַיַּ֥עַשׂ ל֛וֹ צִדְקִיָּ֥הוּ בֶֽן־כְּנַעֲנָ֖ה קַרְנֵ֣י בַרְזֶ֑ל וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה בְּאֵ֛לֶּה תְּנַגַּ֥ח אֶת־אֲרָ֖ם עַד־כַּלּוֹתָֽם׃
11And all the prophets prophesied the same thing: "March up to Ramoth-gilead and triumph; the LORD will give it into the king's hand."
וְכָל־הַ֨נְּבִאִ֔ים נִבְּאִ֥ים כֵּ֖ן לֵאמֹ֑ר עֲלֵ֞ה רָמֹ֤ת גִּלְעָד֙ וְהַצְלַ֔ח וְנָתַ֥ן יְהוָ֖ה בְּיַ֥ד הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
12The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, "Listen, the prophets are unanimous in speaking favorably to the king. Let your word be like theirs; speak favorably."
וְהַמַּלְאָ֞ךְ אֲשֶׁר־הָלַ֣ךְ ׀ לִקְרֹ֣א לְמִיכָ֗יְהוּ דִּבֶּ֤ר אֵלָיו֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הִנֵּ֞ה דִּבְרֵ֧י הַנְּבִאִ֛ים פֶּֽה־אֶחָ֥ד ט֖וֹב אֶל־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וִֽיהִי־נָ֧א דְבָרְךָ֛ כְּאַחַ֥ד מֵהֶ֖ם וְדִבַּ֥רְתָּ טּֽוֹב׃
13But Micaiah said, "As the LORD lives, I will speak whatever my God tells me."
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר מִיכָ֑יְהוּ חַי־יְהוָ֕ה כִּ֛י אֶת־אֲשֶׁר־יֹאמַ֥ר אֱלֹהַ֖י אֹת֥וֹ אֲדַבֵּֽר׃
14When he came to the king, the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I hold back?" He answered, "Go up and triumph! They will be given into your hand."
וַיָּבֹא֮ אֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְ֒ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֵלָ֗יו מִיכָה֙ הֲנֵלֵ֞ךְ אֶל־רָמֹ֥ת גִּלְעָ֛ד לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה אִם־אֶחְדָּ֑ל וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ עֲל֣וּ וְהַצְלִ֔יחוּ וְיִנָּתְנ֖וּ בְּיֶדְכֶֽם׃
15The king said to him, "How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?"
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ עַד־כַּמֶּ֥ה פְעָמִ֖ים אֲנִ֣י מַשְׁבִּיעֶ֑ךָ אֲ֠שֶׁר לֹֽא־תְדַבֵּ֥ר אֵלַ֛י רַק־אֱמֶ֖ת בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְהוָֽה׃
16Then Micaiah said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, 'These have no master; let each one go home in peace.'"
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר רָאִ֤יתִי אֶת־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ נְפוֹצִ֣ים עַל־הֶֽהָרִ֔ים כַּצֹּ֕אן אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֵין־לָהֶ֖ן רֹעֶ֑ה וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ לֹֽא־אֲדֹנִ֣ים לָאֵ֔לֶּה יָשׁ֥וּבוּ אִישׁ־לְבֵית֖וֹ בְּשָׁלֽוֹם׃
17The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Didn't I tell you? He never prophesies anything good about me, only trouble."
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶל־יְהוֹשָׁפָ֑ט הֲלֹא֙ אָמַ֣רְתִּי אֵלֶ֔יךָ לֹא־יִתְנַבֵּ֥א עָלַ֛י ט֖וֹב כִּ֥י אִם־לְרָֽע׃ ס
18Micaiah went on, "Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD seated on his throne, with all the host of heaven standing on his right and on his left.
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לָכֵ֖ן שִׁמְע֣וּ דְבַר־יְהוָ֑ה רָאִ֤יתִי אֶת־יְהוָה֙ יוֹשֵׁ֣ב עַל־כִּסְא֔וֹ וְכָל־צְבָ֤א הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ עֹֽמְדִ֔ים עַל־יְמִינ֖וֹ וּשְׂמֹאלֽוֹ׃
19And the LORD said, 'Who will entice Ahab king of Israel to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' One said this, another said that,
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָ֗ה מִ֤י יְפַתֶּה֙ אֶת־אַחְאָ֣ב מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְיַ֕עַל וְיִפֹּ֖ל בְּרָמ֣וֹת גִּלְעָ֑ד וַיֹּ֕אמֶר זֶ֚ה אֹמֵ֣ר כָּ֔כָה וְזֶ֖ה אֹמֵ֥ר כָּֽכָה׃
20until a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD and said, 'I will entice him.' The LORD asked him, 'How?'
וַיֵּצֵ֣א הָר֗וּחַ וַֽיַּעֲמֹד֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֲנִ֣י אֲפַתֶּ֑נּוּ וַיֹּ֧אמֶר יְהוָ֛ה אֵלָ֖יו בַּמָּֽה׃
21He answered, 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.' The LORD said, 'You will entice him, and you will succeed. Go and do it.'
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֵצֵא֙ וְהָיִ֙יתִי֙ לְר֣וּחַ שֶׁ֔קֶר בְּפִ֖י כָּל־נְבִיאָ֑יו וַיֹּ֗אמֶר תְּפַתֶּה֙ וְגַם־תּוּכָ֔ל צֵ֖א וַעֲשֵׂה־כֵֽן׃
22So now the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of these prophets of yours; the LORD has decreed disaster for you."
וְעַתָּ֗ה הִנֵּ֨ה נָתַ֤ן יְהוָה֙ ר֣וּחַ שֶׁ֔קֶר בְּפִ֖י נְבִיאֶ֣יךָ אֵ֑לֶּה וַֽיהוָ֔ה דִּבֶּ֥ר עָלֶ֖יךָ רָעָֽה׃ ס
23Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah came up and struck Micaiah on the cheek, saying, "Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go when he left me to speak to you?"
וַיִּגַּשׁ֙ צִדְקִיָּ֣הוּ בֶֽן־כְּנַעֲנָ֔ה וַיַּ֥ךְ אֶת־מִיכָ֖יְהוּ עַל־הַלֶּ֑חִי וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֵ֣י זֶ֤ה הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ עָבַ֧ר רֽוּחַ־יְהוָ֛ה מֵאִתִּ֖י לְדַבֵּ֥ר אֹתָֽךְ׃
24Micaiah answered, "You will find out on the day you go into an inner room to hide."
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מִיכָ֔יְהוּ הִנְּךָ֥ רֹאֶ֖ה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא אֲשֶׁ֥ר תָּב֛וֹא חֶ֥דֶר בְּחֶ֖דֶר לְהֵחָבֵֽא׃
25The king of Israel ordered, "Take Micaiah and hand him over to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king's son,
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל קְחוּ֙ אֶת־מִיכָ֔יְהוּ וַהֲשִׁיבֻ֖הוּ אֶל־אָמ֣וֹן שַׂר־הָעִ֑יר וְאֶל־יוֹאָ֖שׁ בֶּן־הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
26and say, 'Thus says the king: Put this man in prison and feed him a meager ration of bread and water until I return safely.'"
וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֗ם כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ שִׂ֥ימוּ זֶ֖ה בֵּ֣ית הַכֶּ֑לֶא וְהַאֲכִלֻ֜הוּ לֶ֤חֶם לַ֙חַץ֙ וּמַ֣יִם לַ֔חַץ עַ֖ד שׁוּבִ֥י בְשָׁלֽוֹם׃
27Micaiah said, "If you ever return safely, the LORD has not spoken through me." And he added, "Hear it, all you peoples!"
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מִיכָ֔יְהוּ אִם־שׁ֤וֹב תָּשׁוּב֙ בְּשָׁל֔וֹם לֹא־דִבֶּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה בִּ֑י וַיֹּ֕אמֶר שִׁמְע֖וּ עַמִּ֥ים כֻּלָּֽם׃ פ
28So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah marched up to Ramoth-gilead.
וַיַּ֧עַל מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל וִֽיהוֹשָׁפָ֥ט מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֖ה אֶל־רָמֹ֥ת גִּלְעָֽד׃
29The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal robes." So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.
וַיֹּאמֶר֩ מֶ֨לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶל־יְהוֹשָׁפָ֗ט הִתְחַפֵּשׂ֙ וָב֣וֹא בַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְאַתָּ֖ה לְבַ֣שׁ בְּגָדֶ֑יךָ וַיִּתְחַפֵּשׂ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃
30Now the king of Aram had ordered his chariot commanders, "Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel."
וּמֶ֣לֶךְ אֲרָ֡ם צִוָּה֩ אֶת־שָׂרֵ֨י הָרֶ֤כֶב אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לֹ֚א תִּלָּ֣חֲמ֔וּ אֶת־הַקָּטֹ֖ן אֶת־הַגָּד֑וֹל כִּ֛י אִֽם־אֶת־מֶ֥לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְבַדּֽוֹ׃
31When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, "That is the king of Israel," and they turned to attack him. But Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; God drew them away from him.
וַיְהִ֡י כִּרְאוֹת֩ שָׂרֵ֨י הָרֶ֜כֶב אֶת־יְהוֹשָׁפָ֗ט וְהֵ֤מָּה אָֽמְרוּ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל ה֔וּא וַיָּסֹ֥בּוּ עָלָ֖יו לְהִלָּחֵ֑ם וַיִּזְעַ֤ק יְהֽוֹשָׁפָט֙ וַֽיהוָ֣ה עֲזָר֔וֹ וַיְסִיתֵ֥ם אֱלֹהִ֖ים מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃
32For when the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.
וַיְהִ֗י כִּרְאוֹת֙ שָׂרֵ֣י הָרֶ֔כֶב כִּ֥י לֹא־הָיָ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיָּשֻׁ֖בוּ מֵאַחֲרָֽיו׃
33But someone drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. The king said to his charioteer, "Turn around and get me out of the battle, for I am wounded."
וְאִ֗ישׁ מָשַׁ֤ךְ בַּקֶּ֙שֶׁת֙ לְתֻמּ֔וֹ וַיַּךְ֙ אֶת־מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בֵּ֥ין הַדְּבָקִ֖ים וּבֵ֣ין הַשִּׁרְיָ֑ן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָֽרַכָּ֗ב הֲפֹ֧ךְ *ידיך **יָדְךָ֛ וְהוֹצֵאתַ֥נִי מִן־הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה כִּ֥י הָחֳלֵֽיתִי׃
34The fighting raged all that day, and the king of Israel was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans until evening. At sunset he died.
וַתַּ֤עַל הַמִּלְחָמָה֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא וּמֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל הָיָ֨ה מַעֲמִ֧יד בַּמֶּרְכָּבָ֛ה נֹ֥כַח אֲרָ֖ם עַד־הָעָ֑רֶב וַיָּ֕מָת לְעֵ֖ת בּ֥וֹא הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃