2 Chronicles 18

1 Now Jehoshaphat [a king of Judah] had riches [wealth, abundance] and honor [glory, high esteem] in abundance [greatness, plenty], and he allied [joined, became related] himself with Ahab [a king of Israel] by marriage [through a wedding vow, in affinity]. word study 2 And some years [after certain years, at the end of a period] later he went down [descended, to a lower place] to visit Ahab [the king of Israel] in Samaria [the capital city of the northern kingdom], where Ahab sacrificed [killed, slaughtered] many sheep [a flock, a group of people] and cattle [domesticated oxen, for work or sacrifice] for him and the people [a nation, a group of individuals] with him, and urged [incited, stimulated] him to march up [to ascend, to go up] to Ramoth-gilead [a significant location, a place of battle]. word study 3 Ahab [the wicked king of Israel] king of Israel asked Jehoshaphat [faithful to God, pious king of Judah] king of Judah, “Will you go [to walk, to journey] with me [in alliance, together] against Ramoth-gilead [a city of refuge, a place of safety]?” And Jehoshaphat replied, “I am [similar to] like you, and my people [nation, community] are your people [Amaw, a tribe]; we will join [to be with, to unite] you in the war [battle, conflict].” word study 4 But Jehoshaphat [the Lord has judged] also said to the king [ruler, monarch] of Israel, “Please [I pray, I beseech] inquire [seek, ask] first for the word [message, command] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God].” word study 5 So the king [ruler, monarch] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants] assembled [gathered, collected] the prophets [spokespersons for God], four hundred [a large group of] men, and asked them, “Should we go [march, proceed] to war [battle, conflict] against Ramoth-gilead [a location east of the Jordan River], or should we refrain [cease, stop]?” “Go up [ascend, rise],” they replied, “and God [Elohim, the supreme Being] will deliver [give, hand over] it into the hand [power, authority] of the king [ruler, monarch].” word study 6 But Jehoshaphat [the king of Judah, a righteous ruler] asked, “Is there not [does not exist] still [yet, to this moment] a prophet [one who speaks for God, a spokesperson] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] here [in this place, present with us] of whom we can inquire [seek guidance, ask for counsel]?” word study 7 The king [ruler, monarch] of Israel answered, “There is still [yet, remaining] one man [human, individual] who can ask [seek, inquire of] the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], but I hate [detest, have intense dislike for] him because he never [at no time] prophesies [speaks under divine inspiration] anything good [beneficial, pleasant] for me, but only [exclusively] bad [evil, harmful]. He is Micaiah [who is like God] son of Imlah.” “The king [monarch, ruler] should not [must not, ought not] say that!” Jehoshaphat [Jehovah has judged] replied. word study 8 So the king [ruler, monarch] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] called [summoned, invited] one [a single, unique] of his officials [eunuchs, high-ranking servants] and said, “Bring [fetch, summon] Micaiah [who is like God, a prophet] son [descendant, offspring] of Imlah [a faithful Israelite] at once [quickly, without delay, to hasten].” word study 9 Dressed in royal attire [clothed in their robes, arrayed in royal garments], the king of Israel [the ruler of the northern kingdom] and Jehoshaphat king of Judah [the ruler of the southern kingdom, a descendant of David] were sitting on their thrones [seats of power and authority] at the threshing floor [an open area for separating grain] by the entrance [the gate, a place of transition] of the gate of Samaria [the capital city of the northern kingdom, a watch mountain], with all [every single one, the entire group] the prophets [those who speak for God, messengers of the divine] prophesying [speaking under the influence of the divine spirit, foretelling the future] before them [in their presence, face to face]. word study 10 Now Zedekiah [son of a notable father, Chenaanah] son of Chenaanah had made for himself iron [a strong metal] horns and declared, “This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: ‘With these [instruments of war] you shall gore [push, thrust with force] the Arameans [the people of Aram, or Syria] until they are finished off [completely consumed, destroyed].’” word study 11 And all [every single one] the prophets [those who speak for God] were prophesying [speaking under divine inspiration] the same, saying, “Go up [ascend, rise] to Ramoth-gilead [a city in the region of Gilead] and prosper [succeed, be victorious], for the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] will deliver [give, hand over] it into the hand [power, control] of the king [the ruler, monarch].” word study 12 Then the messenger [a representative of the king] who had gone to call Micaiah [who is like God, a prophet] instructed him, “Behold [look, take notice], with one accord [in complete unity, with one mouth] the words [prophecies, declarations] of the prophets [those who speak for God] are favorable [good, positive, declaring good] to the king [the ruler, monarch]. So please [I pray, I request] let your words [your prophecy, your declaration] be like theirs [in agreement, in harmony], and speak [declare, proclaim] favorably [good, positive, a good outcome].” word study 13 But Micaiah said, “As surely as the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] lives [is alive, has eternal life], I will speak [declare, proclaim] whatever my God [Elohim, the one supreme God] tells [speaks, commands] me [to say, to proclaim].” word study 14 When Micaiah arrived [came to the presence of], the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we go [proceed, march] to war [battle, fight] against Ramoth-gilead [a city in Gilead], or should we refrain [cease, stop]?” “Go up [ascend, rise] and triumph [prosper, succeed],” Micaiah replied, “for they will be given [delivered, handed over] into your hand [power, control].” word study 15 But the king [ruler, monarch] said to him, “How many times [on how many occasions, repeatedly] must I make you swear [take an oath, vow] not to tell me anything but [except, only] the truth [faithfulness, integrity] in the name [reputation, character] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God]?” word study 16 So Micaiah declared: “I saw [beheld, perceived with spiritual insight] all Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] scattered [dispersed, broken apart] on the hills [mountains] like sheep [a flock, helpless without guidance] without a shepherd [a guardian, protector, or leader]. And the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] said, ‘These people [this nation, God’s own] have no master [lord, ruler, or leader]; let each one [every individual, every person] return [turn back, come home] home [to their own house, their place of rest] in peace [shalom, completeness, and wellness].’” word study 17 Then the king [ruler, monarch] of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he never prophesies [speaks under divine influence, foretells] good [pleasant, beneficial] for me, but only [exclusively, solely] bad [evil, harmful, morally wrong]?” word study 18 Micaiah continued, “Therefore [in this manner, thus] hear [listen attentively, obey] the word [message, declaration] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]: I saw [perceived, had a vision of] the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] sitting [dwelling, enthroned] on His throne [seat of power, authority], and all [the entire host] the host [army, heavenly forces] of heaven [the spiritual realm, the sky] standing [positioned, arrayed] on His right [side of honor, south] and on His left [side of lesser honor, north]. word study 19 And the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said, ‘Who [what person, which one] will entice [deceive, persuade] Ahab king [ruler, monarch] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, God’s chosen people] to march up [to ascend, go up] and fall [be defeated, die] at Ramoth-gilead [a location east of the Jordan River, a significant place]?’ And one suggested [spoke, said] this [in this way], and another [a different one] that [in that manner]. word study 20 Then a spirit [breath of life, divine being] came forward, stood before the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], and said, ‘I will entice [deceive, persuade] him.’ ‘By what means [with what, how]?’ asked the LORD [the supreme God, ruler]. word study 21 And he replied, ‘I will go out [as a spirit of falsehood] and be a lying spirit [of deception, a false influence] in the mouths [lips, oracles] of all his prophets.’ ‘You will surely entice [deceive, persuade] him and prevail [succeed, have power over],’ said the LORD. ‘Go [come out, depart] and do [accomplish, bring about] it.’ word study 22 So you see, the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has put [given, set, or placed] a lying [deceptive, false] spirit [breath of life, or a person’s mind and emotions] in the mouths [lips, or edge of something] of these [specific] prophets [speakers for God] of yours, and the LORD [the supreme God] has pronounced [spoken, or communicated] disaster [evil, or bad things] against you [upon your situation].” word study 23 Then Zedekiah [son of a notable prophet] son of Chenaanah went up, struck Micaiah in the face [upon the cheek], and demanded, “Which way [by what path or method] did the Spirit [the breath of life] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] go when He departed [crossed over or transitioned] from me to speak [to communicate or convey a message] with you [in close relationship or proximity]?” word study 24 Micaiah replied, “You will soon see [when the time comes], on that day [of reckoning, of judgment] when you go [enter, come into] and hide [conceal yourself, secrete] in an inner room [chamber, private place, to be hidden].” word study 25 And the king [ruler, monarch] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants] declared [said, commanded], “Take [seize, apprehend] Micaiah [who is like God] and return [send back, turn back] him to Amon [a king of Judah, son of Manasseh] the governor [ruler, leader] of the city [a place with a wall or a watchman] and to Joash [given by the Lord] the king’s [royal, sovereign] son [descendant, offspring], word study 26 and tell them that this is what the king [the ruler, sovereign] says: ‘Put this man [fellow, individual] in prison [the house of restraint, a place of confinement] and feed him only [with scarcity, in a limited manner] bread [food, sustenance] and water [refreshment, hydration] until I return [turn back, come back] safely [in peace, with completeness].’” word study 27 But Micaiah replied, “If [on the condition that] you ever return [turn back, come again] safely [in peace, unharmed], the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] has not spoken [communicated, uttered] through me.” Then he added, “Take heed [listen, hear], all [every single one] you people [nations, assemblies]!” word study 28 So the king [ruler, monarch] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants] and Jehoshaphat [Jehova judged, a king of Judah] king [royal person, monarch] of Judah [the name of the tribe descended from Judah, the son of Jacob] went up [to ascend, rise] to Ramoth-gilead [a location east of the Jordan River, a significant place, Ramoth in the Gilead region]. word study 29 And the king [ruler, monarch] of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise [change my appearance, hide my identity] myself and go into battle [war, conflict], but you wear [put on, clothe yourself with] your royal robes [garments, attire].” So the king of Israel disguised [changed his appearance, hid himself] himself and went into battle [the fight, the war]. word study 30 Now the king [ruler, monarch] of Aram [Syria, the region] had ordered [commanded, given instructions to] his chariot [war vehicle, cavalry] commanders, “Do not fight [engage in battle, wage war] with anyone, small [insignificant, unimportant] or great [powerful, prominent], except [only, solely] the king [monarch, ruler] of Israel [God’s chosen people, the descendants of Jacob].” word study 31 When the chariot [war vehicle, cavalry] commanders [rulers, captains] saw Jehoshaphat [the king of Judah, a faithful servant of God], they said, “This is the king [ruler, monarch] of Israel [God’s chosen people]!” So they turned [to surround, to attack] to fight [to battle, to wage war] against him, but Jehoshaphat [the king who was helped by God] cried out [to shout for help, to call upon God], and the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] helped [assisted, supported] him. God [Elohim, the supreme Being] drew [turned away, diverted] them away from him. word study 32 And when the chariot [war vehicle, cavalry] commanders [rulers, captains] saw [perceived, realized] that he was not [lacking, absent] the king [ruler, monarch] of Israel [God’s chosen people], they turned back [returned, withdrew] from pursuing [chasing, following after] him. word study 33 However, a certain [unknown, random] man drew his bow [at a venture] without taking special aim, and he struck the king [ruler, monarch] of Israel [God’s chosen people] between the joints [connections, links] of his armor [breastplate, coat of mail]. So the king said to his charioteer [driver, chariot man], “Turn around [overturn, change direction] and take me out of the battle [conflict, war], for I am badly [severely, sorely] wounded [hurt, injured]!” word study 34 The battle [war, conflict] raged throughout that day [a period of 24 hours, a time of testing], and the king [ruler, monarch] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, God’s chosen people] propped himself up [stood firm, remained upright] in his chariot [vehicle, means of transportation] facing [before, in front of] the Arameans [Syrians, enemies of Israel] until [as far as, up to] evening [sunset, the end of the day]. And at sunset [the time of the sun’s descent, the close of the day] he died [passed away, ceased to exist]. word study