10. All this time, Ahab and Jehoshaphat were dressed in their royal robes and were seated on their thrones at the threshing place near the gate of Samaria. They were listening to the prophets tell them what the Lord had said.
11. Zedekiah son of Chenaanah was one of the prophets. He had made some horns out of iron and shouted, “Ahab, the Lord says you will attack the Syrians like a bull with iron horns and wipe them out!”
12. All the prophets agreed that Ahab should attack the Syrians at Ramoth, and they promised that the Lord would help him defeat them.
13. Meanwhile, the messenger who went to get Micaiah whispered, “Micaiah, all the prophets have good news for Ahab. Now go and say the same thing.”
14. “I'll say whatever the living Lord tells me to say,” Micaiah replied.
15. Then Micaiah went to Ahab, and Ahab asked, “Micaiah, should I attack the Syrians at Ramoth?”“Yes!” Micaiah answered. “The Lord will help you defeat them.”
16. “Micaiah, I've told you over and over again to tell me the truth!” Ahab shouted. “What does the Lord really say?”
17. He answered, “In a vision I saw Israelite soldiers walking around in the hills like sheep without a shepherd to guide them. The Lord said, ‘This army has no leader. They should go home and not fight.’ ”
18. Ahab turned to Jehoshaphat and said, “I told you he would bring bad news!”
19. Micaiah replied:Listen to this! I also saw the Lord seated on his throne with every creature in heaven gathered around him.
20. The Lord asked, “Who can trick Ahab and make him go to Ramoth where he will be killed?”They talked about it for a while,
21. then finally a spirit came forward and said to the Lord, “I can trick Ahab.”“How?” the Lord asked.
22. “I'll make Ahab's prophets lie to him.”“Good!” the Lord replied. “Now go and do it.”
23. This is exactly what has happened, Ahab. The Lord made all your prophets lie to you, and he knows you will soon be destroyed.