16. Micaiah answered, “In a vision I saw Israelite soldiers wandering around, lost in the hills like sheep without a shepherd. The Lord said, ‘These troops have no leader. They should go home and not fight.’ ”
17. Ahab turned to Jehoshaphat and said, “I told you he would bring me bad news!”
18. Micaiah replied:I then saw the Lord seated on his throne with every creature in heaven gathered around him.
19. 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,
20. then finally a spirit came forward and said to the Lord, “I can trick Ahab.”“How?” the Lord asked.
21. “I'll make Ahab's prophets lie to him.”“Good!” the Lord replied. “Now go and do it. You will be successful.”
22. Ahab, this is exactly what has happened. The Lord made all your prophets lie to you, and he knows you will soon be destroyed.
23. Zedekiah walked over and slapped Micaiah on the face. Then he asked, “Do you really think the Lord would speak to you and not to me?”
24. Micaiah answered, “You'll find out on the day you have to hide in the back room of some house.”
25. Ahab shouted, “Arrest Micaiah! Take him to Prince Joash and Governor Amon of Samaria.
26. Tell them to put him in prison and to give him nothing but bread and water until I come back safely.”
27. Micaiah said, “If you do come back, I was wrong about what the Lord wanted me to say.” Then he told the crowd, “Don't forget what I said!”