1. For three years there was peace between Israel and Aram.
2. During the third year Jehoshaphat king of Judah went to visit Ahab king of Israel.
3. At this same time Ahab asked his officers, “Remember that the king of Aram took Ramoth in Gilead from us? Why have we done nothing to get it back?”
4. So Ahab asked King Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with us? Will you fight against the army of Aram at Ramoth in Gilead?”Jehoshaphat answered, “I will go with you. My soldiers and my horses are ready to join with your army.
5. But first we should ask the Lord to guide us.”
6. So Ahab called the prophets together. There were about 400 men. He asked them, “Should I go to war against the army of Aram at Ramoth in Gilead? Or should I wait?”The prophets answered, “Go, because the Lord will let you defeat them.”
7. But Jehoshaphat asked, “Isn’t there a prophet of the Lord here? Let’s ask him what we should do.”
8. King Ahab answered, “There is one other prophet. We could ask the Lord through him. But I hate him. When he prophesies, he never says anything good about me. He always says something bad. He is Micaiah, Imlah’s son.”Jehoshaphat said, “King Ahab, you shouldn’t say that!”
9. So Ahab king of Israel told one of his officers to bring Micaiah to him at once.
10. Ahab king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah had on their royal robes. They were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor. This was near the entrance to the gate of Samaria. All the prophets were standing before them, speaking messages from the Lord.
11. One of the prophets was Zedekiah son of Kenaanah. He had made some iron horns. He said to Ahab, “This is what the Lord says, ‘You will use these horns to fight the Arameans. And you will destroy them.’”
12. All the other prophets said the same thing. They said, “Attack Ramoth in Gilead and win. The Lord will let you defeat the Arameans.”