14. But Micaiah answered, “As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what the Lord tells me.”
15. Then Micaiah came to Ahab. The king asked him, “Micaiah, should we attack Ramoth in Gilead or not?”Micaiah answered, “Attack and win! The Lord will let you defeat them.”
16. But Ahab said to Micaiah, “Tell me only the truth in the name of the Lord. How many times do I have to tell you this?”
17. So Micaiah answered, “I saw the army of Israel. They were scattered over the hills like sheep without a shepherd. The Lord said, ‘They have no leader. They should go home and not fight.’”
18. Then Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I told you! This prophet never says anything good about me. He only says bad things about me.”
19. But Micaiah continued to speak. He said, “Hear the message from the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne. His heavenly army was standing near him on his right and on his left.
20. The Lord said, ‘Who will trick Ahab into attacking Ramoth in Gilead? Do this so he will go and be killed.’“The spirits did not agree about what they should do.
21. Then one spirit came and stood before the Lord. He said, ‘I will trick him.’
22. “The Lord asked, ‘How will you trick Ahab?’“The spirit answered, ‘I will go to Ahab’s prophets. I will make them tell lies.’“So the Lord said, ‘You will succeed in tricking him. Go and do it.’”
23. Micaiah said, “Ahab, this has now happened. The Lord has caused your prophets to lie to you. The Lord has decided that great trouble should come to you.”
24. Then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah went up to Micaiah. And he hit Micaiah in the face. Zedekiah said, “Do you really believe the Lord’s spirit has left me and is now speaking through you?”
25. Micaiah answered, “You will find out on the day you go to hide in an inside room.”
26. Then Ahab king of Israel ordered, “Take Micaiah. Send him to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, the king’s son.
27. Tell them I said to put Micaiah in prison. Give him only bread and water for food. Keep him there until I come home from the battle.”
28. Micaiah said, “Ahab, if you come back safely from battle, the Lord has not spoken through me. Remember my words, all you people.”
29. So Ahab king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went to Ramoth in Gilead.
30. Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “I will go into battle. But I will change my appearance so that no one will recognize me. But you wear your royal clothes.” So Ahab changed his appearance and went into battle.
31. The king of Aram had 32 chariot commanders. He ordered them, “Don’t fight with anyone but the king of Israel. It doesn’t matter if they are important or unimportant.”
32. When these commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they thought he was the king of Israel. So they turned to attack him. But Jehoshaphat began shouting.
33. Then the commanders saw he was not Ahab. So they stopped chasing him.