18. The king of Israel spoke to Jehoshaphat. He said, "Didn't I tell you he never prophesies anything good about me? He only prophesies bad things."
19. Micaiah continued, "Listen to the Lord's message. I saw the Lord sitting on his throne. Some of the angels of heaven were standing at his right side. The others were standing at his left side. So all of them were standing around him.
20. The Lord said, 'Who will try to get Ahab to attack Ramoth Gilead? I want him to die there.' "One angel suggested one thing. Another suggested something else.
21. Finally, a spirit came forward and stood in front of the Lord. The spirit said, 'I'll try to get Ahab to do it.'
22. " 'How?' the Lord asked. "The spirit said, 'I'll go out and put lies in the mouths of all of his prophets.' " 'You will have success in getting Ahab to attack Ramoth Gilead,' said the Lord. 'Go and do it.'
23. "So the Lord has put lies in the mouths of all of your prophets. He has said that great harm will come to you."
24. Then Zedekiah, the son of Kenaanah, went up and slapped Micaiah in the face. "So you think the spirit that was sent by the Lord went away from me to speak to you, do you?" he asked. "Which way did he go?"
25. Micaiah replied, "You will find out on the day you go to hide in an inside room to save your life."
26. Then the king of Israel gave an order. He said, "Take Micaiah away. Send him back to Amon. Amon is the ruler of the city of Samaria. And send him back to Joash. Joash is a member of the royal court.
27. Tell him, 'The king says, "Put this fellow in prison. Don't give him anything but bread and water until I return safely." ' "
28. Micaiah announced, "Do you really think you will return safely? If you do, the Lord hasn't spoken through me." He continued, "All of you people, remember what I've said!"
29. So the king of Israel went up to Ramoth Gilead. Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, went there too.
30. The king of Israel spoke to Jehoshaphat. He said, "I'll go into battle wearing different clothes. Then people won't recognize me. But you wear your royal robes." So the king of Israel put on different clothes. Then he went into battle.
31. The king of Aram had given an order to his 32 chariot commanders. He had said, "Fight only against the king of Israel. Don't fight against anyone else."
32. The chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat. They thought, "That has to be the king of Israel." So they turned to attack him. But Jehoshaphat cried out.
33. Then the commanders saw he wasn't the king of Israel after all. So they stopped chasing him.