The Prophet Nobody Wanted to Hear.

וַיְהִ֧י לִֽיהוֹשָׁפָ֛ט עֹ֥שֶׁר וְכָב֖וֹד לָרֹ֑ב וַיִּתְחַתֵּ֖ן לְאַחְאָֽב׃

Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor, and he made a marriage alliance with Ahab.

וַיֵּרֶד֩ לְקֵ֨ץ שָׁנִ֤ים אֶל־אַחְאָב֙ לְשֹׁ֣מְר֔וֹן וַיִּֽזְבַּֽח־ל֨וֹ אַחְאָ֜ב צֹ֤אן וּבָקָר֙ לָרֹ֔ב וְלָעָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר עִמּ֑וֹ וַיְסִיתֵ֕הוּ לַעֲל֖וֹת אֶל־רָמ֥וֹת גִּלְעָֽד׃

[2] After some years he went down to Ahab in Samaria. And Ahab killed an abundance of sheep and oxen for him and for the people who were with him, and induced him to go up against Ramoth-gilead.

וַיֹּ֜אמֶר אַחְאָ֣ב מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֶל־יְהֽוֹשָׁפָט֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֔ה הֲתֵלֵ֥ךְ עִמִּ֖י רָמֹ֣ת גִּלְעָ֑ד וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ כָּמ֤וֹנִי כָמ֙וֹךָ֙ וּכְעַמְּךָ֣ עַמִּ֔י וְעִמְּךָ֖ בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃

[3] Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?” He answered him, “I am as you are, my people as your people. We will be with you in the war.”

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוֹשָׁפָ֖ט אֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל דְּרָשׁ־נָ֥א כַיּ֖וֹם אֶת־דְּבַ֥ר יְהוָֽה׃

[4] And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Inquire first for the word of the Lord .”

וַיִּקְבֹּ֨ץ מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל אֶֽת־הַנְּבִאִים֮ אַרְבַּ֣ע מֵא֣וֹת אִישׁ֒ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֗ם הֲנֵלֵ֞ךְ אֶל־רָמֹ֥ת גִּלְעָ֛ד לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה אִם־אֶחְדָּ֑ל וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ עֲלֵ֔ה וְיִתֵּ֥ן הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּיַ֥ד הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

[5] Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall we go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for God will give it into the hand of the king.”

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יְה֣וֹשָׁפָ֔ט הַאֵ֨ין פֹּ֥ה נָבִ֛יא לַיהוָ֖ה ע֑וֹד וְנִדְרְשָׁ֖ה מֵאֹתֽוֹ׃

[6] But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not here another prophet of the Lord of whom we may inquire?”

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל׀ אֶֽל־יְהוֹשָׁפָ֡ט ע֣וֹד אִישׁ־אֶחָ֡ד לִדְרוֹשׁ֩ אֶת־יְהוָ֨ה מֵֽאֹת֜וֹ וַאֲנִ֣י שְׂנֵאתִ֗יהוּ כִּֽי־אֵ֠ינֶנּוּ מִתְנַבֵּ֨א עָלַ֤י לְטוֹבָה֙ כִּ֣י כָל־יָמָ֣יו לְרָעָ֔ה ה֖וּא מִיכָ֣יְהוּ בֶן־יִמְלָ֑א וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יְה֣וֹשָׁפָ֔ט אַל־יֹאמַ֥ר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ כֵּֽן׃

[7] And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord , Micaiah the son of Imlah; but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.”

וַיִּקְרָא֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶל־סָרִ֖יס אֶחָ֑ד וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מַהֵ֖ר ׳מִיכָהוּ׳ ״מִיכָ֥יְהוּ״ בֶן־יִמְלָֽא׃

[8] Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, “Bring quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah.”

וּמֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֡ל וִֽיהוֹשָׁפָ֣ט מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֡ה יוֹשְׁבִים֩ אִ֨ישׁ עַל־כִּסְא֜וֹ מְלֻבָּשִׁ֤ים בְּגָדִים֙ וְיֹשְׁבִ֣ים בְּגֹ֔רֶן פֶּ֖תַח שַׁ֣עַר שֹׁמְר֑וֹן וְכָל־הַ֨נְּבִיאִ֔ים מִֽתְנַבְּאִ֖ים לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃

[9] Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting on their thrones, arrayed in their robes. And they were sitting at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying before them.

וַיַּ֥עַשׂ ל֛וֹ צִדְקִיָּ֥הוּ בֶֽן־כְּנַעֲנָ֖ה קַרְנֵ֣י בַרְזֶ֑ל וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה בְּאֵ֛לֶּה תְּנַגַּ֥ח אֶת־אֲרָ֖ם עַד־כַּלּוֹתָֽם׃

[10] And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made for himself horns of iron and said, “Thus says the Lord , ‘With these you shall push the Syrians until they are destroyed.’”

וְכָל־הַ֨נְּבִאִ֔ים נִבְּאִ֥ים כֵּ֖ן לֵאמֹ֑ר עֲלֵ֞ה רָמֹ֤ת גִּלְעָד֙ וְהַצְלַ֔ח וְנָתַ֥ן יְהוָ֖ה בְּיַ֥ד הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

[11] And all the prophets prophesied so and said, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and triumph. The Lord will give it into the hand of the king.”

וְהַמַּלְאָ֞ךְ אֲשֶׁר־הָלַ֣ךְ׀ לִקְרֹ֣א לְמִיכָ֗יְהוּ דִּבֶּ֤ר אֵלָיו֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הִנֵּ֞ה דִּבְרֵ֧י הַנְּבִאִ֛ים פֶּֽה־אֶחָ֥ד ט֖וֹב אֶל־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וִֽיהִי־נָ֧א דְבָרְךָ֛ כְּאַחַ֥ד מֵהֶ֖ם וְדִבַּ֥רְתָּ טּֽוֹב׃

[12] And the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, “Behold, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king. Let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.”

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר מִיכָ֑יְהוּ חַי־יְהוָ֕ה כִּ֛י אֶת־אֲשֶׁר־יֹאמַ֥ר אֱלֹהַ֖י אֹת֥וֹ אֲדַבֵּֽר׃

[13] But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, what my God says, that I will speak.”

וַיָּבֹא֮ אֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְ֒ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֵלָ֗יו מִיכָה֙ הֲנֵלֵ֞ךְ אֶל־רָמֹ֥ת גִּלְעָ֛ד לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה אִם־אֶחְדָּ֑ל וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ עֲל֣וּ וְהַצְלִ֔יחוּ וְיִנָּתְנ֖וּ בְּיֶדְכֶֽם׃

[14] And when he had come to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I refrain?” And he answered, “Go up and triumph; they will be given into your hand.”

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ עַד־כַּמֶּ֥ה פְעָמִ֖ים אֲנִ֣י מַשְׁבִּיעֶ֑ךָ אֲ֠שֶׁר לֹֽא־תְדַבֵּ֥ר אֵלַ֛י רַק־אֱמֶ֖ת בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְהוָֽה׃

[15] But the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord ?”

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר רָאִ֤יתִי אֶת־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ נְפוֹצִ֣ים עַל־הֶֽהָרִ֔ים כַּצֹּ֕אן אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֵין־לָהֶ֖ן רֹעֶ֑ה וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ לֹֽא־אֲדֹנִ֣ים לָאֵ֔לֶּה יָשׁ֥וּבוּ אִישׁ־לְבֵית֖וֹ בְּשָׁלֽוֹם׃

[16] And he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.’”

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶל־יְהוֹשָׁפָ֑ט הֲלֹא֙ אָמַ֣רְתִּי אֵלֶ֔יךָ לֹא־יִתְנַבֵּ֥א עָלַ֛י ט֖וֹב כִּ֥י אִם־לְרָֽע׃ ס

[17] And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לָכֵ֖ן שִׁמְע֣וּ דְבַר־יְהוָ֑ה רָאִ֤יתִי אֶת־יְהוָה֙ יוֹשֵׁ֣ב עַל־כִּסְא֔וֹ וְכָל־צְבָ֤א הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ עֹֽמְדִ֔ים עַל־יְמִינ֖וֹ וּשְׂמֹאלֽוֹ׃

[18] And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord : I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָ֗ה מִ֤י יְפַתֶּה֙ אֶת־אַחְאָ֣ב מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְיַ֕עַל וְיִפֹּ֖ל בְּרָמ֣וֹת גִּלְעָ֑ד וַיֹּ֕אמֶר זֶ֚ה אֹמֵ֣ר כָּ֔כָה וְזֶ֖ה אֹמֵ֥ר כָּֽכָה׃

[19] And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab the king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said one thing, and another said another.

וַיֵּצֵ֣א הָר֗וּחַ וַֽיַּעֲמֹד֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֲנִ֣י אֲפַתֶּ֑נּוּ וַיֹּ֧אמֶר יְהוָ֛ה אֵלָ֖יו בַּמָּֽה׃

[20] Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord , saying, ‘I will entice him.’ And the Lord said to him, ‘By what means?’

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֵצֵא֙ וְהָיִ֙יתִי֙ לְר֣וּחַ שֶׁ֔קֶר בְּפִ֖י כָּל־נְבִיאָ֑יו וַיֹּ֗אמֶר תְּפַתֶּה֙ וְגַם־תּוּכָ֔ל צֵ֖א וַעֲשֵׂה־כֵֽן׃

[21] And he said, ‘I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And he said, ‘You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.’

וְעַתָּ֗ה הִנֵּ֨ה נָתַ֤ן יְהוָה֙ ר֣וּחַ שֶׁ֔קֶר בְּפִ֖י נְבִיאֶ֣יךָ אֵ֑לֶּה וַֽיהוָ֔ה דִּבֶּ֥ר עָלֶ֖יךָ רָעָֽה׃ ס

[22] Now therefore behold, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets. The Lord has declared disaster concerning you.”

וַיִּגַּשׁ֙ צִדְקִיָּ֣הוּ בֶֽן־כְּנַעֲנָ֔ה וַיַּ֥ךְ אֶת־מִיכָ֖יְהוּ עַל־הַלֶּ֑חִי וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֵ֣י זֶ֤ה הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ עָבַ֧ר רֽוּחַ־יְהוָ֛ה מֵאִתִּ֖י לְדַבֵּ֥ר אֹתָֽךְ׃

[23] Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “Which way did the Spirit of the Lord go from me to speak to you?”

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מִיכָ֔יְהוּ הִנְּךָ֥ רֹאֶ֖ה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא אֲשֶׁ֥ר תָּב֛וֹא חֶ֥דֶר בְּחֶ֖דֶר לְהֵחָבֵֽא׃

[24] And Micaiah said, “Behold, you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide yourself.”

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל קְחוּ֙ אֶת־מִיכָ֔יְהוּ וַהֲשִׁיבֻ֖הוּ אֶל־אָמ֣וֹן שַׂר־הָעִ֑יר וְאֶל־יוֹאָ֖שׁ בֶּן־הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

[25] And the king of Israel said, “Seize Micaiah and take him back to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king's son,

וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֗ם כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ שִׂ֥ימוּ זֶ֖ה בֵּ֣ית הַכֶּ֑לֶא וְהַאֲכִלֻ֜הוּ לֶ֤חֶם לַ֙חַץ֙ וּמַ֣יִם לַ֔חַץ עַ֖ד שׁוּבִ֥י בְשָׁלֽוֹם׃

[26] and say, ‘Thus says the king, Put this fellow in prison and feed him with meager rations of bread and water until I return in peace.’”

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מִיכָ֔יְהוּ אִם־שׁ֤וֹב תָּשׁוּב֙ בְּשָׁל֔וֹם לֹא־דִבֶּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה בִּ֑י וַיֹּ֕אמֶר שִׁמְע֖וּ עַמִּ֥ים כֻּלָּֽם׃ פ

[27] And Micaiah said, “If you return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Hear, all you peoples!”

וַיַּ֧עַל מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל וִֽיהוֹשָׁפָ֥ט מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֖ה אֶל־רָמֹ֥ת גִּלְעָֽד׃

[28] So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.

וַיֹּאמֶר֩ מֶ֨לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶל־יְהוֹשָׁפָ֗ט הִתְחַפֵּשׂ֙ וָב֣וֹא בַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְאַתָּ֖ה לְבַ֣שׁ בְּגָדֶ֑יךָ וַיִּתְחַפֵּשׂ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃

[29] And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your robes.” And the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.

וּמֶ֣לֶךְ אֲרָ֡ם צִוָּה֩ אֶת־שָׂרֵ֨י הָרֶ֤כֶב אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לֹ֚א תִּלָּ֣חֲמ֔וּ אֶת־הַקָּטֹ֖ן אֶת־הַגָּד֑וֹל כִּ֛י אִֽם־אֶת־מֶ֥לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְבַדּֽוֹ׃

[30] Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his chariots, “Fight with neither small nor great, but only with the king of Israel.”

וַיְהִ֡י כִּרְאוֹת֩ שָׂרֵ֨י הָרֶ֜כֶב אֶת־יְהוֹשָׁפָ֗ט וְהֵ֤מָּה אָֽמְרוּ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל ה֔וּא וַיָּסֹ֥בּוּ עָלָ֖יו לְהִלָּחֵ֑ם וַיִּזְעַ֤ק יְהֽוֹשָׁפָט֙ וַֽיהוָ֣ה עֲזָר֔וֹ וַיְסִיתֵ֥ם אֱלֹהִ֖ים מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃

[31] As soon as the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is the king of Israel.” So they turned to fight against him. And Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord helped him; God drew them away from him.

וַיְהִ֗י כִּרְאוֹת֙ שָׂרֵ֣י הָרֶ֔כֶב כִּ֥י לֹא־הָיָ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיָּשֻׁ֖בוּ מֵאַחֲרָֽיו׃

[32] For as soon as the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

וְאִ֗ישׁ מָשַׁ֤ךְ בַּקֶּ֙שֶׁת֙ לְתֻמּ֔וֹ וַיַּךְ֙ אֶת־מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בֵּ֥ין הַדְּבָקִ֖ים וּבֵ֣ין הַשִּׁרְיָ֑ן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָֽרַכָּ֗ב הֲפֹ֧ךְ ׳יָדֶיךָ׳ ״יָדְךָ֛״ וְהוֹצֵאתַ֥נִי מִן־הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה כִּ֥י הָחֳלֵֽיתִי׃

[33] But a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate. Therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded.”

וַתַּ֤עַל הַמִּלְחָמָה֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא וּמֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל הָיָ֨ה מַעֲמִ֧יד בַּמֶּרְכָּבָ֛ה נֹ֥כַח אֲרָ֖ם עַד־הָעָ֑רֶב וַיָּ֕מָת לְעֵ֖ת בּ֥וֹא הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃

[34] And the battle continued that day, and the king of Israel was propped up in his chariot facing the Syrians until evening. Then at sunset he died.