Micaiah Prophesies Against Ahab
1Jehoshaphat had great wealth and honor. He joined forces with Ahab by marrying Ahab’s daughter. 2Some years later he went down to see Ahab in Samaria. Ahab killed a lot of sheep and cattle for Jehoshaphat and the people with him. Ahab tried to get Jehoshaphat to attack Ramoth Gilead. 3Ahab was the king of Israel. He spoke to Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah. He asked, “Will you go with me to fight against Ramoth Gilead?”
Jehoshaphat replied, “Yes. I’ll go with you. My men will also go with your men. We’ll join you in the war.” 4He continued, “First ask the Lord for advice.”
5So the king of Israel brought 400 prophets together. He asked them, “Should we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or not?”
“Go,” they answered. “God will hand it over to you.”
6But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no longer a prophet of the Lord here? If there is, ask him what we should do.”
7The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat. He said, “There is still one prophet we can go to. We can ask the Lord for advice through him. But I hate him. He never prophesies anything good about me. He only prophesies bad things. His name is Micaiah. He’s the son of Imlah.”
“You shouldn’t say bad things about him,” Jehoshaphat replied.
8So the king of Israel called for one of his officials. He told him, “Bring Micaiah, the son of Imlah, right away.”
9The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, were wearing their royal robes. They were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor. It was near the entrance of the gate of Samaria. All the prophets were prophesying in front of them. 10Zedekiah was the son of Kenaanah. Zedekiah had made horns out of iron. They looked like animal horns. He announced, “The Lord says, ‘With these horns you will drive back the men of Aram until they are destroyed.’ ”
11All the other prophets were prophesying the same thing. “Attack Ramoth Gilead,” they said. “Win the battle over it. The Lord will hand it over to you.”
12A messenger went to get Micaiah. He said to him, “Look. The other prophets agree. All of them are saying the king will have success. So agree with them. Say the same thing they do.”
13But Micaiah said, “You can be sure that the Lord lives. And you can be just as sure that I can only tell the king what my God says.”
14When Micaiah arrived, the king spoke to him. He asked, “Should we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or not?”
“Attack,” he answered. “You will win. The people of Ramoth Gilead will be handed over to you.”
15The king said to him, “I’ve made you promise to tell the truth many times before. So don’t tell me anything but the truth in the name of the Lord.”
16Then Micaiah answered, “I saw all the Israelites scattered on the hills. They were like sheep that didn’t have a shepherd. The Lord said, ‘These people do not have a master. Let each of them go home in peace.’ ”
17The 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.”
18Micaiah 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. 19The Lord said, ‘Who will get Ahab, the king of Israel, to attack Ramoth Gilead? I want him to die there.’
“One angel suggested one thing. Another suggested something else. 20Finally, a spirit came forward and stood in front of the Lord. The spirit said, ‘I’ll get Ahab to do it.’
“ ‘How?’ the Lord asked.
21“The spirit said, ‘I’ll go and put lies in the mouths of all his prophets.’
“ ‘You will have success in getting Ahab to attack Ramoth Gilead,’ said the Lord. ‘Go and do it.’
22“So the Lord has put lies in the mouths of your prophets. He has said that great harm will come to you.”
23Then Zedekiah, the son of Kenaanah, went up and slapped Micaiah in the face. Zedekiah asked Micaiah, “Do you think the spirit sent by the Lord left me? Do you think that spirit went to speak to you?”
24Micaiah replied, “You will find out on the day you go to hide in an inside room to save your life.”
25Then 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 Micaiah back to Joash. Joash is a member of the royal court. 26Tell them, ‘The king says, “Put this fellow in prison. Don’t give him anything but bread and water until I return safely.” ’ ”
27Micaiah announced, “Do you really think you will return safely? If you do, the Lord hasn’t spoken through me.” He continued, “All you people, remember what I’ve said!”
Ahab Is Killed at Ramoth Gilead
28So the king of Israel went up to Ramoth Gilead. Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, went there too. 29The 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.
30The king of Aram had given an order to his chariot commanders. He had said, “Fight only against the king of Israel. Don’t fight against anyone else.” 31The chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat. They thought, “That’s the king of Israel.” So they turned to attack him. But Jehoshaphat cried out. And the Lord helped him. God drew the commanders away from him. 32They saw he wasn’t the king of Israel after all. So they stopped chasing him.
33But someone shot an arrow without taking aim. The arrow hit the king of Israel between the parts of his armor. The king told the chariot driver, “Turn the chariot around. Get me out of this battle. I’ve been wounded.” 34All day long the battle continued. The king of Israel kept himself standing up by leaning against the inside of his chariot. He kept his face toward the men of Aram until evening. At sunset he died.
Yehosafat Ne Ahab
1Yehosafat yɛɛ ɔdefo a na nʼanuonyam nso korɔn. Ɔhyehyɛ maa ne babarima waree Israelhene Ahab babea.18.1 Ɛha na wɔka Yehosafat nhyira ne ahonya a onya fii ne nokwaredi mu ho asɛm. Wɔka ananafo nkabomdi a ɔnam aware a ɔne Ɔhene Ahab yɛe a na odiyifo no mpɛ ho asɛm (19.2-3). Saa Ahab babea Atalia aware yi, anka ɛrema wɔatɔre Dawid anato no ase. (22.10–23.21). 2Mfe kakraa bi akyi no, ɔkɔɔ Samaria kɔsraa Ahab. Ahab too pon kɛse bi maa ɔne ne mpanyimfo. Wokunkum nguan ne anantwi bebree de too pon no. Na Ahab srɛɛ Yehosafat sɛ ɔmmɛboa no, na ɔnkɔko ntia Ramot-Gilead. 3Ahab bisaa no se, “Wobɛboa me na mako atia Ramot-Gilead ana?” Na Yehosafat bua se, “Me ne wo yɛ pɛ na me nkurɔfo te sɛ wo nkurɔfo, Yɛbɛboa wo, ama woako.”
4Na Yehosafat ka kaa ho se, “Nea edi kan no, ma yemmisa Awurade hɔ afotu.”
5Enti ɔhene Ahab frɛɛ nʼadiyifo a wɔn dodow bɛyɛ ahannan no nyinaa, bisaa wɔn se, “Menkɔko ntia Ramot Gilead anaa mennkɔ?”
Wɔn nyinaa buae se, “Kɔ so! Awurade bɛma woadi nkonim anuonyam so.”
6Nanso Yehosafat bisae se, “Enti Awurade odiyifo biara nso nni ha? Anka mepɛ sɛ mibisa no saa asɛm koro no ara.”
7Ɔhene Ahab buae se, “Ɔbaako da so wɔ ha nanso, mikyi no. Ɔnhyɛ nkɔm biara sɛ nsɛm a enye na ɔka kyerɛ me. Ne din de Mikaia. Imla babarima ne no.”
Yehosafat kae se, “Nkasa saa. Ma yentie asɛm a ɔwɔ ka.”
8Enti Israelhene frɛɛ ne mpanyimfo no baako ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Yɛ ntɛm kɔfrɛ Imla babarima Mikaia brɛ me.”
Mikaia Hyɛ Nkɔm Tia Ahab
9Israelhene Ahab ne Yudahene Yehosafat hyɛɛ wɔn ahemfo ntade, tenaa wɔn ahengua mu wɔ apongua a ɛbɛn Samaria kwan no ano. Saa bere no, na Ahab adiyifo no rehyɛ nkɔm wɔ wɔn anim. 10Na wɔn mu baako a ɔyɛ Kenaana babarima Sedekia de nnade yɛɛ mmɛn, na ɔdaa no adi se, “Sɛnea Awurade se ni: Mode saa mmɛn yi bɛwowɔ Aramfo yi ama wɔawuwu!”
11Adiyifo a wɔwɔ hɔ no nyinaa penee so kae se, “Yiw, monkɔ Ramot-Gilead, na munkodi nkonim, efisɛ Awurade bɛma moadi nkonim.”
12Ɔbɔfo a ɔkɔfrɛɛ Mikaia no ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Hwɛ, adiyifo no nyinaa hyɛ ɔhene no bɔ sɛ obedi nkonim. Hwɛ sɛ wone wɔn bɛyɛ adwene, na hyɛ nkonimdi ho bɔ.”
13Nanso Mikaia buae se, “Sɛ Awurade te ase yi, nea me Nyankopɔn aka akyerɛ me sɛ menka no, ɛno na mɛka.”
14Bere a Mikaia beduu ɔhene Ahab anim no, obisaa no se, “Mikaia, yɛnkɔko ntia Ramot-Gilead anaa yɛnkɔ?”
Mikaia buae se, “Monkɔko! Ɛbɛyɛ nkonimdi a ɛho wɔ nyam.”
15Ɔhene amma nʼano ansi, na obuaa no se, “Mpɛn ahe na menka nkyerɛ wo se, sɛ worekasa ama Awurade a, ka nokwasɛm?”
16Na Mikaia ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Anisoadehu mu no, mihuu sɛ Israel nyinaa abɔ apete wɔ mmepɔw no so sɛ nguan a wonni hwɛfo. Na Awurade kae se, ‘Wɔakum wɔn wura. Fa wɔn kɔ fie asomdwoe mu.’ ”
17Israelhene ka kyerɛɛ Yehosafat se, “Manka saa ankyerɛ wo ana? Da biara saa na ɔyɛ. Ɔnhyɛ nkɔm pa biara sɛ atoro nkɔm na ɔhyɛ fa me ho.”
18Mikaia toaa so se, “Tie nea Awurade ka. Mihuu Awurade sɛ ɔte nʼahengua so a ne ɔsorofo asraafo nyinaa atwa ne ho ahyia wɔ ne nifa ne ne benkum so. 19Na Awurade bisae se, ‘Hena na obetumi adaadaa Israelhene Ahab ama wakotu Ramot-Gilead so sa na wɔakum no wɔ hɔ?’
“Adwenkyerɛ bebree baa ho, 20kosii sɛ ne koraa no, honhom bi bɛnee Awurade kae se, ‘Metumi ayɛ!’ ”
Awurade bisae se, “ ‘Ɔkwan bɛn so na wobɛfa ayɛ eyi.’ ”
21Na honhom no buae se, “Mɛkɔ akɔdaadaa Ahab adiyifo, ama wɔadi atoro.”
Awurade kae se, “Kɔ so yɛ, na wubedi nkonim.
22“Enti woahu sɛ Awurade de nkontompo honhom ahyɛ wʼadiyifo no anom. Awurade adwene sɛ ɔde amanehunu bɛba wo so.”
23Na Kenaana babarima Sedekia kɔɔ Mikaia so, kɔbɔɔ no sotɔre bisae se, “Da bɛn na Awurade honhom fii me so bɛkasa kyerɛɛ wo?”
24Na Mikaia buae se, “Ɛrenkyɛ biara, wubehu nokware no, bere a wubeguan akɔtetɛw kokoa mu dan bi mu.”
25Israelhene Ahab hyɛe se, “Monkyere Mikaia, na momfa no nkɔma Amon a ɔyɛ kurow no mu amrado, na momfa no nkɔ me babarima Yoas nkyɛn. 26Monka saa asɛm a efi ɔhene nkyɛn yi nkyerɛ wɔn se, ‘Fa saa ɔbarima yi to afiase. Mommma no aduan biara sɛ brodo ne nsu, kosi sɛ mefi akono bɛba asomdwoe mu.’ ”
27Nanso Mikaia buae se, “Sɛ wosan ba asomdwoe mu a, na ɛkyerɛ sɛ, Awurade amfa me so ankasa.” Na ɔka kyerɛɛ wɔn a wogyinagyina hɔ, atwa ne ho ahyia no se, “Saa asɛm a maka yi, monhyɛ no nsow.”
Ahab Wu
28Enti Israelhene ne Yudahene Yehosafat dii wɔn asraafo anim, tuu Ramot-Gilead so sa. 29Afei, ɔhene Ahab ka kyerɛɛ Yehosafat se, “Yɛrekɔ ɔko yi, mɛsakra me ho sɛnea obiara nhu me, nanso wo de, wobɛhyɛ wʼahentade.” Enti Ahab sesaa ne ho, na wɔkɔɔ ɔko no.
30Saa bere no, na Aramhene aka akyerɛ ne nteaseɛnamkafo no se, “Monkɔtow nhyɛ Israelhene nko ara so.” 31Enti bere a Aramhene nteaseɛnamkafo no huu Yehosafat sɛ ɔhyɛ nʼahentade no, wɔtaa no. Wɔteɛteɛɛ mu se, “Israelhene no ne no.” Nanso, Yehosafat teɛɛ mu frɛɛ Awurade sɛ ommegye no nkwa. Na Awurade yii nkurɔfo no ani fii ne so, de gyee no nkwa. 32Bere a nteaseɛnamkafo no huu sɛ ɔnyɛ Israelhene no, wogyaee no taa.
33Na Aram sraani bi de anibiannaso totow nʼagyan guu Israel asraafo no mu, maa bɛmma no bi kɔwɔɔ Israelhene nkatabo ahyiae wɔ ne mmotuam. Ahab teɛɛ mu kyerɛɛ nteaseɛnamkafo no se, “Momfa me mfi ha, na wɔapira me pira bɔne.” 34Ɔko no kɔɔ so da mu no nyinaa. Ahab kotwerii ne teaseɛnam mu a nʼani kyerɛ Aramfo no de kosii anwummere. Na ɛyɛɛ sɛnea owia rekɔtɔ no, owui.
