📖 2 Chronicles — Chapter 18 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
2 Chronicles 18:1 Now Jehoshaphat had Rriches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.
2 Chronicles 18:2 And RTafter certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramothgilead.
2 Chronicles 18:3 And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramothgilead? And he answered him, RI am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the war.
2 Chronicles 18:4 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, REnquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.
2 Chronicles 18:5 Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of Rprophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the king’s hand.
2 Chronicles 18:6 But Jehoshaphat said, RIs there not here a prophet of the LORD Tbesides, that we might enquire of him?
2 Chronicles 18:7 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet Rone man, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
2 Chronicles 18:8 And the king of Israel called for one of his RTofficers, and said, TFetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.
2 Chronicles 18:9 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah Rsat either of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat in a Tvoid place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.
2 Chronicles 18:10 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him Rhorns of iron, and said, Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt push Syria until Tthey be consumed.
2 Chronicles 18:11 And Rall the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
2 Chronicles 18:12 And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, RBehold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king Twith one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.
2 Chronicles 18:13 And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, Reven what my God saith, that will I speak.
2 Chronicles 18:14 And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, RGo ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.
2 Chronicles 18:15 And the king said to him, How many times Rshall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the LORD?
2 Chronicles 18:16 Then Rhe said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace.
2 Chronicles 18:17 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, RDid I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, Tbut evil?
2 Chronicles 18:18 Again he said, Therefore Rhear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.
2 Chronicles 18:19 And the LORD said, RWho shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.
2 Chronicles 18:20 Then Rthere came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith?
2 Chronicles 18:21 And he said, I will go out, and be Ra lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the Lord said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so.
2 Chronicles 18:22 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, Rand the LORD hath spoken evil against thee.
2 Chronicles 18:23 Then RZedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?
2 Chronicles 18:24 And Micaiah said, RBehold, thou shalt see on that day when thou shalt go Tinto an inner chamber to hide thyself.
2 Chronicles 18:25 Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, Rand carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son;
2 Chronicles 18:26 And say, Thus saith the king, RPut this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.
2 Chronicles 18:27 And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, then hath not the LORD spoken by me. And he said, RHearken, all ye people.
2 Chronicles 18:28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.
2 Chronicles 18:29 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, RI will disguise myself, and I will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle.
2 Chronicles 18:30 Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that were with him, saying, RFight ye not with small or great, save only with the king of Israel.
2 Chronicles 18:31 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and Rthe LORD helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.
2 Chronicles 18:32 For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again RTfrom pursuing him.
2 Chronicles 18:33 And Ra certain man drew a bow Tat a venture, and smote the king of Israel Tbetween the joints of the harness: therefore he said to his chariot man, Turn thine hand, that thou mayest carry me out of the host; for I am Twounded.
2 Chronicles 18:34 And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the even: and about the time of the sun going down Rhe died.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Chronicles 18:1–13 — An alliance and a faithful prophet
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Jehoshaphat joins Ahab's proposed campaign but asks for the LORD's word. Many prophets predict success; Micaiah is summoned despite Ahab's dislike of him. He refuses pressure to echo the favorable message. The passage distinguishes faithful speech from agreement that merely pleases the powerful.
Key Truth: Seek truth rather than reassuring agreement.
Check What You Remember
1. Which king was Jehoshaphat allied with? (2 Chronicles 18:1)
Find it in 2 Chronicles 18:1 (KJV).
2. Which city was the campaign intended to attack? (2 Chronicles 18:3)
Find it in 2 Chronicles 18:3 (KJV).
3. Who vowed to speak what God said? (2 Chronicles 18:13)
Find it in 2 Chronicles 18:13 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Chronicles 18:14–27 — The warning rejected
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Micaiah's warning pictures Israel without a shepherd and describes judgment through deceptive prophecy. Ahab hears a direct warning yet imprisons the messenger. The vision portrays divine judgment in this event; it is not an instruction for readers to deceive. Suppressing unwelcome truth cannot make the danger disappear.
Key Truth: Take a truthful warning seriously even when it is unwelcome.
Check What You Remember
1. What animals pictured Israel without a leader? (2 Chronicles 18:16)
Find it in 2 Chronicles 18:16 (KJV).
2. Who struck Micaiah on the cheek? (2 Chronicles 18:23)
Find it in 2 Chronicles 18:23 (KJV).
3. Where did Ahab order Micaiah to be put? (2 Chronicles 18:26)
Find it in 2 Chronicles 18:26 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Chronicles 18:28–34 — The warning fulfilled
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Ahab disguises himself, while Jehoshaphat wears his royal robes and is mistaken for the target. Jehoshaphat cries out and God helps him. An arrow nevertheless wounds Ahab, who dies by sunset. The disguise cannot overturn the announced outcome, and the perilous alliance endangers the king of Judah as well.
Key Truth: Do not substitute concealment for responding to God's warning.
Check What You Remember
1. Who disguised himself for battle? (2 Chronicles 18:29)
Find it in 2 Chronicles 18:29 (KJV).
2. Who helped Jehoshaphat when he cried out? (2 Chronicles 18:31)
Find it in 2 Chronicles 18:31 (KJV).
3. At what time did Ahab die? (2 Chronicles 18:34)
Find it in 2 Chronicles 18:34 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
1 Kings 22:28 — Kings also records Micaiah's test concerning Ahab's promised return in peace.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
Where might the desire for approval make it difficult to hear a truthful warning?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. What tension appears between the messenger’s advice and Micaiah’s commitment?
2. How does the shepherdless-sheep vision contradict a simple promise of victory?
3. How does Micaiah apply the heavenly vision to Ahab’s prophets?
4. How does Jehoshaphat escape the mistaken attack?
5. How does Ahab’s precaution fail to prevent the announced outcome?
Notes
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