The Tanakh · JPS 1917 Translation

2 Chronicles 18

Jewish Publication Society 1917 · Ketuvim — the Writings

2 Chronicles chapter 18 — part of the Ketuvim — the Writings in the Jewish Bible. In the classic JPS 1917 translation it opens: “Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance; and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage.” — the complete text of all 34 verses is below, free to read online.

1Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance; and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage.

2And after a lapse of years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that were with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth-gilead.

3And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah: 'Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth-gilead?' And he answered him: 'I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the war.'

4And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel: 'Inquire, I pray thee, at the word of HaShem today.'

5Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said unto them: 'Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?' And they said: 'Go up; for G-d will deliver it into the hand of the king.'

6But Jehoshaphat said: 'Is there not here besides a prophet of HaShem, that we might inquire of him?'

7And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat: 'There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of HaShem; but I hate him; for he never prophesieth good concerning me, but always evil; the same is Micaiah the son of Imla.' And Jehoshaphat said: 'Let not the king say so.'

8Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said: 'Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.'

9Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, and they sat in a threshing-floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them.

10And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron, and said: 'Thus saith HaShem: With these shalt thou gore the Arameans, until they be consumed.'

11And all the prophets prophesied so, saying: 'Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper; for HaShem will deliver it into the hand of the king.'

12And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying: 'Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one mouth; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.'

13And Micaiah said: 'As HaShem liveth, what my G-d saith, that will I speak.'

14And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him: 'Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?' And he said: 'Go ye up, and prosper; and they shall be delivered into your hand.'

15And the king said to him: 'How many times shall I adjure thee that thou speak unto me nothing but the truth in the name of HaShem.'

16And he said: 'I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd; and HaShem said: These have no master, let them return every man to his house in peace.'

17And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat: 'Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?'

18And he said: 'Therefore hear ye the word of HaShem: I saw HaShem sitting upon His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right hand and on His left.

19And HaShem said: who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one spoke saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.

20And there came forth the spirit, and stood before HaShem, and said: I will entice him. And HaShem said unto him: Wherewith?

21And he said: I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And He said: Thou shalt entice him, and shalt prevail also; go forth, and do so.

22Now therefore, behold, HaShem hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets; and HaShem hath spoken evil concerning thee.'

23Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the check, and said: 'Which way went the spirit of HaShem from me to speak unto thee?'

24And Micaiah said: 'Behold, thou shalt see on that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.'

25And the king of Israel said: 'Take ye Micaiah; and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;

26and say: Thus saith the king: Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with scant bread and with scant water, until I return in peace.'

27And Micaiah said: 'If thou return at all in peace, HaShem hath not spoken by me.' And he said: 'Hear, ye peoples, all of you.'

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

29And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat: 'I will disguise myself, and go into the battle; but put thou on thy robes.' So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went into the battle.

30Now the king of Aram had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying: 'Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel.'

31And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said: 'It is the king of Israel.' Therefore they turned about to fight against him; but Jehoshaphat cried out, and HaShem helped him; and G-d moved them to depart from him.

32And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.

33And a certain man drew his bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the lower armour and the breastplate; wherefore he said to the driver of the chariot: 'Turn thy hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am sore wounded.'

34And the battle increased that day; howbeit the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Arameans until the even; and about the time of the going down of the sun he died.

34 verses · JPS 1917 (public domain)

‹ 2 Chronicles 17 2 Chronicles 19 ›

Read, search & bookmark — free

This text opens instantly in the FourFaiths reader, with full-text search across every book, bookmarks saved in your browser, reading plans and a verse of the day. No account, no tracking — everything runs locally in your browser.

Open in the Tanakh reader →