The Prophet Micaiah Warns Ahab
(2 Chronicles 18.2-27)1 There was peace between Israel and Syria for the next two years, 2 but in the third year King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to see King Ahab of Israel.
3 Ahab asked his officials, “Why is it that we have not done anything to get back Ramoth in Gilead from the king of Syria? It belongs to us!” 4 And Ahab asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to attack Ramoth?”
“I am ready when you are,” Jehoshaphat answered, “and so are my soldiers and my cavalry. 5 But first let's consult the Lord.”
6 So Ahab called in the prophets, about four hundred of them, and asked them, “Should I go and attack Ramoth, or not?”
“Attack it,” they answered. “The Lord will give you victory.”
7 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Isn't there another prophet through whom we can consult the Lord?”
8 Ahab answered, “There is one more, Micaiah son of Imlah. But I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me; it's always something bad.”
“You shouldn't say that!” Jehoshaphat replied.
9 Then Ahab called in a court official and told him to go and get Micaiah at once.
10 The two kings, dressed in their royal robes, were sitting on their thrones at the threshing place just outside the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying in front of them. 11 One of them, Zedekiah son of Chenaanah, made iron horns and said to Ahab, “This is what the Lord says: ‘With these you will fight the Syrians and totally defeat them.’” 12 All the other prophets said the same thing. “March against Ramoth and you will win,” they said. “The Lord will give you victory.”
13 Meanwhile, the official who had gone to get Micaiah said to him, “All the other prophets have prophesied success for the king, and you had better do the same.”
14 But Micaiah answered, “By the living Lord I promise that I will say what he tells me to!”
15 When he appeared before King Ahab, the king asked him, “Micaiah, should King Jehoshaphat and I go and attack Ramoth, or not?”
“Attack!” Micaiah answered. “Of course you'll win. The Lord will give you victory.”
16 But Ahab replied, “When you speak to me in the name of the Lord, tell the truth! How many times do I have to tell you that?”
17 Micaiah answered, “I can see the army of Israel scattered over the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These men have no leader; let them go home in peace.’”
18 Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn't I tell you that he never prophesies anything good for me? It's always something bad!”
19 Micaiah went on: “Now listen to what the Lord says! I saw the Lord sitting on his throne in heaven, with all his angels standing beside him. 20 The Lord asked, ‘Who will deceive Ahab so that he will go and be killed at Ramoth?’ Some of the angels said one thing, and others said something else, 21 until a spirit stepped forward, approached the Lord, and said, ‘I will deceive him.’ 22 ‘How?’ the Lord asked. The spirit replied, ‘I will go and make all of Ahab's prophets tell lies.’ The Lord said, ‘Go and deceive him. You will succeed.’”
23 And Micaiah concluded: “This is what has happened. The Lord has made these prophets of yours lie to you. But he himself has decreed that you will meet with disaster!”
24 Then the prophet Zedekiah went up to Micaiah, slapped his face, and asked, “Since when did the Lord's spirit leave me and speak to you?”
25 “You will find out when you go into some back room to hide,” Micaiah replied.
26 Then King Ahab ordered one of his officers, “Arrest Micaiah and take him to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Prince Joash. 27 Tell them to throw him in prison and to put him on bread and water until I return safely.”
28 “If you return safely,” Micaiah exclaimed, “then the Lord has not spoken through me!” And he added, “Listen, everyone, to what I have said!”
The Death of Ahab
(2 Chronicles 18.28-34)29 Then King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to attack the city of Ramoth in Gilead. 30 Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “As we go into battle, I will disguise myself, but you wear your royal garments.” So the king of Israel went into battle in disguise.
31 The king of Syria had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders to attack no one else except the king of Israel. 32 So when they saw King Jehoshaphat, they all thought that he was the king of Israel, and they turned to attack him. But when he cried out, 33 they realized that he was not the king of Israel, and they stopped their attack. 34 By chance, however, a Syrian soldier shot an arrow which struck King Ahab between the joints of his armor. “I'm wounded!” he cried out to his chariot driver. “Turn around and pull out of the battle!”
35 While the battle raged on, King Ahab remained propped up in his chariot, facing the Syrians. The blood from his wound ran down and covered the bottom of the chariot, and at evening he died. 36 Near sunset the order went out through the Israelite ranks: “Each of you go back to your own country and city!”
37 So died King Ahab. His body was taken to Samaria and buried. 38 His chariot was cleaned up at the pool of Samaria, where dogs licked up his blood and prostitutes washed themselves, as the Lord had said would happen.
39 Everything else that King Ahab did, including an account of his palace decorated with ivory and of all the cities he built, is recorded in The History of the Kings of Israel. 40 At his death his son Ahaziah succeeded him as king.
King Jehoshaphat of Judah
(2 Chronicles 20.31—21.1)41 In the fourth year of the reign of King Ahab of Israel, Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king of Judah 42 at the age of thirty-five, and he ruled in Jerusalem for twenty-five years. His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi. 43 Like his father Asa before him, he did what was right in the sight of the Lord; but the places of worship were not destroyed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. 44 Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.
45 Everything else that Jehoshaphat did, all his bravery and his battles, are recorded in The History of the Kings of Judah. 46 He got rid of all the male and female prostitutes serving at the pagan altars who were still left from the days of his father Asa.
47 The land of Edom had no king; it was ruled by a deputy appointed by the king of Judah.
48 King Jehoshaphat had ocean-going ships built to sail to the land of Ophir for gold; but they were wrecked at Eziongeber and never sailed. 49 Then King Ahaziah of Israel offered to let his men sail with Jehoshaphat's men, but Jehoshaphat refused the offer.
50 Jehoshaphat died and was buried in the royal tombs in David's City, and his son Jehoram succeeded him as king.
King Ahaziah of Israel
51 In the seventeenth year of the reign of King Jehoshaphat of Judah, Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel, and he ruled in Samaria for two years. 52 He sinned against the Lord, following the wicked example of his father Ahab, his mother Jezebel, and King Jeroboam, who had led Israel into sin. 53 He worshiped and served Baal, and like his father before him, he aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel.
Savienība ar Jūdu pret Arāmu
(2L 18:1–11)1 Trīs gadus nebija kara starp Arāmu un Israēlu. 2 Trešajā gadā Jūdas ķēniņš Jehošāfāts ieradās pie Israēla ķēniņa. 3 Israēla ķēniņš sacīja saviem kalpiem: “Vai zināt, ka Rāmot-Gileāda pieder mums? Bet mēs klusējam un neatņemam to Arāmas ķēniņam!” 4 Jehošāfātam viņš sacīja: “Vai tu nāksi man līdzi karot par Rāmot-Gileādu?” Jehošāfāts atbildēja Israēla ķēniņam: “Es darīšu kā tu, mana tauta kā tava tauta un mani zirgi kā tavi zirgi!” 5 Bet Jehošāfāts sacīja Israēla ķēniņam: “Taujā vispirms pēc Kunga vārda!” 6 Tad Israēla ķēniņš sapulcināja praviešus, ap četri simti vīru, un prasīja tiem: “Vai man iet karot pret Rāmot-Gileādu vai likties mierā?” Tie atbildēja: “Ej, jo Kungs to nodos ķēniņa rokā!” 7 Bet Jehošāfāts sacīja: “Vai šeit nav vēl kāds Kunga pravietis, kam mēs varētu vaicāt?” 8 Israēla ķēniņš sacīja Jehošāfātam: “Ir vēl viens, ar kuru mēs varētu izvaicāt Kungu, bet es viņu ienīstu, viņš nekad nepravieto man labu, tik ļaunu vien! Tas ir Miha, Jimlas dēls.” Jehošāfāts sacīja: “Lai ķēniņš tā nerunā!” 9 Tad Israēla ķēniņš pasauca kādu augstmani un sacīja: “Ved ātri šurp Mihu, Jimlas dēlu!” 10 Israēla ķēniņš un Jehošāfāts ķēniņa tērpos sēdēja katrs savā tronī Samarijas vārtu laukumā, un visi pravieši tiem pravietoja. 11 Kanaāna dēls Cedekija bija darinājis sev dzelzs ragus un sacīja: “Tā saka Kungs: ar šiem tu badīsi aramiešus, līdz tie būs pagalam!” 12 Un visi pravieši pravietoja: “Ej uz Rāmot-Gileādu, tev veiksies, un Kungs to nodos ķēniņa rokā!”
Miha pasludina sakāvi
(2L 18:12–27)13 Sūtnis, kurš nāca saukt Mihu, sacīja viņam: “Redzi, pravieši vienā mutē runā ķēniņam labu, saki taču tu arī kā viņi – runā labu!” 14 Bet Miha atbildēja: “Kungs ir dzīvs! Ko Kungs man sacīs, to es viņam runāšu!” 15 Kad viņš ienāca pie ķēniņa, ķēniņš viņam prasīja: “Miha, vai mums iet karot pret Rāmot-Gileādu vai likties mierā?” Tas atbildēja: “Dodies karot, un tev veiksies, un Kungs to nodos ķēniņa rokā.” 16 Ķēniņš viņam sacīja: “Cik reižu man jāliek tev zvērēt, ka tu man neteiksi neko kā vien patiesību Kunga vārdā?” 17 Tad viņš sacīja: “Es redzēju visu Israēlu izklīdinātu pa kalniem kā avis bez gana. Un Kungs sacīja: šiem nav vadoņa, lai viņi atgriežas katrs savā namā ar mieru!”
18 Israēla ķēniņš sacīja Jehošāfātam: “Vai es tev neteicu, ka viņš man nepravieto labu, tik ļaunu vien!?” 19 Miha sacīja: “Tad nu klausies Kunga vārdu! Es redzēju Kungu sēžam tronī, un viss debesu karapulks stāvēja pie viņa labās un kreisās rokas. 20 Un Kungs sacīja: kurš pievils Ahābu, lai viņš iet karot pret Rāmot-Gileādu un tur krīt? Un viens runāja šā, otrs tā. 21 Tad viens gars iznāca, nostājās Kunga priekšā un sacīja: es viņu pievilšu! Un Kungs tam vaicāja: kā? 22 Tas atbildēja: es iešu un kļūšu par melu garu visu viņa praviešu mutēs! Un viņš sacīja: pievil viņu, tu to spēsi, ej un dari! 23 Un, redzi, Kungs ir ielicis melu garu visu tavu praviešu mutēs, Kungs tev ir lēmis ļaunu!”
24 Tad pienāca Cedekija, Kanaāna dēls, sita Miham pa seju un sacīja: “Vai tad Kunga Gars ir aizgājis no manis, lai runātu ar tevi?” 25 Miha sacīja: “To tu redzēsi tajā dienā, kad bēgsi no vienas iekštelpas otrā, lai paslēptos!” 26 Israēla ķēniņš sacīja: “Ņemiet Mihu un vediet viņu pie pilsētas pārvaldnieka Āmona un ķēniņa dēla Joāša, 27 un sakiet: tā saka ķēniņš: lieciet viņu cietumā un dodiet viņam bada maizi un slāpju ūdeni, līdz es pārnākšu ar mieru!” 28 Miha sacīja: “Ja tu tiešām atgriezīsies ar mieru, tad Kungs caur mani nav runājis!” Un viņš sacīja: “Klausieties, visas tautas!”
Ahāba nāve
(2L 18:28–34)29 Israēla ķēniņš un Jūdas ķēniņš Jehošāfāts devās karot pret Rāmot-Gileādu. 30 Israēla ķēniņš sacīja Jehošāfātam: “Es iešu kaujā pārģērbies, bet tu apvelc savas drēbes.” Israēla ķēniņš devās kaujā pārģērbies. 31 Bet Arāmas ķēniņš pavēlēja saviem trīsdesmit diviem kararatu virsniekiem: “Necīnieties ne ar mazu, ne lielu, bet tikai ar Israēla ķēniņu!” 32 Kad kararatu virsnieki ieraudzīja Jehošāfātu, tie teica: “Tiešām, šis ir Israēla ķēniņš!” – un tie viņu aplenca, lai cīnītos, bet Jehošāfāts kliedza. 33 Tad kararatu virsnieki redzēja, ka viņš nav Israēla ķēniņš, un atstājās no viņa.
34 Bet kāds vīrs uzvilka loku uz labu laimi un trāpīja Israēla ķēniņam starp vēdera un krūšu bruņām. Tas sacīja kararatu braucējam: “Griez apkārt un ved mani prom no kaujas lauka, jo esmu ievainots.” 35 Kauja todien bija jo sīva, ķēniņu turēja kararatos ar vaigu pret aramiešiem, bet vakarā viņš nomira, un asinis no viņa brūces satecēja kararatos. 36 Saulei rietot, pa visu karapulku sauca: “Ikviens uz savu pilsētu! Ikviens uz savu zemi!” 37 Tā ķēniņš nomira, un viņu aizveda apbedīt uz Samariju. 38 Kad Samarijas dīķī skaloja kararatus, suņi laizīja viņa asinis un turpat mazgājās maukas, kā bija sacījis Kunga vārds.
39 Bet pārējie Ahāba darbi un viss, ko viņš veica, un ziloņkaula nams, ko viņš uzcēla, – vai tad par to nav rakstīts Israēla ķēniņu Laiku grāmatā? 40 Ahābs apgūlās pie tēviem, un pēc viņa sāka valdīt viņa dēls Ahazjāhu.
Jehošāfāts valda pār Jūdu
(2L 20:31–21:1)41 Jehošāfāts, Āsas dēls, sāka valdīt pār Jūdu Israēla ķēniņa Ahāba ceturtajā gadā. 42 Jehošāfātam bija trīsdesmit pieci gadi, kad viņš sāka valdīt, un viņš valdīja Jeruzālemē divdesmit piecus gadus. Viņa mātes vārds bija Azūba, Šilhī meita. 43 Viņš staigāja sava tēva Āsas ceļus, nenogriezās no tiem un darīja to, kas taisns Kunga acīs. 44 Tomēr augstieņu altāris netika sagrauts, tauta joprojām upurēja un kvēpināja augstienēs. 45 Jehošāfātam ar Israēla ķēniņu bija miers.
46 Bet pārējie Jehošāfāta darbi, viņa varonība un cīņas – vai tad par to nav rakstīts Jūdas ķēniņu Laiku grāmatā? 47 Viņš iznīcināja no zemes tempļu prostitūtas , kas vēl bija palikušas kopš viņa tēva Āsas dienām.
48 Bet Edomā nebija ķēniņa, tikai ķēniņa vietnieks. 49 Jehošāfāts taisīja tāljūras kuģus, lai brauktu uz Ofīru pēc zelta, bet tie turp neaizbrauca, jo Ecjon-Geberā kuģi tika sadragāti. 50 Tad Ahazjāhu, Ahāba dēls, sacīja Jehošāfātam: “Lai mani kalpi kuģo kopā ar taviem kalpiem.” Bet Jehošāfāts nepiekrita.
51 Jehošāfāts apgūlās pie tēviem, un viņu apbedīja viņa tēva Dāvida pilsētā, un pēc viņa sāka valdīt viņa dēls Jehorāms.
Ahazjāhu valda pār Israēlu
52 Jūdas ķēniņa Jehošāfāta septiņpadsmitajā valdīšanas gadā Samarijā pār Israēlu sāka valdīt Ahazjāhu, Ahāba dēls, un valdīja divus gadus. 53 Viņš darīja to, kas netīkams Kungam, un staigāja sava tēva un mātes ceļus un Jārobāma, Nebāta dēla, ceļus, likdams grēkot Israēlam. 54 Viņš kalpoja Baalam, zemojās tam un sadusmoja Kungu, Israēla Dievu, darīdams visu, ko bija darījis viņa tēvs.
