Micaiah Prophesies Against Ahab^(A)

22 For three years there was no war between Aram and Israel. ² But in the third year Jehoshaphat king of Judah went down to see the king of Israel. ³ The king of Israel had said to his officials, “Don’t you know that Ramoth Gilead^(B) belongs to us and yet we are doing nothing to retake it from the king of Aram?”

⁴ So he asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight^(C) against Ramoth Gilead?”

Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” ⁵ But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “First seek the counsel^(D) of the Lord.”

⁶ So the king of Israel brought together the prophets—about four hundred men—and asked them, “Shall I go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?”

“Go,”^(E) they answered, “for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.”^(F)

⁷ But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no longer a prophet^(G) of the Lord here whom we can inquire^(H) of?”

⁸ The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one prophet through whom we can inquire of the Lord, but I hate^(I) him because he never prophesies anything good^(J) about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”

“The king should not say such a thing,” Jehoshaphat replied.

⁹ So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, “Bring Micaiah son of Imlah at once.”

¹⁰ Dressed in their royal robes, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor^(K) by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying before them. ¹¹ Now Zedekiah^(L) son of Kenaanah had made iron horns^(M) and he declared, “This is what the Lord says: ‘With these you will gore the Arameans until they are destroyed.’”

¹² All the other prophets were prophesying the same thing. “Attack Ramoth Gilead and be victorious,” they said, “for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.”

¹³ The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, “Look, the other prophets without exception are predicting success for the king. Let your word agree with theirs, and speak favorably.”^(N)

¹⁴ But Micaiah said, “As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what the Lord tells me.”^(O)

¹⁵ When he arrived, the king asked him, “Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or not?”

“Attack and be victorious,” he answered, “for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.”

¹⁶ The king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?”

¹⁷ Then Micaiah answered, “I saw all Israel scattered^(P) on the hills like sheep without a shepherd,^(Q) and the Lord said, ‘These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.’”

¹⁸ The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you that he never prophesies anything good about me, but only bad?”

¹⁹ Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne^(R) with all the multitudes^(S) of heaven standing around him on his right and on his left. ²⁰ And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?’

“One suggested this, and another that. ²¹ Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will entice him.’

²² “‘By what means?’ the Lord asked.

“‘I will go out and be a deceiving^(T) spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,’ he said.

“‘You will succeed in enticing him,’ said the Lord. ‘Go and do it.’

²³ “So now the Lord has put a deceiving^(U) spirit in the mouths of all these prophets^(V) of yours. The Lord has decreed disaster^(W) for you.”

²⁴ Then Zedekiah^(X) son of Kenaanah went up and slapped^(Y) Micaiah in the face. “Which way did the spirit from^[a] the Lord go when he went from me to speak^(Z) to you?” he asked.

²⁵ Micaiah replied, “You will find out on the day you go to hide^(AA) in an inner room.”

²⁶ The king of Israel then ordered, “Take Micaiah and send him back to Amon the ruler of the city and to Joash the king’s son ²⁷ and say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this fellow in prison^(AB) and give him nothing but bread and water until I return safely.’”

²⁸ Micaiah declared, “If you ever return safely, the Lord has not spoken^(AC) through me.” Then he added, “Mark my words, all you people!”

Ahab Killed at Ramoth Gilead^(AD)

²⁹ So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead. ³⁰ The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will enter the battle in disguise,^(AE) but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

³¹ Now the king of Aram^(AF) had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king^(AG) of Israel.” ³² When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they thought, “Surely this is the king of Israel.” So they turned to attack him, but when Jehoshaphat cried out, ³³ the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel and stopped pursuing him.

³⁴ But someone drew his bow^(AH) at random and hit the king of Israel between the sections of his armor. The king told his chariot driver, “Wheel around and get me out of the fighting. I’ve been wounded.” ³⁵ All day long the battle raged, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. The blood from his wound ran onto the floor of the chariot, and that evening he died. ³⁶ As the sun was setting, a cry spread through the army: “Every man to his town. Every man to his land!”^(AI)

³⁷ So the king died and was brought to Samaria, and they buried him there. ³⁸ They washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria (where the prostitutes bathed),^[b] and the dogs^(AJ) licked up his blood, as the word of the Lord had declared.

³⁹ As for the other events of Ahab’s reign, including all he did, the palace he built and adorned with ivory,^(AK) and the cities he fortified, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? ⁴⁰ Ahab rested with his ancestors. And Ahaziah his son succeeded him as king.

Jehoshaphat King of Judah^(AL)

⁴¹ Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king of Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. ⁴² Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. ⁴³ In everything he followed the ways of his father Asa^(AM) and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. The high places,^(AN) however, were not removed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.^{[c] 44} Jehoshaphat was also at peace with the king of Israel.

⁴⁵ As for the other events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, the things he achieved and his military exploits, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? ⁴⁶ He rid the land of the rest of the male shrine prostitutes^(AO) who remained there even after the reign of his father Asa. ⁴⁷ There was then no king^(AP) in Edom; a provincial governor ruled.

⁴⁸ Now Jehoshaphat built a fleet of trading ships^[d](AQ) to go to Ophir for gold, but they never set sail—they were wrecked at Ezion Geber.^{(AR) 49} At that time Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my men sail with yours,” but Jehoshaphat refused.

⁵⁰ Then Jehoshaphat rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the city of David his father. And Jehoram his son succeeded him as king.

Ahaziah King of Israel

⁵¹ Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. ⁵² He did evil^(AS) in the eyes of the Lord, because he followed the ways of his father and mother and of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin. ⁵³ He served and worshiped Baal^(AT) and aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, just as his father^(AU) had done.

False Religion Worthless

7 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ² “Stand^(A) at the gate of the Lord’s house and there proclaim this message:

“‘Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the Lord. ³ This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways^(B) and your actions, and I will let you live^(C) in this place. ⁴ Do not trust^(D) in deceptive^(E) words and say, “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!” ⁵ If you really change^(F) your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly,^{(G) 6} if you do not oppress^(H) the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood^(I) in this place, and if you do not follow other gods^(J) to your own harm, ⁷ then I will let you live in this place, in the land^(K) I gave your ancestors^(L) for ever and ever. ⁸ But look, you are trusting^(M) in deceptive^(N) words that are worthless.

⁹ “‘Will you steal^(O) and murder,^(P) commit adultery^(Q) and perjury,^[a](R) burn incense to Baal^(S) and follow other gods^(T) you have not known, ¹⁰ and then come and stand^(U) before me in this house,^(V) which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”—safe to do all these detestable things?^{(W) 11} Has this house,^(X) which bears my Name, become a den of robbers^(Y) to you? But I have been watching!^(Z) declares the Lord.

¹² “‘Go now to the place in Shiloh^(AA) where I first made a dwelling^(AB) for my Name,^(AC) and see what I did^(AD) to it because of the wickedness of my people Israel. ¹³ While you were doing all these things, declares the Lord, I spoke^(AE) to you again and again,^(AF) but you did not listen;^(AG) I called^(AH) you, but you did not answer.^{(AI) 14} Therefore, what I did to Shiloh^(AJ) I will now do to the house that bears my Name,^(AK) the temple^(AL) you trust in, the place I gave to you and your ancestors. ¹⁵ I will thrust you from my presence,^(AM) just as I did all your fellow Israelites, the people of Ephraim.’^(AN)

¹⁶ “So do not pray for this people nor offer any plea^(AO) or petition for them; do not plead with me, for I will not listen^(AP) to you. ¹⁷ Do you not see what they are doing in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? ¹⁸ The children gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough and make cakes to offer to the Queen of Heaven.^(AQ) They pour out drink offerings^(AR) to other gods to arouse^(AS) my anger. ¹⁹ But am I the one they are provoking?^(AT) declares the Lord. Are they not rather harming themselves, to their own shame?^(AU)

²⁰ “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign^(AV) Lord says: My anger^(AW) and my wrath will be poured^(AX) out on this place—on man and beast, on the trees of the field and on the crops of your land—and it will burn and not be quenched.^(AY)

²¹ “‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go ahead, add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices^(AZ) and eat^(BA) the meat yourselves! ²² For when I brought your ancestors out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands^(BB) about burnt offerings and sacrifices,^{(BC) 23} but I gave them this command:^(BD) Obey^(BE) me, and I will be your God and you will be my people.^(BF) Walk in obedience to all^(BG) I command you, that it may go well^(BH) with you. ²⁴ But they did not listen^(BI) or pay attention;^(BJ) instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts.^(BK) They went backward^(BL) and not forward. ²⁵ From the time your ancestors left Egypt until now, day after day, again and again^(BM) I sent you my servants^(BN) the prophets.^{(BO) 26} But they did not listen to me or pay attention.^(BP) They were stiff-necked^(BQ) and did more evil than their ancestors.’^(BR)

²⁷ “When you tell^(BS) them all this, they will not listen^(BT) to you; when you call to them, they will not answer.^{(BU) 28} Therefore say to them, ‘This is the nation that has not obeyed the Lord its God or responded to correction.^(BV) Truth^(BW) has perished; it has vanished from their lips.

²⁹ “‘Cut off^(BX) your hair and throw it away; take up a lament^(BY) on the barren heights, for the Lord has rejected and abandoned^(BZ) this generation that is under his wrath.

The Valley of Slaughter

³⁰ “‘The people of Judah have done evil^(CA) in my eyes, declares the Lord. They have set up their detestable idols^(CB) in the house that bears my Name and have defiled^(CC) it. ³¹ They have built the high places of Topheth^(CD) in the Valley of Ben Hinnom^(CE) to burn their sons and daughters^(CF) in the fire—something I did not command, nor did it enter my mind.^{(CG) 32} So beware, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when people will no longer call it Topheth or the Valley of Ben Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter,^(CH) for they will bury^(CI) the dead in Topheth until there is no more room. ³³ Then the carcasses^(CJ) of this people will become food^(CK) for the birds and the wild animals, and there will be no one to frighten them away.^{(CL) 34} I will bring an end to the sounds^(CM) of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride and bridegroom^(CN) in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem,^(CO) for the land will become desolate.^(CP)

The Church and Its Leaders

3 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit^(A) but as people who are still worldly^(B)—mere infants^(C) in Christ. ² I gave you milk, not solid food,^(D) for you were not yet ready for it.^(E) Indeed, you are still not ready. ³ You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling^(F) among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? ⁴ For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,”^(G) are you not mere human beings?

⁵ What, after all, is Apollos?^(H) And what is Paul? Only servants,^(I) through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. ⁶ I planted the seed,^(J) Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. ⁷ So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. ⁸ The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.^{(K) 9} For we are co-workers in God’s service;^(L) you are God’s field,^(M) God’s building.^(N)

¹⁰ By the grace God has given me,^(O) I laid a foundation^(P) as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. ¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.^{(Q) 12} If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³ their work will be shown for what it is,^(R) because the Day^(S) will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.^{(T) 14} If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.^{(U) 15} If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.^(V)

¹⁶ Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple^(W) and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?^{(X) 17} If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

¹⁸ Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise^(Y) by the standards of this age,^(Z) you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. ¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness^(AA) in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”^[a];^{(AB) 20} and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”^{[b](AC) 21} So then, no more boasting about human leaders!^(AD) All things are yours,^{(AE) 22} whether Paul or Apollos^(AF) or Cephas^[c](AG) or the world or life or death or the present or the future^(AH)—all are yours, ²³ and you are of Christ,^(AI) and Christ is of God.