1Now Yehoshafat had riches and honor in abundance; and he allied himself with Akhav by marriage. 2And after a lapse of years he went down to Akhav to Shomron. And Akhav 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 Ramot Gilad. 3And Akhav king of Yisra’el said unto Yehoshafat Melekh Yehudah, “Will you go with me to Ramot Gilad?” And he answered him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people; and we will be with you in the war.” 4And Yehoshafat said unto the king of Yisra’el, “Inquire, I pray, at the D’avar יהוה today.” 5Then the king of Yisra’el gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said unto them, “Shall we go to Ramot Gilad to battle, or shall I forbear?” And they said, “Go up; for Elohim will deliver it into the hand of the king.” 6But Yehoshafat said, “Is there not here besides a Navi of יהוה , that we might inquire of him?” 7And the king of Yisra’el said unto Yehoshafat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of יהוה ; but I hate him; for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil; the same is Mikhah-Yahu Ben Imla.” And Yehoshafat said, “Let not the king say so.” 8Then the king of Yisra’el called an officer, and said, “Fetch quickly Mikhah-Yahu Ben Imla.” 9Now the king of Yisra’el and Yehoshafat Melekh Yehudah sat each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, and they sat in a threshing-floor at the entrance of the gate of Shomron; and all the prophets were prophesying before them. 10And Tzidki-Yahu Ben Khena’anah made him horns of iron, and said, “Thus says יהוה , ‘With these shall you gore Aram, until they are consumed.” 11And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, “Go up to Ramot Gilad, and prosper; for יהוה will deliver it into the hand of the king.” 12And the messenger that went to call Mikhah-Yahu spoke to him, saying, “Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one mouth; let your word therefore, I pray, be like one of theirs, and speak good.” 13And Mikhah-Yahu said, “As יהוה lives, what my Elohim says, that will I speak.” 14And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, “Mikhah-Yahu, shall we go to Ramot Gilad to battle, or shall I forbear?” And he said, “Go up, and prosper; and they shall be delivered into your hand.” 15And the king said to him, “How many times shall I adjure you that you speak unto me nothing but the truth in the Name of יהוה .” And16 he said, “I saw all Yisra’el scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd; and יהוה said, ‘These have no master, let them return every man to his house in shalom’.” 17And the king of Yisra’el said to Yehoshafat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?” 18And he said, “Therefore hear the D’var יהוה , ‘I saw יהוה sitting upon His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right hand and on His left. 19And יהוה said, ‘Who shall entice Akhav king of Yisra’el, that he may go up and fall at Ramot Gilad?’ And one spoke saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner. 20And there came forth the Ru’akh, and stood before יהוה , and said, ‘I will entice him.’ And יהוה said unto him, ‘With what?’ 21And he said, ‘I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And He said, ‘You shall entice him, and shall prevail also; go forth, and do so.’ 22Now therefore, behold, יהוה has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets; and יהוה has spoken evil concerning you.” 23Then Tzidki-Yahu Ben Khena’anah came near, and smote Mikhah-Yahu upon the cheek, and said, “Which way went the Ru’akh יהוה from me to speak unto you?” 24And Mikhah-Yahu said, “Behold, you shall see on that day, when you shall go into an inner chamber to hide yourself.” 25And the king of Yisra’el said, “Take Mikhah-Yahu; and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Yo’ash the king’s son; 26and say, ‘Thus says the king, ‘Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with scant bread and with scant water, until I return in shalom’.'” 27And Mikhah-Yahu said, “If you return at all in shalom, יהוה has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Hear, you peoples, all of you.” 28So the king of Yisra’el and Yehoshafat Melekh Yehudah went up to Ramot Gilad. 29And the king of Yisra’el said unto Yehoshafat, “I will disguise myself, and go into the battle; but put on your robes.” So the king of Yisra’el 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 Yisra’el.” 31And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Yehoshafat, that they said, “It is the king of Yisra’el.” Therefore they turned about to fight against him; but Yehoshafat cried out, and יהוה helped him; and Elohim 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 Yisra’el, that they turned back from pursuing him. 33And a certain man drew his bow at a venture, and smote the king of Yisra’el between the lower armor and the breastplate; therefore he said to the driver of the chariot, “Turn your hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am sore wounded.” 34And the battle increased that day; but the king of Yisra’el stayed himself up in his chariot against Aram until the evening; and about the time of the going down of the sun he died.
אוַיְהִי לִיהוֹשָׁפָט עֹשֶׁר וְכָבוֹד לָרֹב; וַיִּתְחַתֵּן לְאַחְאָב. בוַיֵּרֶד לְקֵץ שָׁנִים אֶל אַחְאָב לְשֹׁמְרוֹן וַיִּזְבַּח לוֹ אַחְאָב צֹאן וּבָקָר לָרֹב וְלָעָם אֲשֶׁר עִמּוֹ; וַיְסִיתֵהוּ לַעֲלוֹת אֶל רָמֹת גִּלְעָד. גוַיֹּאמֶר אַחְאָב מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל יְהוֹשָׁפָט מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה הֲתֵלֵךְ עִמִּי רָמֹת גִּלְעָד; וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ כָּמוֹנִי כָמוֹךָ וּכְעַמְּךָ עַמִּי וְעִמְּךָ בַּמִּלְחָמָה. דוַיֹּאמֶר יְהוֹשָׁפָט אֶל מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל: דְּרָשׁ נָא כַיּוֹם אֶת דְּבַר יהוה . הוַיִּקְבֹּץ מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת הַנְּבִאִים אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת אִישׁ וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם הֲנֵלֵךְ אֶל רָמֹת גִּלְעָד לַמִּלְחָמָה אִם אֶחְדָּל; וַיֹּאמְרוּ עֲלֵה וְיִתֵּן הָאֱלֹהִים בְּיַד הַמֶּלֶךְ. ווַיֹּאמֶר יְהוֹשָׁפָט הַאֵין פֹּה נָבִיא לַיהוה עוֹד; וְנִדְרְשָׁה מֵאֹתוֹ. זוַיֹּאמֶר מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל יְהוֹשָׁפָט עוֹד אִישׁ אֶחָד לִדְרוֹשׁ אֶת יהוה מֵאֹתוֹ וַאֲנִי שְׂנֵאתִיהוּ כִּי אֵינֶנּוּ מִתְנַבֵּא עָלַי לְטוֹבָה כִּי כָל יָמָיו לְרָעָה הוּא מִיכָיְהוּ בֶן יִמְלָא; וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוֹשָׁפָט אַל יֹאמַר הַמֶּלֶךְ כֵּן. חוַיִּקְרָא מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל סָרִיס אֶחָד; וַיֹּאמֶר מַהֵר מיכהו (מִיכָיְהוּ) בֶן יִמְלָא. טוּמֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל וִיהוֹשָׁפָט מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה יוֹשְׁבִים אִישׁ עַל כִּסְאוֹ מְלֻבָּשִׁים בְּגָדִים וְיֹשְׁבִים בְּגֹרֶן פֶּתַח שַׁעַר שֹׁמְרוֹן; וְכָל הַנְּבִיאִים מִתְנַבְּאִים לִפְנֵיהֶם. יוַיַּעַשׂ לוֹ צִדְקִיָּהוּ בֶן כְּנַעֲנָה קַרְנֵי בַרְזֶל; וַיֹּאמֶר כֹּה אָמַר יהוה בְּאֵלֶּה תְּנַגַּח אֶת אֲרָם עַד כַּלּוֹתָם. יאוְכָל הַנְּבִאִים נִבְּאִים כֵּן לֵאמֹר: עֲלֵה רָמֹת גִּלְעָד וְהַצְלַח וְנָתַן יהוה בְּיַד הַמֶּלֶךְ. יבוְהַמַּלְאָךְ אֲשֶׁר הָלַךְ לִקְרֹא לְמִיכָיְהוּ דִּבֶּר אֵלָיו לֵאמֹר הִנֵּה דִּבְרֵי הַנְּבִאִים פֶּה אֶחָד טוֹב אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ; וִיהִי נָא דְבָרְךָ כְּאַחַד מֵהֶם וְדִבַּרְתָּ טּוֹב. יגוַיֹּאמֶר מִיכָיְהוּ: חַי יהוה כִּי אֶת אֲשֶׁר יֹאמַר אֱלֹהַי אֹתוֹ אֲדַבֵּר. ידוַיָּבֹא אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ אֵלָיו מִיכָה הֲנֵלֵךְ אֶל רָמֹת גִּלְעָד לַמִּלְחָמָה אִם אֶחְדָּל; וַיֹּאמֶר עֲלוּ וְהַצְלִיחוּ וְיִנָּתְנוּ בְּיֶדְכֶם. טווַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו הַמֶּלֶךְ עַד כַּמֶּה פְעָמִים אֲנִי מַשְׁבִּיעֶךָ: אֲשֶׁר לֹא תְדַבֵּר אֵלַי רַק אֱמֶת בְּשֵׁם יהוה . טזוַיֹּאמֶר רָאִיתִי אֶת כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל נְפוֹצִים עַל הֶהָרִים כַּצֹּאן אֲשֶׁר אֵין לָהֶן רֹעֶה; וַיֹּאמֶר יהוה לֹא אֲדֹנִים לָאֵלֶּה יָשׁוּבוּ אִישׁ לְבֵיתוֹ בְּשָׁלוֹם. יזוַיֹּאמֶר מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל יְהוֹשָׁפָט: הֲלֹא אָמַרְתִּי אֵלֶיךָ לֹא יִתְנַבֵּא עָלַי טוֹב כִּי אִם לְרָע. יחוַיֹּאמֶר לָכֵן שִׁמְעוּ דְבַר יהוה : רָאִיתִי אֶת יהוה יוֹשֵׁב עַל כִּסְאוֹ וְכָל צְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם עֹמְדִים עַל יְמִינוֹ וּשְׂמֹאלוֹ. יטוַיֹּאמֶר יהוה מִי יְפַתֶּה אֶת אַחְאָב מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְיַעַל וְיִפֹּל בְּרָמוֹת גִּלְעָד; וַיֹּאמֶר זֶה אֹמֵר כָּכָה וְזֶה אֹמֵר כָּכָה. כוַיֵּצֵא הָרוּחַ וַיַּעֲמֹד לִפְנֵי יהוה וַיֹּאמֶר אֲנִי אֲפַתֶּנּוּ: וַיֹּאמֶר יהוה אֵלָיו בַּמָּה. כאוַיֹּאמֶר אֵצֵא וְהָיִיתִי לְרוּחַ שֶׁקֶר בְּפִי כָּל נְבִיאָיו; וַיֹּאמֶר תְּפַתֶּה וְגַם תּוּכָל צֵא וַעֲשֵׂה כֵן. כבוְעַתָּה הִנֵּה נָתַן יהוה רוּחַ שֶׁקֶר בְּפִי נְבִיאֶיךָ אֵלֶּה; וַיהוה דִּבֶּר עָלֶיךָ רָעָה. כגוַיִּגַּשׁ צִדְקִיָּהוּ בֶן כְּנַעֲנָה וַיַּךְ אֶת מִיכָיְהוּ עַל הַלֶּחִי; וַיֹּאמֶר אֵי זֶה הַדֶּרֶךְ עָבַר רוּחַ יהוה מֵאִתִּי לְדַבֵּר אֹתָךְ. כדוַיֹּאמֶר מִיכָיְהוּ הִנְּךָ רֹאֶה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא אֲשֶׁר תָּבוֹא חֶדֶר בְּחֶדֶר לְהֵחָבֵא. כהוַיֹּאמֶר מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל קְחוּ אֶת מִיכָיְהוּ וַהֲשִׁיבֻהוּ אֶל אָמוֹן שַׂר הָעִיר וְאֶל יוֹאָשׁ בֶּן הַמֶּלֶךְ. כווַאֲמַרְתֶּם כֹּה אָמַר הַמֶּלֶךְ שִׂימוּ זֶה בֵּית הַכֶּלֶא; וְהַאֲכִלֻהוּ לֶחֶם לַחַץ וּמַיִם לַחַץ עַד שׁוּבִי בְשָׁלוֹם. כזוַיֹּאמֶר מִיכָיְהוּ אִם שׁוֹב תָּשׁוּב בְּשָׁלוֹם לֹא דִבֶּר יהוה בִּי; וַיֹּאמֶר שִׁמְעוּ עַמִּים כֻּלָּם. כחוַיַּעַל מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל וִיהוֹשָׁפָט מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה אֶל רָמֹת גִּלְעָד. כטוַיֹּאמֶר מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל יְהוֹשָׁפָט הִתְחַפֵּשׂ וָבוֹא בַמִּלְחָמָה וְאַתָּה לְבַשׁ בְּגָדֶיךָ; וַיִּתְחַפֵּשׂ מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיָּבֹאוּ בַּמִּלְחָמָה. לוּמֶלֶךְ אֲרָם צִוָּה אֶת שָׂרֵי הָרֶכֶב אֲשֶׁר לוֹ לֵאמֹר לֹא תִּלָּחֲמוּ אֶת הַקָּטֹן אֶת הַגָּדוֹל: כִּי אִם אֶת מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְבַדּוֹ. לאוַיְהִי כִּרְאוֹת שָׂרֵי הָרֶכֶב אֶת יְהוֹשָׁפָט וְהֵמָּה אָמְרוּ מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל הוּא וַיָּסֹבּוּ עָלָיו לְהִלָּחֵם; וַיִּזְעַק יְהוֹשָׁפָט וַיהוה עֲזָרוֹ וַיְסִיתֵם אֱלֹהִים מִמֶּנּוּ. לבוַיְהִי כִּרְאוֹת שָׂרֵי הָרֶכֶב כִּי לֹא הָיָה מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיָּשׁוּבוּ מֵאַחֲרָיו. לגוְאִישׁ מָשַׁךְ בַּקֶּשֶׁת לְתֻמּוֹ וַיַּךְ אֶת מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל בֵּין הַדְּבָקִים וּבֵין הַשִּׁרְיָן; וַיֹּאמֶר לָרַכָּב הֲפֹךְ ידיך (יָדְךָ) וְהוֹצֵאתַנִי מִן הַמַּחֲנֶה כִּי הָחֳלֵיתִי. לדוַתַּעַל הַמִּלְחָמָה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא וּמֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל הָיָה מַעֲמִיד בַּמֶּרְכָּבָה נֹכַח אֲרָם עַד הָעָרֶב; וַיָּמָת לְעֵת בּוֹא הַשָּׁמֶשׁ.
D'var יהוה , The Word of יהוה 