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Jehoshaphat was not convinced, for he knew that the prophets were not prophets of the
Lord. So he said "Is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides, that we might inquire
of him?" The king of Israel said that there was yet one man, Micaiah, the son of Imlah,
by whom they might inquire of the Lord, "but I hate him for he doth not prophesy good
concerning me, but evil".
Now the two kings, wearing their robes, each sat on their respective thrones, and
listened to the 400 prophets as they prophesied. The messenger who fetched Micaiah
told him that the 400 prophets were saying, "Go up and prosper, for the Lord will deliver
it into the king's hand". And the messenger urged Micaiah to say the same words as the
400 prophets. But Micaiah said "As the Lord liveth, what the Lord saith unto me, that
will I speak".
When they arrived at the place where the two kings were seated, Micaiah was asked
whether they should attack Ramothgilead or not. Micaiah repeated what the 400 prophets
had said; "Go up and prosper, for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king".
The king realized that Micaiah was just repeating what the 400 prophets said, so he
replied "How many times must I adjure you to tell me nothing but that which is true in
the name of the Lord?".
So Micaiah began to tell the king of Israel the truth, how he saw Israel scattered upon
the hill. "These have no master; let them return every man to his house in peace" (17).
This was a prophecy of the death of Ahab, for he would be killed, and there would be a
proclamation "Every man to his city and every man to his own country" (36).
The king of Israel said to the king of Judah, "Did I not say that he would prophesy no
good concerning me, but evil?" But Micaiah continued his declaration to the king of
Israel. We will quote from the A.V.:
"And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His
throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right hand and on His left.
And the Lord said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at
Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. And
there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will persuade him. And
the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying
spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And He said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail
also: go forth, and do so. Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the
mouth of all these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee" (19-23).
The king of Israel ignored all the advice which Micaiah gave him, and he gave
instructions that Micaiah should be carried back to Amon the governor of the city, and to
Joash the king's son. Micaiah was to be put in prison, fed with bread of affliction and
water of affliction, until Ahab returned in peace. But Micaiah answered the king: "If
thou return at all in peace, the Lord hath not spoken by me. Hearken, O people, every
one of you".
So Micaiah was put in prison for telling the truth, and faithfully delivering the
message of the Lord. The prophecy of the 400 lying prophets was accepted, and the one