Micaiah's prophecy.

B. C. 897.

+ Heb. floor.

in a t void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.

11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them. 12 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper for the LORD shall deliver it into the king's hand.

13 And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good.

14 And Micaiah said, As the LORD Num. 22. 38. liveth, 'what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak.

¡Matt. 9. 96.

bla. 6. 1. Dia 7, 9.

1.6. &

15 ¶ So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.

16 And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD?

17 And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.

18 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?

19 And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all Dan. the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.

21. Pa. 106.

7.10. Zech. 110. Matt. 1. 10. Heb. 1.7.14.

1 Or, deceive.

20 And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.

21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.

22 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 Jar 9.23. he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also go forth, and do

J12. 16. Ex. 14. 9. 2Thess. 2.11. 80. Ez. 14. 9.

k

23 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the

The death of Ahab.

LORD hath spoken evil concerning B. C. 897. thee.

m

24 But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, " Which way m2 Chr. 18. 23. went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?

25 And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide || Or, from thyself.

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

27 And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.

chamber to chamber. Heb. a chamber in a chamber, ch. 20.30.

Deut. 18. 20,

28 And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, the LORD hath not a Num. 16. 29. spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you.

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

30 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle.

0

31 But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel.

32 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it is the king of Israel. And they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat Pcried out.

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

34 And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am † wounded.

21, 22.

Or, when he guise himself.

to dis

was

and enter into the battle.

2 Chr. 35. 22.

Jehoshaphat's good reign.

B. C. 897.

+ Heb. came.

q ch. 21. 19.

r Am. 3. 15.

914.

2 Chr. 20. S1.

37 So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria.

38 And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the word of the LORD which he spake.

39 Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel?

40 So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.

41 ¶ And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. 42 Jehoshaphat was thirty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. 43 And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the LORD: nevertheless "the high places were not taken away; 2 Kings 12.3. for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places.

t 2 Chr. 17. 3.

u ch. 14. 23. & 15. 14.

x 2 Chr. 19. 2. 2 Cor. 6. 14.

44 And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.

45 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he

362

Ahaziah's wicked reign.

B. C. about 896.

& 2 Sam. 8. 2. bch. 3. 5.

+

THEN Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab. 2 And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, inquire of Baal-zebub the god of 1 Sam. 5. 10. Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease.

Heb. The bed

whither thou urt gone up.

thalt not

from it

down

+ Heb. What was the man

3 But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron?

4 Now therefore thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed. 5 ¶And when the messengers turned back unto him, he said unto them, Why are ye now turned back?

6 And they said unto him, There came a man up to meet us, and said unto us, Go, turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that thou sendest to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron? therefore thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.

7 And he said unto them, † What ner of the manner of man was he which came up to meet you, and told you these words?

8 And they answered him, He was See Zach.13. da hairy man, and girt with a girdle 4. Meil 3.4. of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.

9 Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of a hill. And he spake

unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down.

10 And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

11 Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly.

12 And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

B. C. about 896.

e Luke 9. 54.

13 And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and †fell on his knees before Elijah, Heb. bowed. and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, 'be precious in thy sight.

14 Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight.

15 And the angel of the LORD said unto Elijah, Go down with him be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king.

16 And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to inquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to inquire of his word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.

17 So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. And 5 Jehoram reigned in his stead, in the second year of Je

f1 Sam. 26. 21. Ps. 72. 14.

896.

g ch. 3. 1.

Elijah divideth the waters.

B. C. 896.

a Gen. 5. 24.

b 1 Kings 19. 21.

c See Ruth 1. 15, 16.

B. C. 896.

11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and ch.6. 17. horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

Ps. 104. 4.

My father, my father, the chariot of h ch. 13. 14. Israel, and the horsemen thereof! And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in

a

LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

b

2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Beth-el. And Elisha said d 1 Sam. 1. 26. unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Beth-el.

ver. 4, 6.

ch. 4. 30.

3 And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. 4 And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.

5 And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

6 And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.

7 And fifty men of the sons of the Heb.in sight, prophets went, and stood † to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan. 8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.

13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jor- † Heb. lip. dan;

14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? And when he also had smitten the waters, they parted i ver. 8. hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

15 And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho ver 7. saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.

+ Heb. sons of strength.

See 1 Kings

16 T And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: 'lest per-1 adventure the Spirit of the LORD hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. Heb. one of And he said, Ye shall not send.

17 And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not.

18 And when they came again to him, for he tarried at Jericho, he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?

19 And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth but the water is naught, and the ground barren.

20 And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him.

21 And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.

22 So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.

23 And he went up from thence unto Beth-el: and as he was going up

18. 12. Ez. 8. 3. Acts 8. 59.

the mountains.

+Heb.causing to miscarry.

m See Ex. 15. 25. ch. 4.41. & 6. 6. John 9.6.

B. C. 806. by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. 24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them. 25 And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria.

+Hab, at their fert See Ex.

1 Kings 22.7.

8 And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom.

9 So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days' journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle + that followed them.

10 And the king of Israel said, Alas, that the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!

11 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that

The Moabites defeated.

we may inquire of the LORD by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.

12 And Jehoshaphat said, The word of the LORD is with him. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.

k

h

13 And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab.

14 And Elisha said, "As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.

15 But now bring me "a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.

16 And he said, Thus saith the LORD, P Make this valley full of ditches.

17 For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts.

18 And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand.

B. C. 895.

h ch. 2. 25.

iEz. 14. 3. k So Judg. 10.

14. Ruth 1.15. 11 Kings 18. 19.

m1 Kings 17.1. ch. 5. 16.

n See 1 Sam. 10.5.

o Ez. 1. 3. & 3. 14, 22. & 8. 1.

P ch. 4. S.

19 And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece † Heb. grieve. of land with stones.

20 And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat offering was of- q Ex. 29. 39,40. fered, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.

21 ¶ And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered all that were able to put on armour, and upward, and stood in the border.

+ Heb. were + Heb. gird cried together

himself with a girdle.

22 And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood: 23 And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have Heb. desmitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.

stroyed.