1 Kings 22
Ahab Dies in Battle
22:1 There was no war between Syria and Israel for three years.1
22:2 In the third year King Jehoshaphat of Judah came down to visit2 the king of Israel.
22:3 The king of Israel said to his servants, “Surely you recognize that Ramoth Gilead belongs to us, though we are hesitant to reclaim it from the king of Syria.”3
22:4 Then he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to attack Ramoth Gilead?” Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “I will support you; my army and horses are at your disposal.”4
22:5 Then Jehoshaphat added,5 “First seek an oracle from the
22:10 Now the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah were sitting on their respective thrones,12 dressed in their robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria.13 All the prophets were prophesying before them.
22:11 Zedekiah son of Kenaanah made iron horns and said, “This is what the
22:15 When he came before the king, the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we attack Ramoth Gilead or not?” He answered him, “Attack! You will succeed; the
22:29 The king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah attacked Ramoth Gilead.
22:30 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and then enter27 into the battle; but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and then entered into the battle.
22:31 Now the king of Syria had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, “Do not fight common soldiers or high-ranking officers;28 fight only the king of Israel.”
22:32 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “He must be the king of Israel.” So they turned and attacked him, but Jehoshaphat cried out.
22:33 When the chariot commanders realized he was not the king of Israel, they turned away from him.
22:34 Now an archer shot an arrow at random,29 and it struck the king of Israel between the plates of his armor. The king30 ordered his charioteer, “Turn around and take me from the battle line,31 because I’m wounded.”
22:35 While the battle raged throughout the day, the king stood propped up in his chariot opposite the Syrians. He died in the evening; the blood from the wound ran down into the bottom of the chariot.
22:36 As the sun was setting, a cry went through the camp, “Each one should return to his city and to his homeland.”
22:37 So the king died and was taken to Samaria, where they buried him.32
22:38 They washed off the chariot at the pool of Samaria (this was where the prostitutes bathed);33 dogs licked his blood, just as the
22:39 The rest of the events of Ahab’s reign, including a record of his accomplishments and how he built a luxurious palace and various cities, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.35 22:40 Ahab passed away.36 His son Ahaziah replaced him as king.
Jehoshaphat’s Reign over Judah
22:41 In the fourth year of King Ahab’s reign over Israel, Asa’s son Jehoshaphat became king over Judah.
22:42 Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king and he reigned for twenty-five years in Jerusalem.37 His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.
22:43 He followed in his father Asa’s footsteps and was careful to do what the
22:45 The rest of the events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, including his successes and military exploits, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.40 22:46 He removed from the land any male cultic prostitutes who had managed to survive the reign of his father Asa.41 22:47 There was no king in Edom at this time; a governor ruled. 22:48 Jehoshaphat built a fleet of large merchant ships42 to travel to Ophir for gold, but they never made the voyage because they were shipwrecked in Ezion Geber. 22:49 Then Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my sailors join yours in the fleet,”43 but Jehoshaphat refused.
22:50 Jehoshaphat passed away44 and was buried with his ancestors in the city of his ancestor45 David. His son Jehoram replaced him as king.
Ahaziah’s Reign over Israel
22:51 In the seventeenth year of King Jehoshaphat’s reign over Judah, Ahab’s son Ahaziah became king over Israel in Samaria.46 He ruled for two years over Israel.
22:52 He did evil in the sight of47 the