Josaphat, king of Juda, came down to the
king of Israel.

22:3. (And the king of Israel said to his servants: Know ye not that
Ramoth Galaad is ours, and we neglect to take it out of the hand of the
king of Syria?)

22:4. And he said to Josaphat: Wilt thou come with me to battle to
Ramoth Galaad?

22:5. And Josaphat said to the king of Israel: As I am, so art thou: my
people and thy people are one: and my horsemen are thy horsemen. And
Josaphat said to the king of Israel: Inquire, I beseech thee, this day
the word of the Lord.

22:6. Then the king of Israel assembled the prophets, about four hundred
men, and he said to them: Shall I go to Ramoth Galaad to fight, or shall
I forbear? They answered: Go up, and the Lord will deliver it into the
hand of the king.

22:7. And Josaphat said: Is there not here some prophet of the Lord,
that we may inquire by him?

22:8. And the king of Israel said to Josaphat. There is one man left, by
whom we may inquire of the Lord; Micheas, the son of Jemla: but I hate
him, for he doth not prophecy good to me, but evil. And Josaphat said:
Speak not so, O king.

22:9. Then the king of Israel called an eunuch, and said to him: Make
haste, and bring hither Micheas, the son of Jemla.

22:10. And the king of Israel, and Josaphat, king of Juda, sat each on
his throne, clothed with royal robes, in a court, by the entrance of the
gate of Samaria, and all the prophets prophesied before them.

22:11. And Sedecias, thc son of Chanaana, made himself horns of iron,
and said: Thus saith the Lord: With these shalt thou push Syria, till
thou destroy it.

22:12. And all the prophets prophesied in like manner, saying: Go up to
Ramoth Galaad, and prosper, for the Lord will deliver it into the king's
hands.

22:13. And the messenger that went to call Micheas, spoke to him,
saying: Behold the words of the prophets with one mouth declare good
things to the king: let thy word, therefore, be like to theirs, and
speak that which is good.

22:14. But Micheas said to him: As the Lord liveth, whatsoever the Lord
shall say to me, that will I speak.

22:15. So he came to the king, and the king said to him: Micheas, shall
we go to Ramoth Galaad to battle, or shall we forbear? He answered him:
Go up, and prosper, and the Lord shall deliver it into the king's hands.

Go up, etc... This was spoken ironically, and by way of jesting at the
flattering speeches of the false prophets: and so the king understoo