II - Chapter 18

1So Yehoshafat had wealth and honor in abundance, and he allied himself by marriage to Achav.

אוַיְהִי לִיהוֹשָׁפָט עֹשֶׁר וְכָבוֹד לָרֹב וַיִּתְחַתֵּן לְאַחְאָב׃

2After some years had passed, he came to visit Achav at Shomron. Achav slaughtered sheep and oxen in abundance for him and for the people with him, and persuaded him to march against Ramoth-gilead.

va-YAY-red l'-KAYTZ sha-NEEM el akh-AV l'-SHO-m'-RON va-yiz-bakh LO akh-AV TZON u-va-KAR la-ROV v'-la-AM a-SHER i-MO vai-see-TAY-hu la-a-LOT el ra-MOT gil-AD

בוַיֵּרֶד לְקֵץ שָׁנִים אֶל־אַחְאָב לְשֹׁמְרוֹן וַיִּזְבַּח־לוֹ אַחְאָב צֹאן וּבָקָר לָרֹב וְלָעָם אֲשֶׁר עִמּוֹ וַיְסִיתֵהוּ לַעֲלוֹת אֶל־רָמוֹת גִּלְעָד׃

3King Achav of Yisrael said to King Yehoshafat of Yehuda, “Will you accompany me to Ramoth-gilead?” He answered him, “I will do what you do; my troops shall be your troops and shall accompany you in battle.”

גוַיֹּאמֶר אַחְאָב מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל־יְהוֹשָׁפָט מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה הֲתֵלֵךְ עִמִּי רָמֹת גִּלְעָד וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ כָּמוֹנִי כָמוֹךָ וּכְעַמְּךָ עַמִּי וְעִמְּךָ בַּמִּלְחָמָה׃

4Yehoshafat then said to the king of Yisrael, “But first inquire for the word of Hashem.”

דוַיֹּאמֶר יְהוֹשָׁפָט אֶל־מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל דְּרָשׁ־נָא כַיּוֹם אֶת־דְּבַר יְהֹוָה׃

5So the king of Yisrael gathered the Neviim, four hundred men, and asked them, “Shall I march upon Ramoth-gilead for battle, or shall I not?” “March,” they said, “and Hashem will deliver it into the king's hands.”

הוַיִּקְבֹּץ מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת־הַנְּבִאִים אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת אִישׁ וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם הֲנֵלֵךְ אֶל־רָמֹת גִּלְעָד לַמִּלְחָמָה אִם־אֶחְדָּל וַיֹּאמְרוּ עֲלֵה וְיִתֵּן הָאֱלֹהִים בְּיַד הַמֶּלֶךְ׃

6Then Yehoshafat asked, “Is there not another Navi of Hashem here through whom we can inquire?”

ווַיֹּאמֶר יְהוֹשָׁפָט הַאֵין פֹּה נָבִיא לַיהֹוָה עוֹד וְנִדְרְשָׁה מֵאֹתוֹ׃

7And the king of Yisrael answered Yehoshafat, “There is one more man through whom we can inquire of Hashem; but I hate him, because he never prophesies anything good for me but always misfortune. He is Michaihu son of Imlah.” Yehoshafat replied, “Let the king not say such a thing.”

זוַיֹּאמֶר מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל־יְהוֹשָׁפָט עוֹד אִישׁ־אֶחָד לִדְרוֹשׁ אֶת־יְהֹוָה מֵאֹתוֹ וַאֲנִי שְׂנֵאתִיהוּ כִּי־אֵינֶנּוּ מִתְנַבֵּא עָלַי לְטוֹבָה כִּי כָל־יָמָיו לְרָעָה הוּא מִיכָיְהוּ בֶן־יִמְלָא וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוֹשָׁפָט אַל־יֹאמַר הַמֶּלֶךְ כֵּן׃

8So the king of Yisrael summoned an officer and said, “Bring Michaihu son of Imlah at once.”

חוַיִּקְרָא מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל־סָרִיס אֶחָד וַיֹּאמֶר מַהֵר מיכהו [מִיכָיְהוּ] בֶן־יִמְלָא׃

9The king of Yisrael and King Yehoshafat of Yehuda, wearing their robes, were seated on their thrones situated in the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Shomron; and all the Neviim were prophesying before them.

טוּמֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל וִיהוֹשָׁפָט מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה יוֹשְׁבִים אִישׁ עַל־כִּסְאוֹ מְלֻבָּשִׁים בְּגָדִים וְיֹשְׁבִים בְּגֹרֶן פֶּתַח שַׁעַר שֹׁמְרוֹן וְכָל־הַנְּבִיאִים מִתְנַבְּאִים לִפְנֵיהֶם׃

10Tzidkiyahu son of Chenaanah had provided himself with iron horns; and he said, “Thus said Hashem: With these you shall gore the Arameans till you make an end of them.”

יוַיַּעַשׂ לוֹ צִדְקִיָּהוּ בֶן־כְּנַעֲנָה קַרְנֵי בַרְזֶל וַיֹּאמֶר כֹּה־אָמַר יְהֹוָה בְּאֵלֶּה תְּנַגַּח אֶת־אֲרָם עַד־כַּלּוֹתָם׃

11All the other Neviim were prophesying similarly, “March against Ramoth-gilead and be victorious! Hashem will deliver it into Your Majesty's hands.”

יאוְכָל־הַנְּבִאִים נִבְּאִים כֵּן לֵאמֹר עֲלֵה רָמֹת גִּלְעָד וְהַצְלַח וְנָתַן יְהֹוָה בְּיַד הַמֶּלֶךְ׃

12The messenger who had gone to summon Michaihu said to him, “Look, the words of the Neviim are unanimously favorable to the king. Let your word be like that of the rest of them; speak a favorable word.”

יבוְהַמַּלְאָךְ אֲשֶׁר־הָלַךְ לִקְרֹא לְמִיכָיְהוּ דִּבֶּר אֵלָיו לֵאמֹר הִנֵּה דִּבְרֵי הַנְּבִאִים פֶּה־אֶחָד טוֹב אֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְ וִיהִי־נָא דְבָרְךָ כְּאַחַד מֵהֶם וְדִבַּרְתָּ טּוֹב׃

13“By the life of Hashem,” Michaihu answered, “I will speak only what my God tells me.”

יגוַיֹּאמֶר מִיכָיְהוּ חַי־יְהֹוָה כִּי אֶת־אֲשֶׁר־יֹאמַר אֱלֹהַי אֹתוֹ אֲדַבֵּר׃

14When he came before the king, the king said to him, “Micha, shall we march against Ramoth-gilead for battle or shall we not?” He answered him, “March and be victorious! They will be delivered into your hands.”

ידוַיָּבֹא אֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ אֵלָיו מִיכָה הֲנֵלֵךְ אֶל־רָמֹת גִּלְעָד לַמִּלְחָמָה אִם־אֶחְדָּל וַיֹּאמֶר עֲלוּ וְהַצְלִיחוּ וְיִנָּתְנוּ בְּיֶדְכֶם׃

15The king said to him, “How many times must I adjure you to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of Hashem?”

טווַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו הַמֶּלֶךְ עַד־כַּמֶּה פְעָמִים אֲנִי מַשְׁבִּיעֶךָ אֲשֶׁר לֹא־תְדַבֵּר אֵלַי רַק־אֱמֶת בְּשֵׁם יְהֹוָה׃

16Then he said, “I saw all Yisrael scattered over the hills like sheep without a shepherd; and Hashem said, ‘These have no master; let everyone return to his home in safety.'”

טזוַיֹּאמֶר רָאִיתִי אֶת־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל נְפוֹצִים עַל־הֶהָרִים כַּצֹּאן אֲשֶׁר אֵין־לָהֶן רֹעֶה וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה לֹא־אֲדֹנִים לָאֵלֶּה יָשׁוּבוּ אִישׁ־לְבֵיתוֹ בְּשָׁלוֹם׃

17The king of Yisrael said to Yehoshafat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good fortune for me, but only misfortune?”

יזוַיֹּאמֶר מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל־יְהוֹשָׁפָט הֲלֹא אָמַרְתִּי אֵלֶיךָ לֹא־יִתְנַבֵּא עָלַי טוֹב כִּי אִם־לְרָע׃

18Then [Michaihu] said, “Indeed, hear now the word of Hashem! I saw Hashem seated upon His throne, with all the host of heaven standing in attendance to the right and to the left of Him.

יחוַיֹּאמֶר לָכֵן שִׁמְעוּ דְבַר־יְהֹוָה רָאִיתִי אֶת־יְהֹוָה יוֹשֵׁב עַל־כִּסְאוֹ וְכָל־צְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם עֹמְדִים עַל־יְמִינוֹ וּשְׂמֹאלוֹ׃

19Hashem asked, ‘Who will entice King Achav of Yisrael so that he will march and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' Then one said this and another said that,

יטוַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה מִי יְפַתֶּה אֶת־אַחְאָב מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל וְיַעַל וְיִפֹּל בְּרָמוֹת גִּלְעָד וַיֹּאמֶר זֶה אֹמֵר כָּכָה וְזֶה אֹמֵר כָּכָה׃

20until a certain spirit came forward and stood before Hashem and said, ‘I will entice him.' ‘How?' said Hashem to him.

כוַיֵּצֵא הָרוּחַ וַיַּעֲמֹד לִפְנֵי יְהֹוָה וַיֹּאמֶר אֲנִי אֲפַתֶּנּוּ וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֵלָיו בַּמָּה׃

21And he replied, ‘I will go forth and become a lying spirit in the mouth of all his Neviim.' Then He said, ‘You will entice with success. Go forth and do it.'

כאוַיֹּאמֶר אֵצֵא וְהָיִיתִי לְרוּחַ שֶׁקֶר בְּפִי כָּל־נְבִיאָיו וַיֹּאמֶר תְּפַתֶּה וְגַם־תּוּכָל צֵא וַעֲשֵׂה־כֵן׃

22Thus Hashem has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these Neviim of yours; for Hashem has decreed misfortune for you.”

כבוְעַתָּה הִנֵּה נָתַן יְהֹוָה רוּחַ שֶׁקֶר בְּפִי נְבִיאֶיךָ אֵלֶּה וַיהֹוָה דִּבֶּר עָלֶיךָ רָעָה׃

23Thereupon Tzidkiyahu son of Chenaanah came up and struck Michaihu on the cheek, and exclaimed, “However did the spirit of Hashem pass from me to speak with you!”

כגוַיִּגַּשׁ צִדְקִיָּהוּ בֶן־כְּנַעֲנָה וַיַּךְ אֶת־מִיכָיְהוּ עַל־הַלֶּחִי וַיֹּאמֶר אֵי זֶה הַדֶּרֶךְ עָבַר רוּחַ־יְהֹוָה מֵאִתִּי לְדַבֵּר אֹתָךְ׃

24Michaihu replied, “You will see on the day when you try to hide in the innermost room.”

כדוַיֹּאמֶר מִיכָיְהוּ הִנְּךָ רֹאֶה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא אֲשֶׁר תָּבוֹא חֶדֶר בְּחֶדֶר לְהֵחָבֵא׃

25Then the king of Yisrael said, “Take Michaihu and turn him over to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Prince Yoash,

כהוַיֹּאמֶר מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל קְחוּ אֶת־מִיכָיְהוּ וַהֲשִׁיבֻהוּ אֶל־אָמוֹן שַׂר־הָעִיר וְאֶל־יוֹאָשׁ בֶּן־הַמֶּלֶךְ׃

26and say, ‘The king's orders are: Put this fellow in prison, and let his fare be scant bread and scant water until I come home safe.'”

כווַאֲמַרְתֶּם כֹּה אָמַר הַמֶּלֶךְ שִׂימוּ זֶה בֵּית הַכֶּלֶא וְהַאֲכִלֻהוּ לֶחֶם לַחַץ וּמַיִם לַחַץ עַד שׁוּבִי בְשָׁלוֹם׃

27To which Michaihu retorted, “If you ever come home safe, Hashem has not spoken through me.” He said further, “Listen, all you peoples!”

כזוַיֹּאמֶר מִיכָיְהוּ אִם־שׁוֹב תָּשׁוּב בְּשָׁלוֹם לֹא־דִבֶּר יְהֹוָה בִּי וַיֹּאמֶר שִׁמְעוּ עַמִּים כֻּלָּם׃

28The king of Yisrael and King Yehoshafat of Yehuda marched against Ramoth-gilead.

כחוַיַּעַל מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל וִיהוֹשָׁפָט מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה אֶל־רָמֹת גִּלְעָד׃

29The king of Yisrael said to Yehoshafat, “I will disguise myself and go into the battle, but you, wear your robes.” So the king of Yisrael disguised himself, and they went into the battle.

כטוַיֹּאמֶר מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל־יְהוֹשָׁפָט הִתְחַפֵּשׂ וָבוֹא בַמִּלְחָמָה וְאַתָּה לְבַשׁ בְּגָדֶיךָ וַיִּתְחַפֵּשׂ מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיָּבֹאוּ בַּמִּלְחָמָה׃

30The king of Aram had given these instructions to his chariot officers: “Do not attack anyone, small or great, except the king of Yisrael.”

לוּמֶלֶךְ אֲרָם צִוָּה אֶת־שָׂרֵי הָרֶכֶב אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ לֵאמֹר לֹא תִּלָּחֲמוּ אֶת־הַקָּטֹן אֶת־הַגָּדוֹל כִּי אִם־אֶת־מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְבַדּוֹ׃

31When the chariot officers saw Yehoshafat, whom they took for the king of Yisrael, they wheeled around to attack him, and Yehoshafat cried out and Hashem helped him, and Hashem diverted them from him.

לאוַיְהִי כִּרְאוֹת שָׂרֵי הָרֶכֶב אֶת־יְהוֹשָׁפָט וְהֵמָּה אָמְרוּ מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל הוּא וַיָּסֹבּוּ עָלָיו לְהִלָּחֵם וַיִּזְעַק יְהוֹשָׁפָט וַיהֹוָה עֲזָרוֹ וַיְסִיתֵם אֱלֹהִים מִמֶּנּוּ׃

32And when the chariot officers realized that he was not the king of Yisrael, they gave up the pursuit.

לבוַיְהִי כִּרְאוֹת שָׂרֵי הָרֶכֶב כִּי לֹא־הָיָה מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיָּשֻׁבוּ מֵאַחֲרָיו׃

33Then a man drew his bow at random and hit the king of Yisrael between the plates of the armor and he said to his charioteer, “Turn around and get me behind the lines; I am wounded.”

לגוְאִישׁ מָשַׁךְ בַּקֶּשֶׁת לְתֻמּוֹ וַיַּךְ אֶת־מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל בֵּין הַדְּבָקִים וּבֵין הַשִּׁרְיָן וַיֹּאמֶר לָרַכָּב הֲפֹךְ ידיך [יָדְךָ] וְהוֹצֵאתַנִי מִן־הַמַּחֲנֶה כִּי הָחֳלֵיתִי׃

34The battle raged all day long, and the king remained propped up in the chariot facing Aram until dusk; he died as the sun was setting.

לדוַתַּעַל הַמִּלְחָמָה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא וּמֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל הָיָה מַעֲמִיד בַּמֶּרְכָּבָה נֹכַח אֲרָם עַד־הָעָרֶב וַיָּמָת לְעֵת בּוֹא הַשָּׁמֶשׁ׃