The most sacred Bible, whiche is the Holy Scripture conteyning the Old and New Testament / translated into English, and newly recognised with great diligence after most faythful exemplars, by Rychard Taverner.

¶ After Achab had asked counsell of the foure hun∣dred Prophetes, he putteth Micheas in pryson. He dyeth with the shote of an arowe.

CAPI. XVIII.

[ A] ANd Iosaphat became verye ryche & glo∣rious / and ioyned aliaunce with Achab. And after certayne yeres he wēt downe to Achab to Samaria. And Achab slewe shepe and oxen plenteously for him, and for the peo∣ple that came with him, and intreated him to go vp vnto Ramoth in Galaad. And Achab kyng of Israel sayd to Iosaphat kyng of Iudas wilt thou go with me to Ramoth in Galaad? And he answered him, I wyll be as thou, & my people shall be as thyne, and we wyll be with the in the warres.

And Iosaphat sayde vnto the kynge of Is∣rael: aske I praye the, the worde of the Lord. And the kynge of Israel gathered togyther of the prophetes foure hundred men, and sayd vn¦to them: shall we goo to Ramoth in Galaad [ B] to fyght, or shall I cease? And they sayde, go: the Lord shal delyuer it in to the kinges hand. And Iosaphat sayd: Is there yet here neuer a Prophete more of the Lorde, that we myghte aske of him? And the kynge of Israell sayd to Iosaphat: there is yet one, to aske the Lorde by him: But I hate him, for he neuer prophe∣sieth me good, but alwaye euyll, one Miche∣as the sonne of Iemla. And Iosaphat sayde: let not the kynge saye so. Then the kynge of Israell called one of his chambrelaynes, and sayde: fetche hyther quyckly Micheas the son of Iemla. And the kynge of Israell, and Iosa∣phat kyng of Iuda, sate eyther of them on his seate in their apparell, in a thresshynge floore besyde the gate of Samaria, and all the Pro∣phetes prophesyinge before them. And one Se∣dechias [ C] the sonne of Chanana made him hor∣nes of yron, and sayde, thus sayth the Lorde•• with these thou shalte pusshe Siria, vntyll thou haste broughte them to noughte. And all the Prophetes prophesied euen so, sayinge: goo vp to Ramoth in Galaad and prospere, for the Lorde shall delyuer it in to the hande of the kynge. And the messenger that wente to call Micheas, spake to him, sayinge: behold the wordes of the Prophetes are pleasaunt to the kynge with one assente, lette thy wordes I pray the, be lyke one of theirs, and speake that whiche is pleasaunt. And Micheas sayde: as truly as the Lord lyueth, euen what my God sayth, that wyll I speake. And when he was come to the kynge, the kynge sayd to him: Mi¦cheas, shall we goo to Ramoth in Galaad to fyght, or shall I be in reste? And he answered: go ye and prospere, for the Lorde shall delyuer it in to youre handes. But the kynge sayde to him: how often tymes shall I adiure the that thou saye nothyng but truthe to me in y^e name of the Lorde.

Then he sayd: I se al Israel scattered in the mountaynes, as shepe that haue no shepeherd. And the Lorde sayd: these haue no master, let them returne euerye man to his house in peax. Then sayde the kynge of Israell to Iosaphat: dyd I not tell the that he wolde not prophesye good vnto me, but euyll? And he aunswered: therfore heare ye the worde of the Lorde. I sawe the Lorde sytte vpon his seate, and all [ E] the companye of heuen standynge on his right hande and on his lefte. And the Lorde sayde: who shal disceyue Achab kynge of Israel, that he may go and be ouerthrowen at Ramoth in Galaad. And whyle one sayd thus. & an other that, there came out a spirite and stode before

the Lorde and sayd: I wyll disceyue him. And the Lord sayd to him, how? And he sayd I wyl go out, and wyll be a lyenge spirite in y^e mou∣thes of all the Prophetes. And the Lorde sayd thou shalte disceyue him, and shalte preuayle, go out and doo euen so. And nowe beholde the Lorde hath put a lying spirite in the mouthes [ F] of all these thy Prophetes, and yet the Lorde hath spoken euyll agaynste the. And Sedechi∣as the sonne of Canana went and smote Mi∣cheas vpon the cheke, and sayd: by what way wente the spirite of the Lorde frome me, to speake in the? And Micheas sayde: thou shalt se the daye when thou shalte runne from cham¦bre to chambre for to hyde thy selfe. Then said the kynge of Israel: take ye Micheas, and de∣liuer him to Amon the gouernour of the citye, and to Ioas the kynges sonne, and saye / thus sayth the kynge: put this felowe in pryson, & fede him with breed of sorowe, and water of trouble, tyll I come agayne in peax. And Mi∣cheas sayd: yf thou come agayne in peax, then hath not the Lorde spoken in me. And Miche∣as sayd moreouer: harken ye people euery one of you. And so the kynge of Israell and Iosa∣phat the kynge of Iuda wente vp to Ramoth in Galaad. Then sayd the kynge of Israel to Iosaphat: I wyl chaunge my clothes and get me to battayle, but se thou haue thyne owne apparel vpon the. And the kyng of Israel chaū¦ged [ G] him selfe, and they went to battayle. But the kynge of Siria commaunded the capitay∣nes of his charettes, sayinge: se ye fyghte not agaynst small or great, saue agaynst the kynge of Israel onely.

And when the capitaynes of the charettes sawe Iosaphat, they had thoughte he had ben the kynge of Israell, and therfore compassed him, to fyghte. But Iosaphat cryed oute, and the Lorde holpe him, and God tourned them awaye from him. For when the capitaynes of the charettes perceyued that it was not the kynge of Israell, they tourned backe agayne from him. And a certayne man drewe his bow at auenture, and smote the kynge of Israel bi∣twene the ioyntes of his habergyne. And he sayde to the charet man, tourne thyne hande and carye me oute of the hoste, for I am hurte. And the battayle was sore that daye. How be it the kyng of Israel contynued stan∣dynge in his charet agaynste the Sirians vn∣tyll euen. And about the sonne goynge downe, he dyed.

Notes

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