Back to BooksSimple English

1 Kings

Starts with King Solomon's reign, his wisdom, and building the temple, then the kingdom dividing into Israel and Judah.

Chapter 22

Back to Chapters

1 And they continued three years without war between Syria and Israel.

*For three years, there was no fighting between Syria and Israel.

2 And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel.

*In the third year, King Jehoshaphat of Judah visited the king of Israel.

3 And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we be still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria?

*The king of Israel asked his helpers, "Do you know that Ramoth in Gilead belongs to us? So why haven't we taken it from the king of Syria?"

4 And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramothgilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.

*He asked Jehoshaphat, "Do you want to fight with me at Ramothgilead?" Jehoshaphat replied to the king, "I'm with you, our people are like one, and our horses too."

5 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.

*Jehoram asked, "Please check what God's message is today."

6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.

*Then the king of Israel brought together around 400 prophets and asked them if he should attack Ramothgilead or not. They replied that he should go ahead because God will help him win the battle.

7 And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?

*Jehoashaphat asked, "Isn't there another prophet of God here we can ask for guidance?"

8 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

*The king of Israel told Jehoshaphat about a man named Micaiah, who could ask God for guidance. But the king didn't like him because he never said good things about the king. Jehoshaphat asked the king not to speak negatively about Micaiah.

9 Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah.

*Then the king of Israel asked for an officer to bring Micaiah, the son of Imlah, quickly.

10 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.

*The king of Israel and the king of Judah sat on their thrones with their robes on at an empty spot near Samaria's gate. All the prophets predicted things in front of 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.

*Zedekiah, son of Chenaanah, made iron horns for him. He said, "The Lord tells you to use these to push the Syrians until they are all gone."

12 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the king’s hand.

*And all the prophets said, "Go to Ramothgilead and be successful because the Lord will give it to the king."

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.

*The messenger who went to find Micaiah said, "Look, the prophets are saying nice things to the king together. Please, say something good like them."

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

*Micaiah swore by the Lord and said he would only speak what the Lord told him.

15 So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead 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.

*So he went to the king. The king asked him, "Micaiah, should we attack Ramothgilead or not?" He replied, "Go ahead and be successful because God will give the city to you."

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?

*The king asked, "How many times must I ask you to only tell the truth in God's name?"

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.

*He said he saw all of Israel scattered like sheep without a shepherd. God said they had no leader, so they should go back to their homes 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?

*The king of Israel told Jehoshaphat, "I warned you, he won't say good things about me, but bad ones."

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

*He said, "Listen to God's message: I saw God sitting on His throne with all the angels standing next to Him on His right and left side."

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

*And God asked, who will convince Ahab to go and be defeated at Ramothgilead? Different people suggested different ideas.

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

*A spirit appeared before God and said, "I will convince 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 he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.

*And God asked him, "How will you do this?" The man replied, "I will deceive everyone by speaking lies through all the prophets." God told him, "You must convince him and be successful. Go and do it now."

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

*So now, notice that the Lord has made these prophets tell lies about you, and He has spoken badly of you.

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

*But Zedekiah, son of Chenaanah, approached and hit Micaiah in the face, asking, "Why did the Lord's Spirit tell you to talk to me?"

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

*Micaiah said, "You will see on that day when you go into a hidden room to hide."

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;

*The king of Israel told them to bring Micaiah back to Amon, who was in charge of the city, and also to Joash, who was 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.

*And say, The king says, Put this person in jail and give him food and water that cause trouble until I return safely.

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

*Micaiah said, "If I return safely, it's not because God spoke through me." He then told everyone, "Listen to me, all of you."

29 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.

*The king of Israel and the king of Judah, named Jehoshaphat, went together to a place called Ramothgilead.

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.

*The king of Israel told Jehoshaphat, "I'll hide who I am and fight in the battle, but you wear your fancy clothes." The king of Israel hid his identity and joined the fight.

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.

*The Syrian king told his 32 leaders in charge of his chariots to not fight anyone, except for 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 cried out.

*Then, when the chariot leaders saw Jehoshaphat, they thought he was the Israel king. So, they changed to attack him. But Jehoshaphat shouted for help.

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.

*Then, when the chariot leaders saw it wasn't the king of Israel, they stopped chasing 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.

*A man accidentally shot an arrow and hit the king of Israel in his armor. The king told his chariot driver to move because he was hurt.

35 And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot.

*The fighting grew stronger that day. The king stayed in his chariot, facing the Syrians, and passed away at sunset. Blood from his injury spilled onto the chariot's center.

36 And there went a proclamation throughout the host about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his own country.

*An announcement was made among the people when the sun set, telling them to go back to their cities and their home countries.

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

*So the king passed away and was taken to Samaria for burial.

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.

*A person cleaned a chariot in Samaria's pool, and dogs drank the person's blood. They also cleaned the person's armor, just like the Lord said it would happen.

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?

*Now, what's left of Ahab's actions, everything he did, the ivory house he built, and all his cities - isn't this all recorded in the book about the kings of Israel?

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

*Ahab passed away, and his son Ahaziah took over the rule.

41 And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.

*Jehoshaphat, son of Asa, started ruling Judah when Ahab, king of Israel, had been on the throne for four years.

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.

*Jehoshaphat became king at age 35 and ruled for 25 years in Jerusalem. His mom was named Azubah, 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; for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places.

*He followed all of Asa's father's ways, never deviating, and did what was right in the Lord's sight. However, the high places weren't removed because people still offered and burned incense there.

44 And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.

*Jehoshaphat agreed to be friends with the king of Israel.

45 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he shewed, and how he warred, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

*The rest of Jehoshaphat's deeds, his strength, and his battles aren't detailed here; they can be found in the book about the kings of Judah.

46 And the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land.

*He removed the remaining Sodomites from the land during his father Asa's time.

47 There was then no king in Edom: a deputy was king.

*At that time, there was no real king in Edom; instead, a leader ruled.

48 Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber.

*Jehoshaphat tried to send ships to Ophir for gold, but they didn't make it. The ships broke apart at a place called Eziongeber.

49 Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not.

*Then Ahaziah, son of Ahab, asked Jehoshaphat, "Let our people join your people on the boats." But Jehoshaphat refused.

50 And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.

*Jehoashaphat passed away and was buried with his ancestors in the city of David, his dad. His son Jehoram then took over as king.

51 Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel.

*Ahaziah, Ahab's son, became king over Israel in Samaria during Jehoshaphat's 17th year as king in Judah. He ruled Israel for just two years.

52 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin:

*He did wrong in God's eyes, followed his parents' ways and Jeroboam's ways, which led Israel to sin.

53 For he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the LORD God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.

*He followed Baal, worshiped him, and made the LORD God of Israel angry, just like his dad did.

read summary

Back to Chapters

Back to Books

* work in progress, there will be mistakes