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Jehoshaphat, however, makes an alliance with Ahab. The chronicler strongly condemns this relationship. Ahab urges Jehoshaphat to attack Ramoth Gilead. The word urge is the same term used in 1Ch 21:1 when Satan incited David to number the fighting men. It is also used in 2Ch 32:11, 15 when Sennacherib’s servants accuse Hezekiah of misleading the people by telling them to trust the Lord. Later in this story, the Lord allures the Arameans away from Jehoshaphat (18:31).
Jehoshaphat agrees to assist Ahab if he asks the Lord’s counsel in the matter. Four hundred Israelite prophets tell the rulers to fight. Jehoshaphat, not happy with the prophets' pedigree, requests a prophet of the Lord. Ahab summons Micaiah. The messenger dispatched encourages Micaiah to tailor his message to the majority opinion. In the spirit of a true prophet, Micaiah vows to say only what God reveals. Micaiah initially agrees with the false prophets, but Ahab himself, in a strange twist, forces Micaiah to give him a message of doom. Micaiah places his reputation as the Lord’s prophet on the line with his prediction that Israel would become shepherdless and scattered.
When the two kings enter the battle, Jehoshaphat wears his royal vestments but Ahab disguises himself. The enemy troops pursue the man dressed like a monarch. The Lord delivers Jehoshaphat from this chase when he prays for help. The disguised Ahab, however, dies, struck by a stray bow shot.
Jehoshaphat returns safely to Jerusalem to face the rebuke of Jehu, son of the seer who scolded his father (19:1-3). Divine wrath will come because of the king’s misguided alliance. God tempers the punishment because Jehoshaphat sought God and removed places of false worship.