2 Crónicas 18

1Teniendo ya grandes riquezas y honores, Josafat emparentó con Acab;

2y al cabo de algunos años descendió a visitar a Acab en Samaria. Acab mató gran número de ovejas y de bueyes, para él y la gente que le acompañaba; y le persuadió que subiese (con él) a Ramot-Galaad.

3Dijo Acab, rey de Israel, a Josafat, rey de Judá: “¿Quieres ir conmigo a Ramot- Galaad?” Le contestó: “No hay diferencia entre mí y ti, entre tu pueblo y mi pueblo; contigo iremos a la guerra.”

4Pero agregó Josafat, dirigiéndose al rey de Israel: “Te ruego que consultes hoy todavía la palabra de Yahvé.”

5Convocó el rey de Israel a los profetas, cuatrocientos hombres, y les dijo: “¿Subiremos a la guerra contra Ramot-Galaad, o lo dejaré?” Contestaron: “Sube, que Dios la entregará en manos del rey.”

6Pero Josafat preguntó: “¿No hay todavía aquí algún profeta de Yahvé, a quien podamos consultar?”

7Respondió el rey de Israel a Josafat: “Aún hay un hombre por medio de quien podríamos consultar a Yahvé, mas yo le aborrezco, porque nunca profetiza para mí cosas buenas sino siempre malas. Es Miqueas, hijo de Imlá.” A lo que respondió Josafat: “No hable el rey así.”

8Entonces el rey de Israel llamó a un eunuco y le dijo: “Trae inmediatamente a Miqueas, hijo de Imlá.”

9El rey de Israel y Josafat, rey de Judá, estaban sentados cada cual en su trono, vestidos de vestiduras (reales), en la plaza que hay a la entrada de la puerta de Samaria; y todos los profetas estaban profetizando delante de ellos.

10Sedecías, hijo de Canaaná, que se había hecho cuernos de hierro, dijo: “Así dice Yahvé: Con estos acornearás a los sirios hasta acabar con ellos.”

11Y todos los profetas estaban profetizando del mismo modo, diciendo: “¡Sube a Ramot-Galaad, y triunfarás; porque Yahvé la entregará en manos del rey!”

12Entretanto el mensajero que había ido a llamar a Miqueas, habló con él, diciendo: “Mira que todos los profetas en coro (anuncian) sucesos felices al rey; sea, pues, tu vaticinio conforme al suyo y habla favorablemente.”

13Respondió Miqueas: “¡Vive Yahvé que solo anunciaré lo que me dijere mi Dios!”

14Vino, pues, al rey; y el rey le preguntó: “Miqueas, ¿subiremos a la guerra contra Ramot-Galaad, o lo dejaré?” Y él respondió: “Subid, y triunfaréis, pues ellos serán entregados en vuestras manos.”

15El rey le dijo: “¿Hasta cuántas veces he de conjurarte que no me digas sino la verdad en nombre de Yahvé?”

16Entonces él replicó: “He visto a todo Israel disperso sobre las montañas como ovejas que no tienen pastor; y dijo Yahvé: “Estos no tienen señor; que vuelvan en paz, cada cual a su casa.”

17Dijo el rey de Israel a Josafat: “¿No te decía yo que este nunca profetiza para mí cosas buenas, sino malas?”

18Dijo entonces Miqueas: “Por lo mismo, oíd la palabra de Yahvé: He visto a Yahvé sentado sobre su trono, y todo el ejército celestial estaba a su derecha y a su izquierda.

19Y dijo Yahvé: «¿Quién engañará a Acab, rey de Israel, para que suba y caiga en Ramot-Galaad?» Y decía uno una cosa y otro otra.

20Entonces salió el Espíritu (maligno), se presentó delante de Yahvé y dijo: «Yo le engañaré.» Yahvé le preguntó: «¿De qué modo?»

21Respondió: «Saldré y seré espíritu de mentira en boca de todos sus profetas.» Y (Yahvé) dijo: «Tú lo engañarás con pleno éxito. Sal y hazlo así.»

22Ahora, pues, he aquí que Yahvé ha puesto un espíritu de mentira en la boca de todos estos tus profetas, ya que Yahvé ha decretado el mal contra ti.”

23Entonces se acercó Sedecías, hijo de Canaaná y abofeteando a Miqueas, dijo: “¿Por qué camino salió el Espíritu de Yahvé de mí, para hablarte a ti?”

24Respondió Miqueas: “En aquel día lo verás cuando andes de aposento en aposento para esconderte.”

25Mandó entonces el rey de Israel: “Prended a Miqueas y llevadlo a Amón comandante de la ciudad, y a Joás, hijo del rey;

26y decidles: Así manda el rey: Meted a este en la cárcel y alimentadle con pan de angustia y con agua de aflicción hasta que yo vuelva en paz.”

27Miqueas dijo: “Si tú efectivamente vuelves en paz, no ha hablado Yahvé por mí.” Y agregó: “¡Escuchad, pueblos todos!”

28Subieron el rey de Israel y Josafat, rey de Judá, a Ramot-Galaad.

29Y dijo el rey de Israel a Josafat: “Yo voy a disfrazarme, y entraré así en la batalla; mas tú, ponte tus vestiduras.” Se disfrazó el rey de Israel, y así entraron en la batalla.

30Ahora bien, el rey de Siria había dado esta orden a los capitanes de sus carros: “No ataquéis ni a chico ni a grande, sino tan solo al rey de Israel.”

31Por eso, cuando los capitanes de los carros vieron a Josafat, dijeron: “Este es el rey de Israel”, y le rodearon para cargar sobre él. Pero Josafat se puso a gritar, y Yahvé le socorrió, y Dios los apartó de su persona.

32Efectivamente, al ver los capitanes de los carros que no era el rey de Israel, se retiraron de él.

33Mas un hombre, disparando al azar el arco, hirió al rey de Israel por entre las comisuras de la coraza, por lo cual (el rey) dijo al auriga: “Retoma y sácame del campo, porque estoy gravemente herido.”

34Pero recrudeció el combate en aquel día, y el rey de Israel tuvo que mantenerse erguido en su carro frente a los sirios hasta la tarde. Murió a la hora de ponerse el sol.

1Fuit ergo Josaphat dives et inclytus multum, et affinitate conjunctus est Achab.

2Descenditque post annos ad eum in Samariam: ad cujus adventum mactavit Achab arietes et boves plurimos, ipsi, et populo qui venerat cum eo: persuasitque illi ut ascenderet in Ramoth Galaad.

3Dixitque Achab rex Israël ad Josaphat regem Juda: Veni mecum in Ramoth Galaad. Cui ille respondit: Ut ego, et tu: sicut populus tuus, sic et populus meus: tecumque erimus in bello.

4Dixitque Josaphat ad regem Israël: Consule, obsecro, impræsentiarum sermonem Domini.

5Congregavit igitur rex Israël prophetarum quadringentos viros, et dixit ad eos: In Ramoth Galaad ad bellandum ire debemus, an quiescere? At illi: Ascende, inquiunt, et tradet Deus in manu regis.

6Dixitque Josaphat: Numquid non est hic prophetes Domini, ut ab illo etiam requiramus?

7Et ait rex Israël ad Josaphat: Est vir unus a quo possumus quærere Domini voluntatem: sed ego odi eum, quia non prophetat mihi bonum, sed malum omni tempore: est autem Michæas filius Jemla. Dixitque Josaphat: Ne loquaris, rex, hoc modo.

8Vocavit ergo rex Israël unum de eunuchis, et dixit ei: Voca cito Michæam filium Jemla.

9Porro rex Israël, et Josaphat rex Juda, uterque sedebant in solio suo, vestiti cultu regio: sedebant autem in area juxta portam Samariæ, omnesque prophetæ vaticinabantur coram eis.

10Sedecias vero filius Chanaana fecit sibi cornua ferrea, et ait: Hæc dicit Dominus: His ventilabis Syriam, donec conteras eam.

11Omnesque prophetæ similiter prophetabant, atque dicebant: Ascende in Ramoth Galaad, et prosperaberis, et tradet eos Dominus in manu regis.

12Nuntius autem qui ierat ad vocandum Michæam, ait illi: En verba omnium prophetarum uno ore bona regi annuntiant: quæso ergo te ut et sermo tuus ab eis non dissentiat, loquarisque prospera.

13Cui respondit Michæas: Vivit Dominus, quia quodcumque dixerit mihi Deus meus, hoc loquar.

14Venit ergo ad regem. Cui rex ait: Michæa, ire debemus in Ramoth Galaad ad bellandum, an quiescere? Cui ille respondit: Ascendite: cuncta enim prospera evenient, et tradentur hostes in manus vestras.

15Dixitque rex: Iterum atque iterum te adjuro, ut mihi non loquaris, nisi quod verum est in nomine Domini.

16At ille ait: Vidi universum Israël dispersum in montibus, sicut oves absque pastore: et dixit Dominus: Non habent isti dominos: revertatur unusquisque in domum suam in pace.

17Et ait rex Israël ad Josaphat: Nonne dixi tibi quod non prophetaret iste mihi quidquam boni, sed ea quæ mala sunt?

18At ille: Idcirco, ait, audite verbum Domini: vidi Dominum sedentem in solio suo, et omnem exercitum cæli assistentem ei a dextris et a sinistris.

19Et dixit Dominus: Quis decipiet Achab regem Israël ut ascendat et corruat in Ramoth Galaad? Cumque diceret unus hoc modo, et alter alio,

20processit spiritus, et stetit coram Domino, et ait: Ego decipiam eum. Cui Dominus: In quo, inquit, decipies?

21At ille respondit: Egrediar, et ero spiritus mendax in ore omnium prophetarum ejus. Dixitque Dominus: Decipies, et prævalebis: egredere, et fac ita.

22Nunc igitur, ecce Dominus dedit spiritum mendacii in ore omnium prophetarum tuorum, et Dominus locutus est de te mala.

23Accessit autem Sedecias filius Chanaana, et percussit Michææ maxillam, et ait: Per quam viam transivit spiritus Domini a me, ut loqueretur tibi?

24Dixitque Michæas: Tu ipse videbis in die illo, quando ingressus fueris cubiculum de cubiculo ut abscondaris.

25Præcepit autem rex Israël, dicens: Tollite Michæam, et ducite eum ad Amon principem civitatis, et ad Joas filium Amelech.

26Et dicetis: Hæc dicit rex: Mittite hunc in carcerem, et date ei panis modicum, et aquæ pauxillum, donec revertar in pace.

27Dixitque Michæas: Si reversus fueris in pace, non est locutus Dominus in me. Et ait: Audite, omnes populi.

28Igitur ascenderunt rex Israël et Josaphat rex Juda in Ramoth Galaad.

29Dixitque rex Israël ad Josaphat: Mutabo habitum, et sic ad pugnam vadam: tu autem induere vestibus tuis. Mutatoque rex Israël habitu, venit ad bellum.

30Rex autem Syriæ præceperat ducibus equitatus sui, dicens: Ne pugnetis contra minimum aut contra maximum, nisi contra solum regem Israël.

31Itaque cum vidissent principes equitatus Josaphat, dixerunt: Rex Israël est iste. Et circumdederunt eum dimicantes: at ille clamavit ad Dominum, et auxiliatus est ei, atque avertit eos ab illo.

32Cum enim vidissent duces equitatus quod non esset rex Israël, reliquerunt eum.

33Accidit autem ut unus e populo sagittam in incertum jaceret, et percuteret regem Israël inter cervicem et scapulas. At ille aurigæ suo ait: Converte manum tuam, et educ me de acie, quia vulneratus sum.

34Et finita est pugna in die illo: porro rex Israël stabat in curru suo contra Syros usque ad vesperam, et mortuus est occidente sole.

1Now Josaphat was rich and very glorious, and was joined by affinity to Achab.

2And he went down to him after some years to Samaria: and Achab at his coming killed sheep and oxen in abundance for him and the people that came with him: and he persuaded him to go up to Ramoth Galaad.

3And Achab king of Israel said to Josaphat king of Juda: Come with me to Ramoth Galaad. And he answered him: Thou art as I am, and my people as thy people, and we will be with thee in the war.

4And Josaphat said to the king of Israel: Inquire, I beseech thee, at present the word of the Lord.

5So the king of Israel gathered together of the prophets four hundred men, and he said to them: Shall we go to Ramoth Galaad to fight, or shall we forbear? But they said: Go up, and God will deliver it into the king’s hand.

6And Josaphat said: Is there not here a prophet of the Lord, that we may inquire also of him?

7And the king of Israel said to Josaphat: There is one man, of whom we may ask the will of the Lord: but I hate him, for he never prophesieth good to me, but always evil: and it is Micheas the son of Jemla. And Josaphat said: Speak not thus, O king.

8And the king of Israel called one of the eunuchs, and said to him: Call quickly Micheas the son of Jemla.

9Now the king of Israel, and Josaphat king of Juda, both sat on their thrones, clothed in royal robes, and they sat in the open court by the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets prophesied before them.

10And Sedecias the son of Chanaana made him horns of iron, and said: Thus saith the Lord: With these shalt thou push Syria, till thou destroy it.

11And all the prophets prophesied in like manner, and said: Go up to Ramoth Galaad, and thou shalt prosper, and the Lord will deliver them into the king’s hand.

12And the messenger that went to call Micheas, said to him: Behold the words of all the prophets with one mouth declare good to the king: I beseech thee therefore let not thy word disagree with them, and speak thou also good success.

13And Micheas answered him: As the Lord liveth, whatsoever my God shall say to me, that will I speak.

14So he came to the king: and the king said to him: Micheas, shall we go to Ramoth Galaad to fight, or forbear? And he answered him: Go up, for all shall succeed prosperously, and the enemies shall be delivered into your hands.

15And the king said: I adjure thee again and again to say nothing but the truth to me, in the name of the Lord.

16Then he said: I saw all Israel scattered in the mountains, like sheep without a shepherd: and the Lord said: These have no masters: let every man return to his own house in peace.

17And the king of Israel said to Josaphat: Did I not tell thee that this man would not prophesy me any good, but evil?

18Then he said: Hear ye therefore the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the army of heaven standing by him on the right hand and on the left.

19And the Lord said: Who shall deceive Achab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall in Ramoth Galaad? And when one spoke in this manner, and another otherwise:

20There came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said: I will deceive him. And the Lord said to him: By what means wilt thou deceive him?

21And he answered: I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the Lord said: Thou shalt deceive, and shalt prevail: go out, and do so.

22Now therefore behold the Lord hath put a spirit of lying in the mouth of all thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil against thee.

23And Sedecias the son of Chanaana came, and struck Micheas on the cheek and said: Which way went the spirit of the Lord from me, to speak to thee?

24And Micheas said: Thou thyself shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go in from chamber to chamber, to hide thyself.

25And the king of Israel commanded, saying: Take Micheas, and carry him to Amen the governor of the city, and to Joas the son of Amelech,

26And say: Thus saith the king: Put this fellow in prison, and give him bread and water in a small quantity till I return in peace.

27And Micheas said: If thou return in peace, the Lord hath not spoken by me. And he said: Hear, all ye people.

28So the king of Israel and Josaphat king of Juda went up to Ramoth Galaad.

29And the king of Israel said to Josaphat: I will change my dress, and so I will go to the battle, but put thou on thy own garments. And the king of Israel having changed his dress, went to the battle.

30Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his cavalry, saying: Fight ye not with small, or great, but with the king of Israel only.

31So when the captains of the cavalry saw Josaphat, they said: This is the king of Israel. And they surrounded him to attack him: but he cried to the Lord, and he helped him, and turned them away from him.

32For when the captains of the cavalry saw, that he was not the king of Israel, they left him.

33And it happened that one of the people shot an arrow at a venture, and struck the king of Israel between the neck and the shoulders, and he said to his chariot man: Turn thy hand, and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded.

34And the fight was ended that day: but the king of Israel stood in his chariot against the Syrians until the evening, and died at the sunset.