2 Chron. 18:12 onward is a story of Micaiah's prophecy. First he tells the king to go to the battle and prosper; and afterwards he talks just the opposite. Why was this? It was in the mockery of irony that Micaiah rebuked the other prophets. All of them told the idolatrous Ahab to go up against his enemy and prosper; and the messenger that came, told him just what would be desirable by the king. The king did not want to call Micaiah — told Jehoshaphat that he did not want to, because he always prophesied evil. So when the messenger came, Micaiah said he would speak just what God would have him speak. And when the king asked him the question, he answered in irony, and the king knew he answered in irony. “Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.” The king immediately answered, “How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the Lord?” And then Micaiah answered and gave God's message,—that the people of Israel would be like scattered sheep having no shepherd, and that the king would meet his death in the war. And he did.