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2 Chronicles 18
2 Chronicles 18:1
Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor; he allied himself with Ahab
The word "now" is used here to mark background information. This happened before Ahab went down to Samaria. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/writing-background)
he allied himself with Ahab
"he aligned himself with Ahab" or "he made himself a friend of Ahab"
2 Chronicles 18:2
Ahab killed many sheep and cattle for him and the people
This means that he had these animals slaughtered to prepare a feast for the people. Also, Ahab himself would not have prepared the animals, but rather would have commanded his workers to do it. Alternate translation: "Ahab commanded his workers to slaughter many sheep and cattle for a feast for Jehoshaphat and the people" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
2 Chronicles 18:3
Will you go with me to Ramoth Gilead
Here Ahab is requesting for Jehoshaphat to join him with his army to make war against Ramoth Gilead. This can be written explicitly. Also, in this question each of the kings represents themselves accompanied by their armies. Alternate translation: "Will you and your army go with my army to attack the city of Ramoth in the region of Gilead" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
I am like you, and my people are like your people
Jehoshaphat is stating his allegiance to Ahab. Alternate translation: "I offer myself and my soldiers to you to use in any way you want" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
2 Chronicles 18:4
king of Israel
This refers to King Ahab.
2 Chronicles 18:5
four hundred men
"400 men" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-numbers)
should I not
Here about refers to himself accompanied by his army as himself. Alternate translation: "should we not" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
will give it into the hand of the king
Here the king's "hand" refers to his control. This means that God will enable them to defeat the people at Ramoth Gilead. Alternate translation: "will enable your army to defeat them" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
2 Chronicles 18:6
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2 Chronicles 18:7
Micaiah son of Imlah
This is the name of a man. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
2 Chronicles 18:8
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2 Chronicles 18:9
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2 Chronicles 18:10
Kenaanah
This is the name of a man. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
horns of iron
This is a reference to the horns of a bull but they made of metal.
you will push the Arameans until they are consumed
The prophet's actions are a symbolic metaphor that illustrates the way that Ahab would defeat the Arameans. Ahab's army will win with great strength, as a bull attacks another animal. Alternate translation: "With horns like these, your army will keep attacking the army of Aram like a bull attacks another animal, until you completely destroy them" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-symaction and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
until they are consumed
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "until you consume them" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
2 Chronicles 18:11
has given it into the hand of the king
Here the king's "hand" refers to his control. This means that God will enable them to defeat the people at Ramoth Gilead. Alternate translation: "has allowed the king to capture it" or "will allow your armies to capture it" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
2 Chronicles 18:12
Micaiah
Translate this man's name the same as in 2 Chronicles 17:7. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
Look
"Listen" or "Pay attention to what I am about to tell you"
the words of the prophets with one mouth are favorable to the king
The prophets all saying the same thing is spoken of as if they all spoke with the same mouth. The phrase "the words of the prophets" represents the message that the prophets declare. Alternate translation: "the prophets all declare that good things will happen to the king" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
your words
"what you say"
2 Chronicles 18:13
As Yahweh lives
"as surely as Yahweh is alive." The people use this expression to show that what they say next is certainly true. This is a way of making a solemn promise. Alternate translation: "I solemnly swear" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
2 Chronicles 18:14
or not
The understood information may be supplied. Alternate translation: "or should we not go" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-ellipsis)
should we go
The word "we" refers to Ahab, Jehoshaphat, and their armies but not to Micaiah. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-exclusive)
2 Chronicles 18:15
How many times must I require ... in the name of Yahweh?
Ahab asks this question out of frustration to rebuke Micaiah. Alternate translation: "Many times I have required ... in the name of Yahweh." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
in the name of Yahweh
Here the word "name" refers to authority. Alternate translation: "as the representative of Yahweh" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
2 Chronicles 18:16
I saw all Israel
Here "all Israel" refers to the army of Israel. Alternate translation: "I saw the entire army of Israel" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
like sheep who have no shepherd
The people of the army are compared to sheep that have no one to lead them because their shepherd, the king, has died. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)
These have no shepherd
Yahweh speaks of the king as if he were a shepherd. Just like a shepherd is responsible to care for and protect his sheep, the king is responsible to lead and protect his people. Alternate translation: "These people no longer have a leader" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
2 Chronicles 18:17
Did I not tell you ... but only disaster?
Ahab asks this question to emphasize that he had spoken the truth about Micaiah. Alternate translation: "I told you ... but only disaster!" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
2 Chronicles 18:18
all the host of heaven
"all the army of heaven." Here "the host of heaven" refers to the living beings that God created in the heavens. Possible meanings are that they are called host 1) because they fight as armies. Alternate translation: "all the angel army of heaven" or 2) because there are so many of them, just as armies have many soldiers. Alternate translation: "all the multitude of heaven" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
on his right hand and on his left
This means that they were standing beside him on his right side and his left side. Alternate translation: "by his right side and by his left side" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
2 Chronicles 18:19
entice
This means to attract someone by offering something appealing.
fall at Ramoth Gilead
Ahab dying in battle is spoken of as if he will fall. Alternate translation: "die at Ramoth Gilead" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-euphemism)
One said this and another that
This indicates that there was more than one opinion. The words "One ... and another" refer to two or more angels in the heavenly host who were responding to Yahweh's question in the previous verse.
2 Chronicles 18:20
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2 Chronicles 18:21
become a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets
Here the word "spirit" refers to the attitudes of the prophets and the words "the mouth" represents what they will say. Alternate translation: "cause all his prophets to speak lies" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
2 Chronicles 18:22
Now see, Yahweh
"Now pay attention, because what I am about to say is both true and important: Yahweh"
has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these prophets of yours
Here the word "spirit" refers to the attitudes of the prophets and the words "the mouth" represents what they will say. Alternate translation: "has caused your prophets to speak lies" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
2 Chronicles 18:23
Kenaanah
Translate this man's name the same as in 2 Chronicles 18:10. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
Which way did the Spirit of Yahweh take to go from me to speak to you?
Zedekiah asks this sarcastic question to insult and rebuke Micaiah. Alternate translation: "Do not think that Yahweh's Spirit left me to speak to you!" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
2 Chronicles 18:24
Look
"Listen" or "Pay attention to what I am about to tell you"
you will know that
"you will know the answer to your question." If Zedekiah's rhetorical question is translated as a statement, this phrase may be translated to supply implicit information. Alternate translation: "you will know that the Spirit of Yahweh has spoken to me" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
2 Chronicles 18:25
king of Israel
This refers to Ahab.
Amon
This is the name of a man. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
2 Chronicles 18:26
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2 Chronicles 18:27
If you return safely, then Yahweh has not spoken by me
Micaiah knew that the king would not return safely because Yahweh had already told him that. So he said this to emphasize that. Alternate translation: "If you return safely, then that would mean that Yahweh has not spoken by me"
2 Chronicles 18:28
Ahab, the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, went up against
Here the kings represent themselves accompanied by their armies. Alternate translation: "Ahab, the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah led their armies up against" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
went up against
"fought against"
Ramoth Gilead
Translate the name of this place as you did in 2 Chronicles 18:2 (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
2 Chronicles 18:29
disguise
This means to change the usual appearance so as not to be identified.
2 Chronicles 18:30
Do not attack the unimportant or the important soldiers
By mentioning both "the unimportant" and "the important soldiers," the king meant all soldiers. Alternate translation: "Do not attack any of the soldiers" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-merism)
2 Chronicles 18:31
That is the king of Israel
Jehoshaphat was wrongly identified as the king of Israel because Ahab had insisted that he wear kingly robes.
God turned them away from him
"God caused them to stop pursuing him"
It came about that
This phrase is used here to mark an important event in the story. If your language has a way for doing this, you could consider using it here.
2 Chronicles 18:32
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2 Chronicles 18:33
drew his bow at random
Possible meanings are 1) he took aim to shoot a soldier without knowing that it was Ahab or 2) he drew his bow to shoot without any specific target in mind.
between the joints of his armor
This is a place where two pieces of armor meet and is susceptible to arrows and swords.
2 Chronicles 18:34
the king of Israel was held up in his chariot
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "someone held the king of Israel up in his chariot" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)