Ahab’s Defeat and Death
The kings go to Ramoth-gilead, but Ahab disguises himself while Jehoshaphat wears his robes. The Arameans mistake Jehoshaphat for Israel’s king, yet when he cries out, the LORD helps him and turns the attack away.
S28o the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. 29And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle. 30Now the king of Aram had ordered his chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.” 31When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “This is the king of Israel!” So they turned to fight against him, but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him. God drew them away from him. 32And when the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.
A random arrow finds Ahab between the joints of his armor, and he remains wounded in his chariot through the day. At sunset he dies, despite every attempt to avoid that end.
33However, a certain man drew his bow without taking special aim, and he struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So the king said to his charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded!” 34The battle raged throughout that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans until evening. And at sunset he died.