IDOLATRY AND DEFEAT. 253

Marianne. Did Jehoshaphat go? He ought not to
have gone after he had heard Micaiah’s prophecy.
Grandfather. No, he'ought not; he was too staunch
a friend to the wicked Ahab. From the prophecy de-
livered by Micaiah we learn two things,—that there are
always malicious spirits seeking to persuade us to do
wrong, and that those who do not seek direction from
God are justly left to the guidance of those evil spirits.
Perhaps the prophecy had more effect on Ahab’s mind.
than he chose to confess. At any rate, his courage
failed when he drew near the place of danger. He fell
on a plan, by means of which he thought the evil
would come upon Jehoshaphat, and not upon him. He
proposed to that king to enter the battle dressed in his
royal robes, while he himself would go disguised.
George. Jehoshaphat would not do that, I think ?
Grandfather. The king of Judah was not a coward.
He made no objection to agreeing to the mean and
selfish proposal. Now the king of Syria gave this com-
mand to his captains, “ Fight neither with small nor
great, save only with the king of Israel.” When they
saw Jehoshaphat, supposing him to be the king of
Israel, they directed all their force against him. Jeho-
shaphat cried out, not to his enemies for mercy, nor to
his friends for assistance, but to his God he cried; and
did not cry in vain. Nor did the king of Israel save
his life by his stratagem. A bow drawn at a venture
smote him between the joints of his harness, and the
wound was mortal. But he lived till evening,—lived