The Holy Prophet Micah, the son of Imlah, was a contemporary of God's prophet Elijah and lived during the time of King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah.
Micah prophesied only verbally; he predicted the unfortunate end of the war that Ahab had started against Syria. Once Jehoshaphat arrived in Samaria to visit Ahab.
Remembering that Ramoth Gilead, a city ruled by the Syrians, had previously belonged to the kingdom of Israel, Ahab asked Jehoshaphat to help him so that they could go out with joint forces to war against Syria. The pious king of Judah agreed to this, but before setting out on a campaign, he desired to learn the will of God through the mouth of the prophets. Then Ahab called the prophets of Baal to him. These false prophets, standing before the two kings, who were seated on magnificent thrones at the gates of Samaria, predicted victory for Ahab over the Syrians. But Jehoshaphat asked if there was not yet a prophet of the Lord, through whom we might inquire of the Lord.
- There is yet one man, by whom we may inquire of the Lord, - answered Ahab, - but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but only evil; he is Micaiah the son of Imlah.
- O king, do not speak like that! - objected Jehoshaphat.
Then Ahab ordered that Micaiah be quickly called. When he arrived, the king asked him:
- Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall we refrain?
Saint Micaiah replied:
- “I saw all the Israelites scattered on the mountains, like sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said: They have no leader; "Let every man return to his house in peace."
Then Ahab ordered the prophet Micaiah to be taken to prison and fed sparingly with bread and water until he (Ahab) returned in peace.
To this the prophet replied:
- If you return in peace, then the Lord has not spoken through me.
Ahab did not listen to the prophetic words of Saint Micaiah and began a war against the Syrians, but in the very first battle he was mortally wounded, and Jehoshaphat returned with his army to Judea.