Moab Rebels Against Israel
1 NowJehoram the son of Ahab became king over Israel at Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.
2 And he did evil in the sight of theLord, but not like his father and mother; for he put away thesacredpillar of Baalthat his father had made.
3 Nevertheless he persisted inthe sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin; he did not depart from them.
4 Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheepbreeder, and heregularly paid the king of Israel one hundred thousandlambs and the wool of one hundred thousand rams.
5 But it happened, whenAhab died, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
6 So King Jehoram went out of Samaria at that time and mustered all Israel.
7 Then he went and sent to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, saying, “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?”
# And he said, “I will go up;Iamas youare,my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”
8 Then he said, “Which way shall we go up?”
And he answered, “By way of the Wilderness of Edom.”
9 So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom, and they marched on that roundabout route seven days; and there was no water for the army, nor for the animals that followed them.
10 And the king of Israel said, “Alas! For theLordhas called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.”
11 ButJehoshaphat said, “Isthereno prophet of theLordhere, that we may inquire of theLordby him?”
# So one of the servants of the king of Israel answered and said, “Elisha the son of Shaphatishere, whopoured water on the hands of Elijah.”
12 And Jehoshaphat said, “The word of theLordis with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edomwent down to him.
13 Then Elisha said to the king of Israel,“What have I to do with you?Go tothe prophets of your father and theprophets of your mother.”
But the king of Israel said to him, “No, for theLordhas called these three kingstogetherto deliver them into the hand of Moab.”
14 And Elisha said,“AstheLordof hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you.
15 But now bring mea musician.”
# Then it happened, when the musicianplayed, thatthe hand of theLordcame upon him.
16 And he said, “Thus says theLord:‘Make this valley full of ditches.’
17 For thus says theLord: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.’
18 And this is a simple matter in the sight of theLord; He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.
19 Also you shall attack every fortified city and every choice city, and shall cut down every good tree, and stop up every spring of water, and ruin every good piece of land with stones.”
20 Now it happened in the morning, whenthe grain offering was offered, that suddenly water came by way of Edom, and the land was filled with water.
21 And when all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them, all who were able to bear arms and older were gathered; and they stood at the border.
22 Then they rose up early in the morning, and the sun was shining on the water; and the Moabites saw the water on the other sideasred as blood.
23 And they said, “This is blood; the kings have surely struck swords and have killed one another; now therefore, Moab, to the spoil!”
24 So when they came to the camp of Israel, Israel rose up and attacked the Moabites, so that they fled before them; and they enteredtheirland, killing the Moabites.
25 Then they destroyed the cities, and each man threw a stone on every good piece of land and filled it; and they stopped up all the springs of water and cut down all the good trees. But they left the stones ofKir Harasethintact.However the slingers surrounded and attacked it.
26 And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took with him seven hundred men who drew swords, to break through to the king of Edom, but they could not.
27 Thenhe took his eldest son who would have reigned in his place, and offered himasa burnt offering upon the wall; and there was great indignation against Israel.So they departed from him and returned totheirownland.