2 KingsChapter 3

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¹Jehoram son of Ahab became king of Israel. This was in the eighteenth year that Jehoshaphat ruled over Judah. Jehoram ruled in Samaria for twelve years. ²He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, but not as much as his father and mother had. He took away the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had made. ³But he held on to the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit. He did not turn away from them. ⁴Mesha king of Moab raised sheep. He had to pay the king of Israel a hundred thousand lambs. He also had to pay the wool of a hundred thousand rams. ⁵But after Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. ⁶So at that time King Jehoram left Samaria. He called up all Israel for war. ⁷He sent a message to Jehoshaphat king of Judah. It said, "The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?" "I will go," Jehoshaphat answered. "I am the same as you. My people are your people. My horses are your horses." ⁸Then Jehoshaphat asked, "Which way should we go up?" "Through the Desert of Edom," Joram answered. ⁹So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom set out. They took a long, winding road for seven days. Then they ran out of water for their army and for their animals. ¹⁰"Oh no!" said the king of Israel. "The LORD has called these three kings together to hand them over to Moab!" ¹¹But Jehoshaphat asked, "Isn't there a prophet of the LORD here? Let's ask the LORD through him." One of the servants of the king of Israel answered, "Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on Elijah's hands." ¹²Jehoshaphat said, "The word of the LORD is with him." So the king of Israel, Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom went down to see him. ¹³But Elisha said to the king of Israel, "What do you and I have to do with each other? Go to the prophets of your father and your mother!" "No," the king of Israel answered. "It's the LORD who has called these three kings together to hand them over to Moab." ¹⁴Then Elisha said, "I serve the LORD of Hosts. As surely as he lives, I would not even look at you or notice you if I did not respect Jehoshaphat king of Judah, who is here. ¹⁵But now, bring me a harp player." While the harp player was playing, the hand of the LORD came on Elisha. ¹⁶And Elisha said, "This is what the LORD says: 'Dig this valley full of ditches.' ¹⁷For the LORD says, 'You will not see wind or rain. But this valley will be filled with water. And you will drink, you and your cattle and your animals.' ¹⁸This is an easy thing for the LORD. He will also hand the Moabites over to you. ¹⁹You will attack every walled city and every important city. You will cut down every good tree. You will block up every spring. And you will ruin every good field with stones." ²⁰The next morning, at the time of the morning sacrifice, water suddenly came flowing from the direction of Edom. It filled the land. ²¹Now all the Moabites had heard that the kings had come to fight against them. So everyone who could carry weapons, young and old, was called up. They were placed at the border. ²²The Moabites got up early in the morning. The sun was shining on the water. To the Moabites across the way, the water looked as red as blood. ²³"This is blood!" they shouted. "The kings must have fought and killed each other. Now let's go take what they left, Moab!" ²⁴But when the Moabites came to Israel's camp, the Israelites rose up and attacked them. The Moabites ran away from them. So the Israelites went into their land and struck down the Moabites. ²⁵They destroyed the cities. Each man threw a stone on every good field until it was covered. They blocked up every spring and cut down every good tree. Only Kir-haraseth was left with its stones still in place. But men with slings surrounded it and attacked it too. ²⁶The king of Moab saw that the battle was too strong for him. So he took seven hundred men with swords. They tried to break through to the king of Edom, but they failed. ²⁷Then the king of Moab took his firstborn son, who would have been king after him. He offered him as a burnt offering on the city wall. And there was great anger against the Israelites. So they pulled back and went home to their own land.