Moab’s Rebellion
And Jehoram the son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria, in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah; and he reigned twelve years.
And he did the evil in the eyes of the LORD — only, not like his father and like his mother; and he removed the pillar of the Baal that his father had made.
Only, he clung to the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, by which he caused Israel to sin; he did not turn aside from them.
Now Mesha, king of Moab, was a sheep-breeder; and he would pay to the king of Israel a hundred thousand lambs, and the wool of a hundred thousand rams.
And it was, at the death of Ahab, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
And King Jehoram went out from Samaria on that day and mustered all Israel.
And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, saying, “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me against Moab, to battle?” And he said, “I will go up. I am as you are; my people as your people; my horses as your horses.”
And he said, “By which way shall we go up?” And he said, “The way of the wilderness of Edom.”
And the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom; and they made a circuit of seven days’ journey — and there was no water for the camp, or for the animals that followed them.
And the king of Israel said, “Alas! For the LORD has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.”
And Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may inquire of the LORD through him?” And one of the servants of the king of Israel answered and said, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.”
And Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the LORD is with him.” And the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom went down to him.
And Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother.” And the king of Israel said to him, “No — for the LORD has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.”
And Elisha said, “As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand — surely, were it not that I regard the face of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, I would not look at you or see you.
But now, bring me a musician.” And it was, as the musician played, that the hand of the LORD came on him.
And he said, “Thus says the LORD: Make this ravine full of ditches.
For thus says the LORD: You will not see wind and you will not see rain, yet that ravine will be filled with water; and you will drink — you, and your livestock, and your animals.
And this is a light thing in the eyes of the LORD: he will also give Moab into your hand.
And you shall strike every fortified city and every choice city; and every good tree you shall fell, and all the springs of water you shall stop up, and every good plot of land you shall ruin with stones.”
And it was in the morning, at the offering up of the grain offering — look, water coming from the way of Edom; and the land was filled with the water.
And all Moab had heard that the kings had come up to fight against them; and they were called out, everyone who could strap on a belt and upward, and they stood at the border.
And they rose early in the morning, and the sun was shining on the water; and Moab saw the water opposite them, red as blood.
And they said: “This is blood! The kings have surely destroyed one another, and each has struck down his fellow. And now — to the spoil, Moab!”
And they came to the camp of Israel; and Israel rose and struck Moab, and they fled from before them. And they came on, striking Moab as they went.
And the cities they tore down; and on every good plot of land each man threw his stone until it was filled; and every spring of water they stopped up, and every good tree they felled — until only the stones of Kir-hareseth were left standing; and the slingers surrounded it and struck it.
And the king of Moab saw that the battle was too strong for him; and he took with him seven hundred men who drew the sword, to break through to the king of Edom — but they could not.
And he took his firstborn son, who was to become king in his place, and offered him up as a burnt offering on the wall. And great wrath came against Israel; and they pulled away from him and returned to their own land.