Israel’s King Joram

1Joram son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria during the eighteenth year of Judah’s King Jehoshaphat, and he reigned twelve years.a 2He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, but not like his father and mother,a for he removed the sacred pillar of Baal his father had made. 3Nevertheless, Joram clung to the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.a He did not turn away from them.

Moab’s Rebellion against Israel

4King Mesha of Moaba was a sheep breeder. He used to payb the king of Israel one hundred thousand lambs and the wool of one hundred thousand rams,c 5but when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.a 6So King Joram marched out from Samaria at that time and mobilized all Israel. 7Then he sent a message to King Jehoshaphata of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me.b Will you go with me to fight against Moab? ”

Jehoshaphat said, “I will go. I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”c

8He asked, “Which route should we take? ”

He replied, “The route of the Wilderness of Edom.”

9So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edoma set out. After they had traveled their indirect route for seven days, they had no water for the army or the animals with them.

10Then the king of Israel said, “Oh no, the Lord has summoned these three kings, only to hand them over to Moab.”

11But Jehoshaphat said, “Isn’t there a prophet of the Lord here? Let’s inquire of the Lord through him.”a

One of the servants of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat,b who used to pour water on Elijah’s hands, is here.”

12Jehoshaphat affirmed, “The word of the Lord is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went to him.a

13However, Elisha said to King Joram of Israel, “What do we have in common? Go to the prophets of your father and your mother! ”a

But the king of Israel replied, “No, because it is the Lord who has summoned these three kings to hand them over to Moab.”

14Elisha responded, “By the life of the Lord of Armies,a before whom I stand: If I did not have respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah,b I wouldn’t look at you; I would not take notice of you. 15Now, bring me a musician.”a

While the musician played,b the Lord’s handc came on Elisha. 16Then he said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Dig ditch after ditch in this wadi.’ 17For the Lord says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the wadi will be filled with water,a and you will drink — you and your cattle and your animals.’ 18This is easy in the Lord’s sight.a He will also hand Moab over to you.b 19Then you will attack every fortified city and every choice city. You will cut down every good tree and stop up every spring. You will ruin every good piece of land with stones.”

20About the time for the grain offeringa the next morning, water suddenly came from the direction of Edom and filled the land.

21All Moab had heard that the kingsa had come up to fight against them. So all who could bear arms, from the youngest to the oldest, were summoned and took their stand at the border. 22When they got up early in the morning, the sun was shining on the water, and the Moabites saw that the water across from them was red like blood.a 23“This is blood! ” they exclaimed. “The kingsa have crossed swordsA and their men have killed one another. So, to the spoil, Moab! ”

24However, when the Moabites came to Israel’s camp, the Israelites attacked them, and they fled from them. So Israel went into the land attacking the Moabites. 25They would destroy the cities, and each of them would throw a stone to cover every good piece of land. They would stop up every spring and cut down every good tree. This went on until only the buildings of Kir-haresetha were left. Then men with slings surrounded the city and attacked it.

26When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took seven hundred swordsmen with him to try to break through to the king of Edom,a but they could not do it. 27So he took his firstborn son,a who was to become king in his place, and offered him as a burnt offering on the city wall. Great wrath was on the Israelites, and they withdrew from him and returned to their land.