CHAPTER 3
In the eighteenth
year
of Jehoshaphat's
reign
over Judah,
Jehoram
son
of Ahab
became king
of
Israel,
and he reigned
in Samaria
twelve
years.
And he did
evil
in the sight
of the LORD,
but
not
as his father
and mother had done.
For he removed
the sacred pillar
of Baal
that
his father
had made.
Nevertheless,
he clung
to the sins
that
Jeroboam
son
of Nebat
had caused Israel
to commit;
he did not
turn away
from them.
Now Mesha
king
of Moab
was
a sheep breeder,
and he would render
to the king
of Israel
a hundred
thousand
lambs
and the wool
of a hundred
thousand
rams.
And he sent
a message to
King
Jehoshaphat
of Judah:
“The king
of Moab
has rebelled
against me.
Will you go
with me
to fight
against
Moab?”
“I will go,”
replied Jehoshaphat.
“I am
as you are,
my people
as your people,
my horses
as your horses.”
So the king
of Israel,
the king
of Judah,
and the king
of Edom
set out,
and after they had traveled a roundabout
route
for seven
days,
they had no
water
for their army
or for their
animals.
“Alas,”
said
the king
of Israel,
“for
the LORD
has summoned
these
three
kings
to deliver
them
into the hand
of Moab!”
But Jehoshaphat
asked,
“Is there no
prophet
of the LORD
here?
Let us inquire
of the LORD
through him.”
And one
of the servants
of the king
of Israel
answered,
“Elisha
son
of Shaphat
is here.
He
used to pour
water
on
the hands
of Elijah.”
Jehoshaphat
affirmed,
“The word
of the LORD
is
with him.”
So the king
of Israel
and Jehoshaphat
and the king
of Edom
went down
to him.
Elisha, however,
said
to
the king
of Israel,
“What have we to do
with each other?
Go
to
the prophets
of your father
and
of your mother!”
“No,”
replied
the king
of Israel,
“for
it is the LORD
who has summoned
these
three
kings
to deliver
them
into the hand
of Moab.”
Then Elisha
said,
“As surely as the LORD
of Hosts
lives,
before
whom
I stand,
were it not
for my regard
for the presence
of Jehoshaphat
king
of Judah,
I would not
look
at you
or
acknowledge you.
But now,
bring
me
a harpist.”
And while the harpist
played,
the hand
of the LORD
came
upon Elisha
For
the LORD
says,
‘You will not
see
wind
or rain,
but the
valley
will be filled
with water,
and you will drink—
you
and your cattle
and your animals.’
This
is a simple matter
in the sight
of the LORD,
and He will also deliver
the Moabites
into your hand.
And you shall attack
every
fortified
city
and every
city
of importance.
You shall cut down
every
good
tree,
stop up
every
spring,
and ruin
every
good
field
with stones.”
The next morning,
at the time of the morning sacrifice,
water
suddenly
flowed
from the direction
of Edom
and filled
the land.
Now all
the Moabites
had heard
that
the kings
had come up
to fight against them.
So all
who could bear arms,
young and old,
were summoned
and stationed
at
the border.
When they got up early
in the morning,
the sun
was shining
on
the water,
and it
looked
as red
as blood
to the Moabites
across the way.
“This
is blood!”
they exclaimed.
“The kings
have clashed swords
and slaughtered
each
other.
Now
to the plunder,
Moab!”
But when the Moabites came
to
the camp
of Israel,
the Israelites
rose up
and attacked
them,
and they fled
before them.
So the Israelites invaded their land
and struck down
the Moabites.
They destroyed
the cities,
and each man
threw
stones
on every
good
field
until it was covered.
They stopped up
every
spring
and cut down
every
good
tree.
Only
Kir-haraseth
was left
with stones in place,
but men with slings
surrounded it
and attacked it as well.
When the king
of Moab
saw
that
the battle
was too fierce
for him,
he took
with him
seven
hundred
swordsmen
to break through
to
the king
of Edom,
but they could not prevail.
So he took
his firstborn
son,
who
was to succeed him,
and offered
him as a burnt offering
on
the city wall.
And there was
great
fury
against
the Israelites,
so they withdrew
and returned
to their own land.