1 N ow Jehoram the son of Ahab became king over Israel at Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.

Ahab’s son Jehoram became the king of Israel at Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah. He ruled for twelve years.

2 H e did evil in the sight of the Lord, though not like his father and his mother; for he put away the sacred pillar of Baal which his father had made.

Jehoram did what was bad in the eyes of the Lord, but not like his father and mother. For he put away the object of Baal which his father had made.

3 N evertheless, he clung to the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel sin; he did not depart from them.

But he held on to the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel sin. He did not leave them.

4 N ow Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder, and used to pay the king of Israel 100, 000 lambs and the wool of 100, 000 rams.

Now Mesha king of Moab raised sheep. He had to pay the king of Israel 100, 000 lambs and the wool of 100, 000 rams each year.

5 B ut when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.

But when Ahab died, the king of Moab turned against the king of Israel.

6 A nd King Jehoram went out of Samaria at that time and mustered all Israel.

So King Jehoram went out of Samaria at that time and called all Israel together.

7 T hen he went and sent word to Jehoshaphat the 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; I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”

Then he went and sent word to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, “The king of Moab has turned against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?” And Jehoshaphat said, “I will go. I am as you are. My people are as your people. My horses are as your horses.”

8 H e said, “Which way shall we go up?” And he answered, “The way of the wilderness of Edom.”

Then he said, “Which way should we go?” And he answered, “By the way of the desert of Edom.”

9 S o the king of Israel went with 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 army or for the cattle that followed them.

So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. They traveled around for seven days, but there was no water for the army or the cattle that followed them.

10 T hen the king of Israel said, “Alas! For the Lord has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.”

The king of Israel said, “It is bad! For the Lord has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.”

11 B ut Jehoshaphat said, “ Is there not a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of the Lord by him?” And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, “ Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.”

But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not a man who speaks for God here? Is there no one we can ask to learn what the Lord would have us do?” One of the servants of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here. He poured water on the hands of Elijah.”

12 J ehoshaphat said, “The word of the Lord is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.

And Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the Lord is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.

13 N ow Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What do I have 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 together to give them into the hand of Moab.”

Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Go to the men who tell what will happen in the future that your father and mother have gone to.” And the king of Israel said to him, “No. It is the Lord Who has called these three kings together to give them into the hand of Moab.”

14 E lisha said, “ As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look at you nor see you.

Elisha said, “As the Lord of all lives, before Whom I stand, if I did not care for Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look at you or see you.

15 B ut now bring me a minstrel.” And it came about, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him.

But now bring me a man who plays music.” And when the man played music, the power of the Lord came upon Elisha.

16 H e said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Make this valley full of trenches.’

He said, “This is what the Lord says, ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’

17 F or thus says the Lord, ‘You shall not see wind nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, both you and your cattle and your beasts.

For the Lord says, ‘You will not see wind or rain. But that valley will be filled with water so that you and your cattle and your animals will drink.’

18 T his is but a slight thing in the sight of the Lord; He will also give the Moabites into your hand.

This is only a small thing in the eyes of the Lord. He will give you the Moabites also.

19 T hen you shall strike every fortified city and every choice city, and fell every good tree and stop all springs of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.’”

Then you will destroy every strong city and cut down every good tree. You will close all the wells of water, and destroy every good piece of land with stones.”

20 I t happened in the morning about the time of offering the sacrifice, that behold, water came by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.

The next morning, about the time when the gift is given on the altar, water came by the way of Edom. The country was filled with water.

21 N ow all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them. And all who were able to put on armor and older were summoned and stood on the border.

Now all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them. All who were able to wear battle-clothes, young and old, were called together. And they stood at the side of the land of Moab.

22 T hey rose early in the morning, and the sun shone on the water, and the Moabites saw the water opposite them as red as blood.

They got up early in the morning. The sun was shining on the water. And the Moabites saw that the water beside them was as red as blood.

23 T hen they said, “This is blood; the kings have surely fought together, and they have slain one another. Now therefore, Moab, to the spoil!”

They said, “This is blood. For sure the kings have fought and killed one another. So now, Moab, let us take what is left!”

24 B ut when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites arose and struck the Moabites, so that they fled before them; and they went forward into the land, slaughtering the Moabites.

But when they came to the tents of Israel, the Israelites came and fought against the Moabites. The Moabites ran from them. And Israel went on into the land, killing the Moabites.

25 T hus they destroyed the cities; and each one threw a stone on every piece of good land and filled it. So they stopped all the springs of water and felled all the good trees, until in Kir-hareseth only they left its stones; however, the slingers went about it and struck it.

So they destroyed the cities. Each man threw a stone on every piece of good land until it was covered. They closed all the wells of water and cut down all the good trees. Only the stones of Kir-hareseth were left standing. But the stone-throwers went around it and fought against it.

26 W hen the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took with him 700 men who drew swords, to break through to the king of Edom; but they could not.

The king of Moab saw that the battle was too hard for him. So he took with him 700 men who used the sword, to break through to the king of Edom. But they could not.

27 T hen he took his oldest son who was to reign in his place, and offered him as a burnt offering on the wall. And there came great wrath against Israel, and they departed from him and returned to their own land.

Then he took his oldest son who was to rule in his place, and gave him as a burnt gift on the wall. And many became very angry toward Israel. They left him and returned to their own land.