2 Kings 3

Jehoram Goes to War against Moab

1Jehoram son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned twelve years. 2He did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD, though not like his father and his mother, for he removed the pillar of Baal that his father had made. 3Yet he clung to the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused Israel to sin. He did not turn away from them.

Mesha Rebels against Israel

4Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder, and he rendered to the king of Israel one hundred thousand lambs and the wool of one hundred thousand rams. 5But when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. 6So King Jehoram went out from Samaria at that time and mustered all Israel. 7He went and sent to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, saying, “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to Moab for battle?” He said, “I will go up. I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” 8He said, “By which way shall we go up?” And he said, “By the way of the wilderness of Edom.”

The Three Kings Lack Water

9So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom went. They went around on the road seven days, but there was no water for the camp or for the animals that followed them. 10Then the king of Israel said, “Ah! For the LORD has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.” 11But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of the LORD here, so that we may inquire of the LORD through him?” One of the servants of the king of Israel answered and said, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.” 12Jehoshaphat 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.

Elisha Prophesies Water and Victory

13Elisha 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.” But the king of Israel said to him, “No, for the LORD has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.” 14Elisha said, “As the LORD of Hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely if I did not respect the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you or see you. 15And now, bring me a musician.”

And it happened when the musician played that the hand of the LORD came upon him. 16He said, “Thus says the LORD: Make this valley full of ditches. 17For thus says the LORD: You shall not see wind, and you shall not see rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you shall drink—you, your livestock, and your animals. 18This is a small thing in the eyes of the LORD. He will also give Moab into your hand. 19You shall strike every fortified city and every choice city, fell every good tree, stop every spring of water, and ruin every good field with stones.”

Water Appears and Moab Is Defeated

20In the morning, about the time of the grain offering, look, water came from the direction of Edom, and the land was filled with water. 21Now all Moab had heard that the kings had come up to fight against them. Everyone able to put on armor, from the youngest upward, was summoned, and they stood at the border. 22They rose early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water. The Moabites saw the water opposite them red like blood. 23They said, “This is blood! The kings have surely fought one another and struck each man his companion. And now, to the spoil, Moab!” 24But when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites arose and struck Moab, and they fled before them. They entered the land, striking Moab as they went. 25They tore down the cities, and each man threw his stone into every good field and filled it. They stopped every spring of water and felled every good tree, until only the stones of Kir-Hareseth remained. The slingers surrounded it and struck it.

The King of Moab Sacrifices His Son

26When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too strong for him, he took with him seven hundred men who drew the sword to break through to the king of Edom, but they were not able. 27Then he took his firstborn son, who was to reign in his place, and offered him as a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great wrath against Israel, so they withdrew from him and returned to the land.