2 Kings 3

1In the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Jehoram son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned twelve years. 2He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, though not like his father and mother. He removed the standing stone of Baal that his father had made. 3Yet he held on to the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, by which he led Israel to sin; he did not turn away from them.

4Mesha king of Moab raised sheep, and he used to pay the king of Israel 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams. 5But when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. 6So at that time King Jehoram marched out of Samaria and mustered all Israel. 7He also sent word to Jehoshaphat king of Judah. “The king of Moab,” he said, “has rebelled against me. Will you join me in battle against Moab?” Jehoshaphat answered, “I will go. I am as you are, my troops are as your troops, my horses as your horses.” 8Then he asked, “By which route shall we attack?” He answered, “By the road through the wilderness of Edom.” 9So the king of Israel set out with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. After a roundabout march of seven days, there was no water left for the army or for the animals that followed them. 10The king of Israel said, “How terrible! The LORD has called these three kings together to hand them over to Moab.” 11But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no prophet of the LORD here, through whom we can inquire of the LORD?” One of the king of Israel’s officials answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here, the man who used to pour water on Elijah’s hands.” 12Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the LORD is with him.” Then the king of Israel went down to him, with Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom. 13Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What do you and I have to do with each other? Go to your father’s prophets and your mother’s prophets.” But the king of Israel said to him, “No, for the LORD has called these three kings together to hand them over to Moab.” 14Elisha said, “As surely as the LORD of Armies lives, whom I serve, if I did not respect Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you or even notice you. 15But now bring me a musician.” While the musician was playing, the hand of the LORD came on Elisha. 16Then he said, “The LORD says this: ‘Dig ditch after ditch in this streambed.’ 17For the LORD says this: ‘You will see no wind and no rain, yet that streambed will fill with water, and you will drink, you and your livestock and your pack animals.’ 18This is only a small thing in the sight of the LORD; he will also hand Moab over to you. 19You will strike down every fortified town and every major town. You will cut down every good tree, block every spring of water, and ruin every good field with stones.” 20The next morning, about the time of the morning offering, water suddenly came flowing from the direction of Edom, and the land was filled with water. 21Meanwhile all Moab had heard that the kings had come to fight against them. Everyone old enough to put on a sword belt, and older, was called out, and they took up positions at the border. 22Early in the morning they got up, and the sun was shining on the water. To the Moabites facing it, the water looked as red as blood. 23They said, “This is blood! The kings must have fought one another and killed each other. Now, Moab, to the plunder!” 24But when the Moabites reached the camp of Israel, the Israelites sprang up and attacked them, and they fled. The Israelites pushed on into the land, striking down the Moabites. 25They tore down the towns, and each man threw a stone on every good field until it was covered. They blocked every spring of water and cut down every good tree. At last only Kir-hareseth was left with its stones standing, and the slingers surrounded it and attacked it. 26When the king of Moab saw that the battle was going against him, he took with him 700 swordsmen to try to break through to the king of Edom, but they failed. 27Then he took his firstborn son, who was to become king after him, and offered him as a burnt offering on the wall. And great wrath came against Israel, so they withdrew from him and returned to their own land.