2Kings 3

War between Israel and Moab

3Ahab's son Joram

began to rule over Israel in the eighteenth year of King Jehoshaphat's reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria twelve years.H3088H1121H256H4427H3478H8111H8083H6240H8141H3092H4428H3063H4427H8147H6240H81412He did what was evil in the LORD's sight, but not to the same extent as his father and mother. He at least tore down the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had set up.H6213H7451H5869H3068H1H517H5493H4676H1168H1H62133Nevertheless, he continued in the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had committed and led the people of Israel to commit.H1692H2403H3379H1121H5028H3478H2398H54934King Mesha of Moab was a sheep breeder. He used to pay the king of Israel an annual tribute of 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams.H4338H4428H4124H5349H7725H4428H3478H3967H505H3733H3967H505H352H67855But after Ahab's death, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.H256H4194H4428H4124H6586H4428H34786So King Joram promptly mustered the army of Israel and marched from Samaria.H4428H3088H3318H8111H3117H6485H34787On the way, he sent this message to King Jehoshaphat of Judah: "The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you join me in battle against him?" And Jehoshaphat replied, "Why, of course! You and I are as one. My troops are your troops, and my horses are your horses."H3212H7971H3092H4428H3063H559H4428H4124H6586H3212H4124H4421H559H5927H5971H5971H5483H54838Then Jehoshaphat asked, "What route will we take?" "We will attack from the wilderness of Edom," Joram replied.H559H1870H5927H559H1870H4057H1239The king of Edom and his troops joined them, and all three armies traveled along a roundabout route through the wilderness for seven days. But there was no water for the men or their animals.H4428H3478H3212H4428H3063H4428H123H5437H7651H3117H1870H4325H4264H929H727210"What should we do?" the king of Israel cried out. "The LORD has brought the three of us here to let the king of Moab defeat us."H4428H3478H559H162H3068H7121H7969H4428H7121H5414H3027H412411But King Jehoshaphat of Judah asked, "Is there no prophet of the LORD with us? If there is, we can ask the LORD what to do through him." One of King Joram's officers replied, "Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to be Elijah's personal assistant

."H3092H559H5030H3068H1875H3068H259H4428H3478H5650H6030H559H477H1121H8202H3332H4325H3027H45212Jehoshaphat said, "Yes, the LORD speaks through him." So the kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom went to consult with Elisha.H3092H559H1697H3068H3426H4428H3478H3092H4428H123H338113"Why are you coming to me?"

Elisha asked the king of Israel. "Go to the pagan prophets of your father and mother!" But King Joram of Israel said, "No! For it was the LORD who called us three kings here—only to be defeated by the king of Moab!"H477H559H4428H3478H3212H5030H1H5030H517H4428H3478H559H3068H7121H7969H4428H7121H5414H3027H412414Elisha replied, "As surely as the LORD Almighty lives, whom I serve, I wouldn't even bother with you except for my respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah.H477H559H3068H6635H2416H6440H5975H3884H5375H6440H3092H4428H3063H5027H720015Now bring me someone who can play the harp." While the harp was being played, the power

of the LORD came upon Elisha,H3947H5059H5059H5059H3027H306816and he said, "This is what the LORD says: This dry valley will be filled with pools of water!H559H559H3068H6213H5158H135617You will see neither wind nor rain, says the LORD, but this valley will be filled with water. You will have plenty for yourselves and your cattle and other animals.H559H3068H7200H7307H7200H1653H5158H4390H4325H8354H4735H92918But this is only a simple thing for the LORD, for he will make you victorious over the army of Moab!H7043H5869H3068H5414H4124H302719You will conquer the best of their towns, even the fortified ones. You will cut down all their good trees, stop up all their springs, and ruin all their good land with stones."H5221H4013H5892H4004H5892H5307H2896H6086H5640H4599H4325H3510H2896H2513H6820The next day at about the time when the morning sacrifice was offered, water suddenly appeared! It was flowing from the direction of Edom, and soon there was water everywhere.H1242H4503H5927H935H4325H1870H123H776H4390H432521Meanwhile, when the people of Moab heard about the three armies marching against them, they mobilized every man who was old enough to strap on a sword, and they stationed themselves along their border.H4124H8085H4428H5927H3898H6817H2296H2290H4605H5975H136622But when they got up the next morning, the sun was shining across the water, making it appear red to the Moabites—like blood.H7925H1242H8121H2224H4325H4124H7200H4325H5048H122H181823"It's blood!" the Moabites exclaimed. "The three armies must have attacked and killed each other! Let's go, men of Moab, and collect the plunder!"H559H1818H4428H2717H2717H5221H376H7453H4124H799824But when the Moabites arrived at the Israelite camp, the army of Israel rushed out and attacked them until they turned and ran. The army of Israel chased them into the land of Moab, destroying everything as they went

.H935H4264H3478H3478H6965H5221H4124H5127H6440H5221H5221H412425They destroyed the towns, covered their good land with stones, stopped up all the springs, and cut down all the good trees. Finally, only Kir-hareseth and its stone walls were left, but men with slings surrounded and attacked it.H2040H5892H2896H2513H7993H376H68H4390H5640H4599H4325H5307H2896H6086H7025H7604H68H7051H5437H522126When the king of Moab saw that he was losing the battle, he led 700 of his swordsmen in a desperate attempt to break through the enemy lines near the king of Edom, but they failed.H4428H4124H7200H4421H2388H3947H7651H3967H376H8025H2719H1234H4428H123H320127Then the king of Moab took his oldest son, who would have been the next king, and sacrificed him as a burnt offering on the wall. So there was great anger against Israel

, and the Israelites withdrew and returned to their own land.H3947H1060H1121H4427H5927H5930H2346H1419H7110H3478H5265H7725H776