1Jehoram, Ahab’s son, became king of Israel in Samaria during the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat’s rule as king of Judah. Jehoram ruled for twelve years.
2He did what Yahweh considered evil, but not as bad as his father and mother, because he took down the Baal pillar his father had made.
3However, he continued to commit the sins that Jeroboam, Nebat’s son, had led Israel into. He did not turn away from them.
4Now Mesha, the king of Moab, was a sheep breeder. He used to supply the king of Israel with the wool from one hundred thousand lambs and one hundred thousand rams.
5But after Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
6At that time, King Jehoram left Samaria and gathered all the men of Israel.
7He sent a message to Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, saying, “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you join me in battle against Moab?” Jehoshaphat replied, “I will go with you. My people are like your people, and my horses are like your horses.”
8Jehoram asked, “Which way should we go?” Jehoshaphat answered, “Through the wilderness of Edom.”
9So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom set out. After marching for seven days along a winding route, there was no water left for the army or for their animals.
10The king of Israel exclaimed, “Oh no! Yahweh has brought these three kings together just to hand them over to Moab!”
11But Jehoshaphat asked, “Isn’t there a prophet of Yahweh here? We should ask Yahweh through him.” One of the king of Israel’s servants replied, “Elisha, the son of Shaphat, who used to serve Elijah, is here.”
12Jehoshaphat said, “Yahweh’s message is with him.” So the king of Israel, Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom went to see Elisha.
13Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What do I have to do with you? Go to your father’s prophets and your mother’s prophets.” The king of Israel countered, “No, because Yahweh has called these three kings together to hand them over to Moab.”
14Elisha said, “As surely as Yahweh of Armies lives, the God I serve, if it weren’t for my respect for Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, I wouldn’t even look at you or acknowledge you.
15But now, bring me a musician.” When the musician played, the power of Yahweh came upon Elisha.
16Elisha then said, “This is what Yahweh says: ‘Dig many trenches in this valley.’
17For Yahweh says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but this valley will be filled with water, and you, your livestock, and your other animals will drink.’
18This is a simple task in Yahweh’s eyes. He will also hand the Moabites over to you.
19You are to destroy every fortified city and every important city. You must cut down every good tree, block all the springs of water, and ruin every good piece of land with stones.’”
20The next morning, around the time the sacrifice was offered, water came from the direction of Edom, and the entire area was filled with water.
21When all the Moabites heard that the kings were coming to fight them, they gathered everyone who could wear armor, both young and old, and took their positions at the border.
22They woke up early in the morning, and the sun was shining on the water. The Moabites looked across at the water, and it appeared as red as blood.
23They said, "This is blood! The kings must have fought and killed each other. Now, Moab, let's go plunder their camp!"
24But when the Moabites reached the Israelite camp, the Israelites attacked them, causing them to flee. The Israelites then advanced into the land, continuing to strike the Moabites.
25They destroyed the cities. On every good piece of land, each man threw a stone until the land was covered. They also blocked up all the springs and cut down all the good trees. Finally, only the stones of Kir Hareseth were left standing; however, men with slings went around and attacked it.
26When the king of Moab realized that the battle was too intense for him, he took 700 swordsmen with him to try and break through to the king of Edom, but they failed.
27Then he took his oldest son, who was next in line to be king, and offered him as a burnt sacrifice on the city wall. This caused great anger against Israel, so they left him and returned to their own land.