[1] In the eighteenth year of Jehosh'aphat king of Judah, Jeho'ram the son
of Ahab became king over Israel in Sama'ria, and he reigned twelve years.
[2] He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, though not like his
father and mother, for he put away the pillar of Ba'al which his father had
made. [3] Nevertheless he clung to the sin of Jerobo'am the son of Nebat,
which he made Israel to sin; he did not depart from it. [4] Now Mesha king
of Moab was a sheep breeder; and he had to deliver annually to the king of
Israel a hundred thousand lambs, and the wool of a hundred thousand rams.
[5] But when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of
Israel. [6] So King Jeho'ram marched out of Sama'ria at that time and
mustered all Israel. [7] And he went and sent word to Jehosh'aphat king of
Judah, "The king of Moab has rebelled against me; will you go with me to
battle against Moab?" And he said, "I will go; I am as you are, my people
as your people, my horses as your horses." [8] Then he said, "By which way
shall we march?" Jeho'ram answered, "By the way of the wilderness of Edom."
[9] So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom.
And when they had made a circuitous march of seven days, there was no water
for the army or for the beasts which followed them. [10] Then the king of
Israel said, "Alas! The LORD has called these three kings to give them into
the hand of Moab." [11] And Jehosh'aphat said, "Is there no prophet of the
LORD here, through whom we may inquire of the LORD?" Then one of the king
of Israel's servants answered, "Eli'sha the son of Shaphat is here, who
poured water on the hands of Eli'jah." [12] And Jehosh'aphat said, "The
word of the LORD is with him." So the king of Israel and Jehosh'aphat and
the king of Edom went down to him. [13] And Eli'sha said to the king of
Israel, "What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and
the prophets of your mother." But the king of Israel said to him, "No; it
is the LORD who has called these three kings to give them into the hand of
Moab." [14] And Eli'sha said, "As the LORD of hosts lives, whom I serve,
were it not that I have regard for Jehosh'aphat the king of Judah, I would
neither look at you, nor see you. [15] But now bring me a minstrel." And
when the minstrel played, the power of the LORD came upon him. [16] And he
said, "Thus says the LORD, `I will make this dry stream-bed full of pools.'
[17] For thus says the LORD, `You shall not see wind or rain, but that
stream-bed shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, you, your
cattle, and your beasts.' [18] This is a light thing in the sight of the
LORD; he will also give the Moabites into your hand, [19] and you shall
conquer every fortified city, and every choice city, and shall fell every
good tree, and stop up all springs of water, and ruin every good piece of
land with stones." [20] The next morning, about the time of offering the
sacrifice, behold, water came from the direction of Edom, till the country
was filled with water. [21] When all the Moabites heard that the kings had
come up to fight against them, all who were able to put on armor, from the
youngest to the oldest, were called out, and were drawn up at the frontier.
[22] And when they rose early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the
water, the Moabites saw the water opposite them as red as blood. [23] And
they said, "This is blood; the kings have surely fought together, and slain
one another. Now then, Moab, to the spoil!" [24] But when they came to the
camp of Israel, the Israelites rose and attacked the Moabites, till they
fled before them; and they went forward, slaughtering the Moabites as they
went. [25] And they overthrew the cities, and on every good piece of land
every man threw a stone, until it was covered; they stopped every spring of
water, and felled all the good trees; till only its stones were left in
Kir-har'eseth, and the slingers surrounded and conquered it. [26] When the
king of Moab saw that the battle was going against him, he took with him
seven hundred swordsmen to break through, opposite the king of Edom; but
they could not. [27] Then he took his eldest son who was to reign in his
stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And there came
great wrath upon Israel; and they withdrew from him and returned to their
own land.