In the eighteenth ... year of Jehoshaphat’s reign over Judah , Jehoram son of Ahab became king of Israel , and he reigned in Samaria twelve ... years.
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD , but not as his father and mother (had done). He removed - the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had made.
Nevertheless , he clung to the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit ; - he did not turn away from them.
Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder , and he would render to the king of Israel a hundred thousand lambs and the wool of a hundred thousand rams.
But after the death of Ahab , the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
So at that time King Jehoram set out from Samaria and mobilized - all Israel.
vvv And he sent a message to Jehoshaphat king of Judah : “ The king of Moab has rebelled Will you go with me to fight against Moab ? ” “ I will go , ” replied Jehoshaphat. “ I (am) like you , my people (are) your people , and my horses (are) your horses. ”
Then he asked , “ Which way shall we go up ? ” “ By way of the Desert of Edom , ” replied Joram.
So the king of Israel , the king of Judah , and the king of Edom set out , and after they had traveled a roundabout route for seven days , they had no ... water for their army or for their ... animals.
“ Alas , ” said the king of Israel , “ for the LORD has summoned these three kings to deliver them into the hand of Moab ! ”
But Jehoshaphat asked , “ Is there no prophet of the LORD here ? Let us inquire - of the LORD through him. ” And one of the servants of the king of Israel ... answered , “ Elisha son of Shaphat is here. (He) used to pour water on the hands of Elijah. ”
Jehoshaphat affirmed , “ 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, however , said to the king of Israel , “ What have we to do Go to the prophets of your father and ... of your mother ! ” “ No , ” replied the king of Israel , “ for it is the LORD who has summoned these three kings to deliver them into the hand of Moab. ”
Then Elisha said , “ As surely as the LORD of Hosts lives , before whom I stand - , were it not vvv for my regard for the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah , I would not look at you or acknowledge you.
But now , bring a harpist. ” And while the harpist played , the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha
and he said , “ This is what the LORD says : ‘ Dig this valley vvv full of ditches. ’
For ... the LORD says , ‘ You will not see wind ... ... or rain , but the valley will be filled with water , and you will drink — you and your cattle and your animals. ’
This is a simple matter in the sight of the LORD , and He will also deliver the Moabites - into your hand.
And you shall attack every fortified city and every city of importance. You shall cut down every good tree , stop up every spring ... , and ruin every good field with stones. ”
The next morning , ... at the time of the morning sacrifice ... , water suddenly flowed from the direction of Edom and filled the land - -.
Now all the Moabites had heard that the kings had come up to fight So all who could bear arms ... , (young) and old , were summoned and stationed at the border.
When they got up early in the morning , the sun was shining on the water , and (it) looked (as) red as blood to the Moabites across the way -.
“ This ... is blood ! ” they exclaimed. “ The kings have clashed swords and slaughtered one - another. Now to the plunder , Moab ! ”
But when the Moabites came to the camp of Israel , the Israelites rose up and attacked - them , and they fled before them. So (the Israelites) invaded (their land) and struck down - the Moabites.
They destroyed the cities , and each man threw stones on every good field until it was covered. They stopped up every spring ... and cut down every good tree. Only vvv Kir-haraseth was left with stones in place , but men with slings surrounded it and attacked it (as well).
When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him , he took with him seven hundred swordsmen ... ... to break through to the king of Edom , but they could not prevail ....
So he took - his firstborn son , who was to succeed him ... , and offered him as a burnt offering on the city wall. And there was great fury against the Israelites , so they withdrew ... and returned to (their own) land.