1.
Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years. Explain This Verse
2.
And he wrought evil in the sight of the Lord; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made. Explain This Verse
3.
Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom. Explain This Verse
4.
And Mesha king of Moab was a sheepmaster, and rendered unto the king of Israel an hundred thousand lambs, and an hundred thousand rams, with the wool. Explain This Verse
5.
But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. Explain This Verse
6.
And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and numbered all Israel. Explain This Verse
7.
And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up: I am as thou art, my people as thy people, and my horses as thy horses. Explain This Verse
8.
And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom. Explain This Verse
9.
So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days’ journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them. Explain This Verse
10.
And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the Lord hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab! Explain This Verse
11.
But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord, that we may enquire of the Lord by him? And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah. Explain This Verse
12.
And Jehoshaphat said, The word of the Lord is with him. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him. Explain This Verse
13.
And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the Lord hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab. Explain This Verse
14.
And Elisha said, As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee. Explain This Verse
15.
But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him. Explain This Verse
16.
And he said, Thus saith the Lord, Make this valley full of ditches. Explain This Verse
17.
For thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts. Explain This Verse
18.
And this is but a light thing in the sight of the Lord: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand. Explain This Verse
19.
And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones. Explain This Verse
20.
And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat offering was offered, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water. Explain This Verse
21.
And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered all that were able to put on armour, and upward, and stood in the border. Explain This Verse
22.
And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood: Explain This Verse
23.
And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil. Explain This Verse
24.
And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in their country. Explain This Verse
25.
And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees: only in Kir–haraseth left they the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about it, and smote it. Explain This Verse
26.
And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords, to break through even unto the king of Edom: but they could not. Explain This Verse
27.
Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land. Explain This Verse