1Jehoram son of Ahab became king of Israel at Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned twelve years.
2He did what was evil in the LORD's sight, though not as evil as his father and mother. He removed the sacred stone of Baal that his father had set up.
3Nevertheless, he clung to the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had led Israel into sin, and did not turn away from them.
4King Mesha of Moab raised sheep, and he regularly paid a tribute to the king of Israel of one hundred thousand lambs and the wool of one hundred thousand rams.
5But after Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
6King Jehoram immediately set out from Samaria and mustered all the forces of Israel.
7He also sent this message to Jehoshaphat king of Judah: 'The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you join me in fighting against Moab?' Jehoshaphat replied, 'I will. I am with you — my army is your army, my horses are your horses.'
8He asked, 'Which route should we take?' Jehoram answered, 'Through the wilderness of Edom.'
9So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom set out together. After they had traveled for seven days, there was no water for the army or for the animals with them.
10The king of Israel cried out, 'This is terrible! The LORD has brought the three of us kings out here just to hand us over to Moab.'
11But Jehoshaphat asked, 'Is there a prophet of the LORD here that we can consult?' One of the officers of the king of Israel said, 'Elisha son of Shaphat is here — the one who used to pour water on Elijah's hands.'
12Jehoshaphat said, 'The word of the LORD is with him.' So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to consult Elisha.
13Elisha said to the king of Israel, 'Why should I deal with you? Go consult your father's prophets or your mother's prophets.' But the king of Israel said, 'No — the LORD has brought us three kings together just to hand us over to Moab.'
14Elisha replied, 'As surely as the LORD Almighty lives, whom I serve, I would not even give you a glance if it were not for my respect for Jehoshaphat king of Judah.'
15Now bring me a harpist.' As the musician played, the hand of the LORD came on Elisha.
16He said, 'This is what the LORD says: Dig this valley full of ditches.'
17For the LORD says: You will not see wind or rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle, and your other animals will all drink.
18This is an easy thing for the LORD. He will also deliver Moab into your hands.
19You will overthrow every fortified city and every major town. You will cut down every good tree, stop up all the springs, and ruin every good field with stones.
20The next morning, at the time of the morning sacrifice, water suddenly flowed from the direction of Edom and filled the valley.
21Now all the Moabites had heard that the kings had come to fight against them, so they gathered all their fighting men — young and old alike — and stationed them at the border.
22When the Moabites got up early in the morning, the sun was shining on the water. From a distance the water looked red like blood.
23The Moabites exclaimed, 'That is blood! The kings must have fought each other and slaughtered one another. Quick, let's take their loot!'
24But when they reached the Israelite camp, the Israelites rose up and attacked them until the Moabites fled. The Israelites invaded Moab, slaughtering as they went.
25They demolished the towns, threw stones on every good field until it was covered, stopped up every spring, and cut down every good tree. Only Kir-hareseth was left with its stones intact, but slingers surrounded it and attacked it as well.
26When the king of Moab saw that the battle was lost, he took seven hundred swordsmen and tried to break through the lines to reach the king of Edom, but he failed.
27He then took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him as king, and sacrificed him as a burnt offering on the city wall. This horrified Israel, and they withdrew and returned to their own land.