Jehoram the son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria ^ain the ¹eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years. 2 He did evil in the sight of the LORD, but not like his father and mother; for ^ahe put away the sacred pillar of Baal ^bthat his father had made. 3 Nevertheless, ^ahe continued in the idolatrous sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, ^bwho made Israel sin; he did not depart from them.

4 ¹Mesha the king of Moab was a sheep breeder, and he used to ^apay an annual tribute to the king of Israel 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams. 5 But ^awhen Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. 6 So King Jehoram left Samaria at that time and assembled all the fighting men of Israel. 7 Then he went and sent word to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, saying, “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?” And he replied, “I will go; ^aI am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” 8 Jehoram said, “Which way shall we go up?” Jehoshaphat answered, “The way through the Wilderness of Edom.”

9 So ^athe king of Israel went with ^bthe king of Judah and ^cthe king of Edom. They made a circuit of seven days’ journey, but there was no water for the army or for the cattle that followed them. 10 Then the king of Israel said, “We are doomed, for the LORD has called these three kings to be handed over to Moab.” 11 But Jehoshaphat said, “^aIs there no prophet of the LORD here from whom we may inquire of the LORD?” One of the servants of the king of Israel answered, “^bElisha the son of Shaphat is here, ^cwho ¹used to pour water over Elijah’s hands.” 12 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 Elisha.

13 Now Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What business do you have with me? ^aGo to the prophets of your wicked father Ahab and to the prophets of your pagan mother Jezebel.” But the king of Israel said to him, “No, for the LORD has called these three kings together to be handed over to Moab.” 14 Elisha said, “^aAs the LORD of hosts (armies) lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I have regard for Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you nor see you king of Israel. 15 But now ^abring me a musician.” And it came about while the musician played, that ^bthe hand (power) of the LORD came upon Elisha. 16 He said, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Make this valley (the Arabah) full of trenches.’ 17 For thus says the LORD, ‘You will not see wind or rain, yet that valley ^awill be filled with water, so you and your cattle and your other animals may drink. 18 This is but a ^asimple thing in the sight of the LORD; He will also hand over the Moabites to you. 19 ^aYou shall strike every fortified city and every choice (principal) city, and cut down every good tree and stop up all sources of water, and ruin every good piece of land with stones.’” 20 It happened in the morning, ^awhen the sacrifice was offered, that suddenly water came miraculously from the area of Edom, and the country was filled with water.

21 Now all the Moabites heard that the three kings had come up to fight against them, and all ¹who were able to put on armor, as well as those who were older, were summoned and stood together in battle formation at the border. 22 When they got up early the next morning, the sun shone on the water, and the Moabites saw the water across from them as red as blood. 23 And they said, “This is blood! Clearly the kings have fought together, and have killed one another. Now then, Moab, to the spoil and the plunder of the dead soldiers!” 24 But when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and struck the Moabites, so that they fled before them; and they went forward into the land, killing the Moabites as they went. 25 ^aThey destroyed the walls of the cities, and each man threw a stone on every piece of good land, covering it with stones. And they stopped up all the springs of water and cut down all the good trees, until they left nothing in ^bKir-hareseth Moab’s capital city but its stones. Then the stone slingers surrounded the city and destroyed it. 26 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. 27 Then the king of Moab took his ¹eldest son, who was to reign in his place, and ^2aoffered him publicly as a burnt offering to Chemosh on the city wall horrifying everyone. And there was great wrath against Israel, and Israel’s allies Judah and Edom withdrew from King Jehoram and returned to their own land.