The Father Gives Victory Over Moab
3 1 Joram son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria in Jehoshaphat king of Judah's eighteenth year, and reigned twelve years. 2 He did evil in our Father's eyes, though not like his father and mother, for he removed the sacred pillar of Baal his father made. 3 Yet he clung to the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who led Israel to sin; he did not turn from them.
4 Mesha king of Moab raised sheep and paid the king of Israel 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams. 5 But when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. 6 So King Joram set out from Samaria at that time and mustered all Israel. 7 He went and sent word to Jehoshaphat king of Judah: "The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight Moab?" He replied, "I will go up. I am as you are, my people as yours, my horses as yours."
8 He asked, "Which way should we go up?" He answered, "The way through the Edom desert."
9 The king of Israel set out with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. They marched a roundabout route seven days, with no water for the army or the animals following them. 10 The king of Israel said, "Alas! For our Father summoned these three kings only to give them into the hand of Moab." a a v10 Even this faithless king, quick to blame, still belongs to the covenant family — he names the very Father he distrusts.
11 But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there no prophet of our Father here, to ask our Father through him?" One of Israel's king's servants answered, "Elisha son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on Elijah's hands."
12 Jehoshaphat said, "The word of our Father is with him," so Israel's king, Jehoshaphat, and Edom's king went down to him.
13 Elisha asked Israel's king, "What business is between us? Go to your father's and mother's prophets." The king said, "No—our Father called these three kings to hand them to Moab."
14 Elisha said, "As the Father of heaven's armies lives, whom I serve, if I didn't respect Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I wouldn't look at you or notice you." 15 "Now bring me a musician." When the musician played, the hand of our Father came on him.
16 He said, "This is what our Father says: Make this valley full of ditches." 17 "For this is what our Father says: You will see no wind or rain, yet this valley will fill with water, and you will drink—you, your livestock, and your animals." 18 "This is a trivial thing in my eyes; he will also give Moab into your hand." 19 You will strike every fortified city and every choice city, cut down every good tree, stop up every spring of water, and ruin every good field with stones.
20 At morning, at the grain offering, water suddenly came from the direction of Edom, and the land filled with water.
21 All Moab heard the kings had come up to fight them, so every man old enough to bear arms and up was mustered; they took their stand at the border. 22 They rose early; the sun shone on the water, and Moab saw the water opposite them red as blood. 23 They said, "Blood! The kings fought and killed each other. Now, Moab, to the plunder!"
24 But when they reached Israel's camp, the Israelites rose and struck the Moabites, who fled before them. Israel advanced into the land, striking down the Moabites as they went. 25 They tore down the cities. On every good field each man threw a stone until it was covered. They stopped every spring of water and felled every good tree, leaving only the stones of Kir-hareseth, which the slingers surrounded and attacked. 26 When Moab's king saw the battle was too strong for him, he took 700 swordsmen to break through to Edom's king, but failed. 27 So he took his firstborn, his heir, and offered him as a burnt offering on the wall. Great anger came against Israel, so they withdrew from him and returned to their land.
