1In the eighteenth year of Jehosh'aphat king of Judah, Jeho'ram the son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samar'ia, and he reigned twelve years. 2He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, though not like his father and mother, for he put away the pillar of Ba'al which his father had made. 3Nevertheless he clung to the sin of Jerobo'am the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin; he did not depart from it.

Elisha fills the water trenches

4Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder; and he had to deliver annually3.4 Tg: Heb lacks annually to the king of Israel a hundred thousand lambs, and the wool of a hundred thousand rams. 5But when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. 6So King Jeho'ram marched out of Samar'ia at that time and mustered all Israel. 7And he went and sent word to Jehosh'aphat king of Judah, “The king of Moab has rebelled against me; will you go with me to battle against Moab?” And he said, “I will go; I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” 8Then he said, “By which way shall we march?” Jeho'ram answered, “By the way of the wilderness of Edom.”

9So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. And when they had made a circuitous march of seven days, there was no water for the army or for the beasts which followed them. 10Then the king of Israel said, “Alas! The LORD has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.” 11And Jehosh'aphat said, “Is there no prophet of the LORD here, through whom we may inquire of the LORD?” Then one of the king of Israel's servants answered, “Eli'sha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Eli'jah.” 12And Jehosh'aphat said, “The word of the LORD is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehosh'aphat and the king of Edom went down to him.

13And Eli'sha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother.” But the king of Israel said to him, “No; it is the LORD who has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.” 14And Eli'sha said, “As the LORD of hosts lives, whom I serve, were it not that I have regard for Jehosh'aphat the king of Judah, I would neither look at you, nor see you. 15But now bring me a minstrel.” And when the minstrel played, the power of the LORD came upon him. 16And he said, “Thus says the LORD, ‘I will make this dry stream-bed full of pools.’ 17For thus says the LORD, ‘You shall not see wind or rain, but that stream-bed shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, you, your cattle, and your beasts.’ 18This is a light thing in the sight of the LORD; he will also give the Moabites into your hand, 19and you shall conquer every fortified city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop up all springs of water, and ruin every good piece of land with stones.” 20The next morning, about the time of offering the sacrifice, behold, water came from the direction of Edom, till the country was filled with water.

21When all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them, all who were able to put on armour, from the youngest to the oldest, were called out, and were drawn up at the frontier. 22And when they rose early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, the Moabites saw the water opposite them as red as blood. 23And they said, “This is blood; the kings have surely fought together, and slain one another. Now then, Moab, to the spoil!” 24But when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose and attacked the Moabites, till they fled before them; and they went forward, slaughtering the Moabites as they went.3.24 Gk: Heb uncertain 25And they overthrew the cities, and on every good piece of land every man threw a stone, until it was covered; they stopped every spring of water, and felled all the good trees; till only its stones were left in Kir-har'eseth, and the slingers surrounded and conquered it. 26When the king of Moab saw that the battle was going against him, he took with him seven hundred swordsmen to break through, opposite the king of Edom; but they could not. 27Then he took his eldest son who was to reign in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And there came great wrath upon Israel; and they withdrew from him and returned to their own land.