MOAB’S REBELLION AGAINST ISRAEL

4 King Mesha of Moabz was a sheep breeder. He used to payaa the king of Israel one hundred thousand lambs and the wool of one hundred thousand rams,ab 5 but when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.ac 6 So King Joram marched out from Samaria at that time and mobilized all Israel. 7 Then he sent a message to King Jehoshaphata of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me.b Will you go with me to fight against Moab?”

Jehoshaphat said, “I will go. I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”c

8 He asked, “Which route should we take?”

He replied, “The route of the Wilderness of Edom.”

9 So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edomd set out. After they had traveled their indirect route for seven days, they had no water for the army or the animals with them.

10 Then the king of Israel said, “Oh no, the Lord has summoned these three kings, only to hand them over to Moab.”

11 But Jehoshaphat said, “Isn’t there a prophet of the Lord here? Let’s inquire of the Lord through him.”e

One of the servants of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat,f who used to pour water on Elijah’s hands, is here.”

12 Jehoshaphat affirmed, “The word of the Lord is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went to him.g

13 However, Elisha said to King Joram of Israel, “What do we have in common? Go to the prophets of your father and your mother!”h

But the king of Israel replied, “No, because it is the Lord who has summoned these three kings to hand them over to Moab.”

14 Elisha responded, “By the life of the Lord of Armies,i before whom I stand: If I did not have respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah,j I wouldn’t look at you; I would not take notice of you. 15 Now, bring me a musician.”k

While the musician played,l the Lord’s handm came on Elisha. 16 Then he said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Dig ditch after ditch in this wadi.’ 17 For the Lord says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the wadi will be filled with water,n and you will drink—you and your cattle and your animals.’ 18 This is easy in the Lord’s sight.o He will also hand Moab over to you.p 19 Then you will attack every fortified city and every choice city. You will cut down every good tree and stop up every spring. You will ruin every good piece of land with stones.”

20 About the time for the grain offeringq the next morning, water suddenly came from the direction of Edom and filled the land.