1Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.
2Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.
3And he wrought evil in the sight of the LORD; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made.3.2 image: Heb. statue
4And he wrought evil in the sight of the LORD; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made.3.2 image: Heb. statue
5Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.
6Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.
7¶ And Mesha king of Moab was a sheepmaster, and rendered unto the king of Israel an hundred thousand lambs, and an hundred thousand rams, with the wool.
8¶ And Mesha king of Moab was a sheepmaster, and rendered unto the king of Israel an hundred thousand lambs, and an hundred thousand rams, with the wool.
9But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
10But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
11¶ And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and numbered all Israel.
12¶ And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and numbered all Israel.
13And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up: I am as thou art, my people as thy people, and my horses as thy horses.
14And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up: I am as thou art, my people as thy people, and my horses as thy horses.
15And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom.
16And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom.
17So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days’ journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them.3.9 that…: Heb. at their feet
18So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days’ journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them.3.9 that…: Heb. at their feet
19And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!
20And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!
21But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may enquire of the LORD by him? And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.
22But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may enquire of the LORD by him? And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.
23And 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 him.
24And 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 him.
25And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab.
26And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab.
27And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.
28And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.
29But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.
30But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.
31And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches.
32And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches.
33For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts.
34For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts.
35And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand.
36And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand.
37And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.3.19 mar: Heb. grieve
38And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.3.19 mar: Heb. grieve
39And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat offering was offered, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.
40And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat offering was offered, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.
41¶ And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered all that were able to put on armour, and upward, and stood in the border.3.21 gathered: Heb. were cried together3.21 put on…: Heb. gird himself with a girdle
42¶ And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered all that were able to put on armour, and upward, and stood in the border.3.21 gathered: Heb. were cried together3.21 put on…: Heb. gird himself with a girdle
43And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood:
44And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood:
45And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.3.23 slain: Heb. destroyed
46And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.3.23 slain: Heb. destroyed
47And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in their country.3.24 they went…: or, they smote in it even smiting
48And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in their country.3.24 they went…: or, they smote in it even smiting
49And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees: only in Kir-haraseth left they the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about it, and smote it.3.25 only in…: Heb. until he left its stones in Kir-haraseth
50And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees: only in Kir-haraseth left they the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about it, and smote it.3.25 only in…: Heb. until he left its stones in Kir-haraseth
51¶ And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords, to break through even unto the king of Edom: but they could not.
52¶ And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords, to break through even unto the king of Edom: but they could not.
53Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.
54Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.