Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

Jehoram, son of Ahab, began to reign over Israel in Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah. He reigned for twelve years, doing evil in the sight of the Lord. Although he did not follow his father's lead in worshipping Baal, like his mother, and removed the idol his father had made, Jehoram continued in the sins of Jeroboam, which led Israel to sin.

Mesha, king of Moab, was a wealthy sheep breeder who supplied the king of Israel with 100,000 lambs and 100,000 rams. However, when Ahab died, Mesha rebelled against the king of Israel. Jehoram went out to fight him, mustering all of Israel's troops.

He sent for Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, saying, "The king of Moab has rebelled against me; will you go with me against Moab to battle?" Jehoshaphat agreed to join forces, stating that his people were as Israel's people and his horses as their horses. They decided to march through the wilderness of Edom.

For seven days, they traveled together – Jehoram of Israel, Jehoshaphat of Judah, and the king of Edom – but there was no water for their troops or their livestock. The king of Israel lamented, "Alas, that the Lord has brought these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab."

Jehoshaphat asked if there was a prophet of the Lord nearby. They went down to find Elisha, who said, "What do I have in common with you? Go ask the prophets of your father and mother." But Jehoram insisted that the Lord had brought them together to defeat them.

Elisha then warned, "As the Lord of Armies lives, before whom I stand, if it were not for my respect for Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, I would not even look at you, nor acknowledge your presence." He requested a musician and instructed him to play. As soon as the music began, the hand of the Lord was upon Elisha.

The Lord commanded Elisha, "Make this valley full of trenches" and promised that it would be filled with water despite appearing dry. The prophet declared, "It's a small thing in the sight of the Lord who will also deliver the Moabites into your hands."

Jehoram was instructed to conquer every fortified city, choice city, and good tree, as well as to stop all springs of water and mar every piece of land with stones. In response to Elisha's words, water suddenly appeared on the road from Edom and flooded the entire region.

When the Moabites heard that the kings were approaching to fight, they gathered their warriors, old and young alike, and prepared for battle along the border. However, as the sun rose over the water-filled valley, it gave off a reddish hue, making it appear like blood to the Moabites.

They believed that the three kings had killed each other in a fierce battle and were now plundering their bodies. So they marched towards Israel's camp, expecting an easy victory. But as they entered, the Israelites rose up and attacked the Moabites.

The Israelites conquered every city, filled the land with stones, stopped all wells of water, and cut down all good trees – except for Kirharaseth, where the slingers surrounded it and breached its defenses. The king of Moab realized that he was outnumbered and unable to withstand the Israeli forces.

He tried to break through to the king of Edom by sending 700 men but failed. In desperation, he took his eldest son and offered him as a burnt sacrifice on the city wall. This act filled Israel with outrage, causing them to abandon their siege of Moab and return home.