1 Jehoram, son of Ahab, became king over Israel in Samaria during the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, and he reigned for twelve years.

Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.

2 He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, but not like his father and mother; he removed the pillar of Baal that his father had made.

And 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 However, he continued in the sins of Jeroboam, son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin; he clung to those sins and did not turn away from them.

Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.

4 Now Mesha, king of Moab, was a sheep breeder. He used to send to the king of Israel one hundred thousand lambs and the wool of one hundred thousand rams as a tribute.

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.

5 But when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.

But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.

6 So King Jehoram left Samaria at that time and mustered all Israel.

And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and numbered all Israel.

7 Then he sent a message to Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, saying, "The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?" And he replied, "I will go; I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses."

And 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.

8 Jehoram asked, "Which route shall we take?" And Jehoshaphat answered, "Through the wilderness of Edom."

And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom.

9 So the king of Israel set out, along with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. After traveling a roundabout route for seven days, there was no water for the army or the animals with them.

So 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.

10 Then the king of Israel said, "Alas! The LORD has called these three kings together to hand them over to Moab."

And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!

11 But Jehoshaphat asked, "Is there no prophet of the LORD here, through whom we may inquire of the LORD?" One of the servants of the king of Israel answered, "Elisha, son of Shaphat, who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah, is here."

But 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.

12 Jehoshaphat said, "The word of the LORD is with him." So the king of Israel, Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom went down to him.

And 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.

13 Elisha said to the king of Israel, "What do we have to do with each other? Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother." But the king of Israel said to him, "No, because it is the LORD who has called these three kings together to hand them over to Moab."

And 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.

14 Elisha replied, "As surely as the LORD of Hosts lives, whom I serve, were it not for the presence of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, I would not pay attention to you or even look at you."

And 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.

15 "But now, bring me a musician." While the musician played, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha.

But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.

16 And he said, "This is what the LORD says: Make this valley full of ditches."

And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches.

17 For this is what the LORD says: You will not see wind or rain, but this valley will be filled with water, and you, your livestock, and your animals will drink.

For 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.

18 This is an easy thing in the sight of the LORD; He will also give Moab into your hands.

And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand.

19 You will destroy every fortified city and every major town, cut down every good tree, stop up all the springs, and ruin every good field with stones.

And 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.

20 The next morning, at the time of the offering, water came from the direction of Edom and filled the land.

And 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.

21 When all the Moabites heard that the kings had come to fight against them, they called together everyone old enough to wear armor and stationed themselves at the border.

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.

22 But when they arose early in the morning, the sun was shining on the water, and to the Moabites across the way, the water looked red—like blood.

And 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:

23 They said, "This is blood! The kings have fought and killed each other. Now, to the plunder, Moab!"

And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.

24 When they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and struck down the Moabites, who fled before them. The Israelites invaded the land and continued to strike down the Moabites.

And 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.

25 They destroyed the cities, threw stones onto every good field until it was covered, stopped up all the springs of water, and cut down all the good trees. Only the stones of Kir Hareseth were left standing, but the slingers surrounded and attacked it.

And 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 Kirharaseth left they the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about it, and smote it.

26 When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took seven hundred men with swords to break through to the king of Edom, but they could not.

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.

27 Then he took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him as a burnt sacrifice on the city wall. Great wrath came upon Israel, so they withdrew from him and returned to their own land.

Then 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.