1
And Yehoram son of Achav began to reign over Yisra’el in Shomron in the eighteenth year of Yehoshafat king of Yehudah, and he reigned twelve years.
2
And he did what was evil in the eyes of Yahuah, but not like his father and like his mother, for he removed the pillar of Baal that his father had made.
3
Nevertheless, he clung to the sins of Yarovam son of Nevat, by which he caused Yisra’el to sin; he did not turn aside from them.
4
And Mesha king of Moav was a sheep-master, and he returned to the king of Yisra’el one hundred thousand lambs and the wool of one hundred thousand rams.
5
And it came to pass, when Achav died, that the king of Moav rebelled against the king of Yisra’el.
6
And King Yehoram went out from Shomron on that day and numbered all Yisra’el.
7
And he went and sent to Yehoshafat king of Yehudah, saying: “The king of Moav has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to battle against Moav?” And he said: “I will go up. I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”
8
And he said: “By which way shall we go up?” And he said: “By the way of the wilderness of Edom.”
9
And the king of Yisra’el went, and the king of Yehudah, and the king of Edom. And they went around by a journey of seven days, and there was no water for the camp or for the beasts that were at their feet.
10
And the king of Yisra’el said: “Ah! For Yahuah has called these three kings together to give them into the hand of Moav.”
11
And Yehoshafat said: “Is there not here a prophet of Yahuah, that we may seek Yahuah by him?” And one of the servants of the king of Yisra’el answered and said: “Elisha son of Shafat is here, who poured water upon the hands of Eliyahu.”
12
And Yehoshafat said: “The Word of Yahuah is with him.” And the king of Yisra’el, and Yehoshafat, and the king of Edom went down to him.
13
And Elisha said to the king of Yisra’el: “What is there to me and to you? Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother.” And the king of Yisra’el said to him: “No, for Yahuah has called these three kings together to give them into the hand of Moav.”
14
And Elisha said: “As Yahuah of Hosts lives, before whose face I stand, surely, if I did not lift up the face of Yehoshafat king of Yehudah, I would not look toward you or see you.
15
And now, take for me a musician.” And it came to pass, when the musician played, that the hand of Yahuah came upon him.
16
And he said: “Thus says Yahuah: ‘Make this wadi full of trenches.’
17
For thus says Yahuah: ‘You shall not see ruach, and you shall not see rain, yet this wadi shall be filled with water, and you shall drink—you, and your livestock, and your beasts.’
18
And this is a light thing in the eyes of Yahuah. He will also give Moav into your hand.
19
And you shall strike every fortified city and every choice city, and every good tree you shall cause to fall, and every spring of water you shall stop, and every good portion of land you shall ruin with stones.”
20
And it came to pass in the morning, at the going up of the grain offering, that see, waters came from the way of Edom, and the land was filled with water.
21
And all Moav heard that the kings had come up to fight against them. And they were called together, from every one able to gird on a belt and upward, and they stood at the border.
22
And they rose early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the waters. And Moav saw the waters opposite them red like blood.
23
And they said: “This is blood! The kings have surely fought and have struck one another. And now, to the spoil, Moav!”
24
And they came to the camp of Yisra’el. And Yisra’el rose and struck Moav, and they fled from before their face. And they went forward, striking Moav.
25
And they tore down the cities, and upon every good portion each ish cast his stone and filled it. And every spring of water they stopped, and every good tree they caused to fall, until only the stones of Qir-Chareset remained. And the slingers surrounded it and struck it.
26
And the king of Moav saw that the battle was too strong for him. And he took with him seven hundred ish drawing the sword, to break through to the king of Edom, but they were not able.
27
And he took his firstborn son, who was to reign in his place, and caused him to go up as an ascending offering upon the wall. And there was great wrath against Yisra’el. And they departed from him and returned to the land.