2 Kings 3

1Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.

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

2And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, but not like his father, and like his mother; for he put away the pillar of Baal that his father had made.

2He did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD, but not as bad as his father and mother had done. He did remove the sacred stone of Baal that his father had made.

3Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.

3However, he held onto the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had led Israel into sin; he did not turn away from them.

4Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheep-master; and he rendered unto the king of Israel the wool of a hundred thousand lambs, and of a hundred thousand rams.

4Now King Mesha of Moab raised sheep, and he used to pay the king of Israel a tribute of one hundred thousand lambs and the wool of one hundred thousand rams.

5But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.

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

6And king Jehoram went out of Samaria at that time, and mustered all Israel.

6At that time, King Jehoram left Samaria and mobilized all the soldiers of Israel.

7And 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, my horses as thy horses.

7He also sent a message to King Jehoshaphat of Judah, saying, 'The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?' Jehoshaphat replied, 'I will go. I am with you; my people are your people, and my horses are your horses.'

8And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way of the wilderness of Edom.

8Jehoshaphat asked, 'Which route should we take?' Jehoram answered, 'The way through the Desert of Edom.'

9So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom; and they made a circuit of seven days’ journey: and there was no water for the host, nor for the beasts that followed them.

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

10And the king of Israel said, Alas! for Jehovah hath called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.

10The king of Israel cried out, 'This is terrible! The LORD has brought these three kings together only to hand us over to Moab.'

11But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of Jehovah, that we may inquire of Jehovah by him? And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.

11But Jehoshaphat asked, 'Is there no prophet of the LORD here? Let us ask the LORD through him.' One of the king of Israel’s officers answered, 'Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to be Elijah’s personal assistant.'

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

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

13And 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 Jehovah hath called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.

13Elisha said to the king of Israel, 'Why are you coming to me? Go to the prophets of your father and mother.' But the king of Israel replied, 'No, because the LORD is the one who called us three kings together to hand us over to Moab.'

14And Elisha said, As Jehovah 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.

14Elisha said, 'As surely as the LORD of Heaven’s Armies lives, whom I serve, if I didn't respect King Jehoshaphat of Judah, I wouldn't even look at you or notice you.

15But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of Jehovah came upon him.

15But now, bring me someone who plays the harp.' While the harp was being played, the power of the LORD came over Elisha.

16And he said, Thus saith Jehovah, Make this valley full of trenches.

16He said, 'This is what the LORD says: Dig this valley full of ditches.

17For thus saith Jehovah, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, and ye shall drink, both ye and your cattle and your beasts.

17For the LORD says that you won't see any wind or rain, yet this valley will be filled with water. Then you, your cattle, and your other animals will have plenty to drink.

18And this is but a light thing in the sight of Jehovah: he will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.

18This is an easy thing for the LORD to do; he will also hand Moab over to you.

19And ye shall smite every fortified city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all fountains of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.

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

20And it came to pass in the morning, about the time of offering the oblation, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.

20The next morning, about the time for the morning sacrifice, water suddenly came flowing from the direction of Edom, and the land was filled with water.

21Now when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered themselves together, all that were able to put on armor, and upward, and stood on the border.

21When the Moabites heard that the kings had come to fight them, every man old enough to wear armor was called up and stationed at the border.

22And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water over against them as red as blood:

22When they got up early that morning, the sun was reflecting off the water. To the Moabites, the water looked as red as blood.

23and they said, This is blood; the kings are surely destroyed, and they have smitten each man his fellow: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.

23'It’s blood!' they exclaimed. 'The kings must have fought each other and killed one another. Now, soldiers of Moab, let’s go and take the loot!'

24And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them; and they went forward into the land smiting the Moabites.

24But when the Moabites reached the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and attacked them until they ran away. The Israelites invaded the land and kept killing the Moabites.

25And they beat down the cities; and on every good piece of land they cast every man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the fountains of water, and felled all the good trees, until in Kir-hareseth only they left the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about it, and smote it.

25They destroyed the towns. Each man threw a stone on every good field until it was covered. They stopped up all the springs and cut down every good tree. Only Kir-hareseth was left with its stones in place, but men armed with slings surrounded it and attacked it too.

26And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew sword, to break through unto the king of Edom; but they could not.

26When the king of Moab saw that he was losing the battle, he took seven hundred swordsmen with him to try to break through to the king of Edom, but they failed.

27Then 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 wrath against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.

27Then he took his oldest son, who would have been the next king, and sacrificed him as a burnt offering on the city wall. This caused a great anger against Israel; so the Israelites withdrew and returned to their own land.