Moab’s Rebellion

1  וִיהוֹרָ֣ם (And Jehoram) בֶּן־ (son) אַחְאָ֗ב (of Ahab) מָלַ֤ךְ (became king) עַל־ (over) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (Israel) בְּשֹׁ֣מְר֔וֹן (at Samaria) בִּשְׁנַת֙ (in the year) שְׁמֹנֶ֣ה (eight) עֶשְׂרֵ֔ה (and tenth) לִיהוֹשָׁפָ֖ט (of Jehoshaphat) מֶ֣לֶךְ (king) יְהוּדָ֑ה (of Judah), וַיִּמְלֹ֖ךְ (and he reigned) שְׁתֵּים־ (two) עֶשְׂרֵ֥ה (and ten) שָׁנָֽה׃ (years). 2  וַיַּעֲשֶׂ֤ה (And he did) הָרַע֙ (evil) בְּעֵינֵ֣י (in the eyes) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), רַ֕ק (but) לֹ֥א (not) כְאָבִ֖יו (like his father) וּכְאִמּ֑וֹ (and mother). וַיָּ֙סַר֙ (And for he put away) אֶת־ (-) מַצְּבַ֣ת (the pillar) הַבַּ֔עַל (of Baal) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) עָשָׂ֖ה (had made) אָבִֽיו׃ (his father).

3  רַ֠ק (Nevertheless) בְּחַטֹּ֞אות (in the sins) יָרָבְעָ֧ם (of Jeroboam) בֶּֽן־ (son) נְבָ֛ט (of Nebat), אֲשֶׁר־ (who) הֶחֱטִ֥יא (to sin) אֶת־ (had made) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (Israel), דָּבֵ֑ק (he persisted). לֹא־ (Not) סָ֖ר (he did depart) מִמֶּֽנָּה׃ס (from them).

4  וּמֵישַׁ֥ע (And Mesha) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) מוֹאָ֖ב (of Moab) הָיָ֣ה (was) נֹקֵ֑ד (a sheep breeder), וְהֵשִׁ֤יב (and he rendered) לְמֶֽלֶךְ־ (to the king) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel) מֵאָה־ (a hundred) אֶ֣לֶף (thousand) כָּרִ֔ים (lambs) וּמֵ֥אָה (and a hundred) אֶ֖לֶף (thousand) אֵילִ֥ים (rams), צָֽמֶר׃ (with wool). 5  וַיְהִ֖י (And it came to pass), כְּמ֣וֹת (when was dead) אַחְאָ֑ב (Ahab), וַיִּפְשַׁ֥ע (that rebelled) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (the king) מוֹאָ֖ב (of Moab) בְּמֶ֥לֶךְ (against the king) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel). 6  וַיֵּצֵ֞א (And went out) הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ (King) יְהוֹרָ֛ם (Jehoram) בַּיּ֥וֹם (at the time) הַה֖וּא (that) מִשֹּׁמְר֑וֹן (from Samaria) וַיִּפְקֹ֖ד (and he mustered) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (Israel). 7  וַיֵּ֡לֶךְ (And he went) וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ (and sent) אֶל־ (to) יְהוֹשָׁפָ֨ט (Jehoshaphat) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) יְהוּדָ֜ה (of Judah), לֵאמֹ֗ר (saying), מֶ֤לֶךְ (The king) מוֹאָב֙ (of Moab) פָּשַׁ֣ע (has rebelled) בִּ֔י (against me). הֲתֵלֵ֥ךְ (Will you go) אִתִּ֛י (with me) אֶל־ (against) מוֹאָ֖ב (Moab) לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה (to the battle)?

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And he said), אֶעֱלֶ֔ה (I will go up). כָּמ֧וֹנִי (Like me) כָמ֛וֹךָ (like you), כְּעַמִּ֥י (like my people) כְעַמֶּ֖ךָ (like your people), כְּסוּסַ֥י (like my horses) כְּסוּסֶֽיךָ׃ (like your horses). 8  וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (And he said), אֵי־ (Where) זֶ֥ה (is this)— הַדֶּ֖רֶךְ (the way) נַעֲלֶ֑ה (we shall go up)?

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (And he answered), דֶּ֖רֶךְ (By the way) מִדְבַּ֥ר (of the Wilderness) אֱדֽוֹם׃ (of Edom).

9  וַיֵּלֶךְ֩ (And went) מֶ֨לֶךְ (the king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל (of Israel) וּמֶֽלֶך־ (and the king) יְהוּדָה֙ (of Judah) וּמֶ֣לֶךְ (and the king) אֱד֔וֹם (of Edom), וַיָּסֹ֕בּוּ (and they circled around) דֶּ֖רֶךְ (the way) שִׁבְעַ֣ת (seven) יָמִ֑ים (days), וְלֹא־ (and not) הָיָ֨ה (there was) מַ֧יִם (water) לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֛ה (for the army) וְלַבְּהֵמָ֖ה (and for the animals) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) בְּרַגְלֵיהֶֽם׃ (were at their feet).

10  וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (And said) מֶ֣לֶךְ (the king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel), אֲהָ֕הּ (Alas)! כִּֽי־ (For) קָרָ֣א (has called together) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH) לִשְׁלֹ֙שֶׁת֙ (three) הַמְּלָכִ֣ים (kings) הָאֵ֔לֶּה (these) לָתֵ֥ת (to deliver) אוֹתָ֖ם (them) בְּיַד־ (into the hand) מוֹאָֽב׃ (of Moab)!

11  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) יְהוֹשָׁפָ֗ט (Jehoshaphat), הַאֵ֨ין (Is not) פֹּ֤ה (here) נָבִיא֙ (a prophet) לַֽיהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), וְנִדְרְשָׁ֥ה (that we may inquire) אֶת־ (of) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) מֵאוֹת֑וֹ (by him)?

וַ֠יַּעַן (And answered) אֶחָ֞ד (one) מֵעַבְדֵ֤י (of the servants) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (of the king) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel) וַיֹּ֔אמֶר (and said), פֹּ֚ה (Here is) אֱלִישָׁ֣ע (Elisha) בֶּן־ (son) שָׁפָ֔ט (of Shaphat), אֲשֶׁר־ (who) יָ֥צַק (poured) מַ֖יִם (water) עַל־ (on) יְדֵ֥י (the hands) אֵלִיָּֽהוּ׃ (of Elijah).

12  וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And said) יְה֣וֹשָׁפָ֔ט (Jehoshaphat), יֵ֥שׁ (Is) אוֹת֖וֹ (with him) דְּבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH). וַיֵּרְד֣וּ (And they went down) אֵלָ֗יו (to him) מֶ֧לֶךְ (the king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל (of Israel), וִיהוֹשָׁפָ֖ט (and Jehoshaphat), וּמֶ֥לֶךְ (and the king) אֱדֽוֹם׃ (of Edom).

13  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) אֱלִישָׁ֜ע (Elisha) אֶל־ (to) מֶ֤לֶךְ (the king) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel), מַה־ (What is) לִּ֣י (to me) וָלָ֔ךְ (and to you)? לֵ֚ךְ (Go) אֶל־ (to) נְבִיאֵ֣י (the prophets) אָבִ֔יךָ (of your father) וְאֶל־ (and to) נְבִיאֵ֖י (the prophets) אִמֶּ֑ךָ (of your mother).

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) לוֹ֙ (to him) מֶ֣לֶךְ (the king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) אַ֗ל (No), כִּֽי־ (for) קָרָ֤א (has called) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) לִשְׁלֹ֙שֶׁת֙ (three) הַמְּלָכִ֣ים (kings) הָאֵ֔לֶּה (these) לָתֵ֥ת (to deliver) אוֹתָ֖ם (them) בְּיַד־ (into the hand) מוֹאָֽב׃ (of Moab).

14  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) אֱלִישָׁ֗ע (Elisha), חַי־ (As lives) יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH) צְבָאוֹת֙ (of Hosts) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (whom) עָמַ֣דְתִּי (I stand) לְפָנָ֔יו (before), כִּ֗י (surely) לוּלֵ֛י (unless) פְּנֵ֛י (the face) יְהוֹשָׁפָ֥ט (of Jehoshaphat) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) יְהוּדָ֖ה (of Judah) אֲנִ֣י (I) נֹשֵׂ֑א (am lifting up), אִם־ (not) אַבִּ֥יט (I would look) אֵלֶ֖יךָ (at you) וְאִם־ (or) אֶרְאֶֽךָּ׃ (see you). 15  וְעַתָּ֖ה (And) קְחוּ־ (bring) לִ֣י (me) מְנַגֵּ֑ן (a harpist).

וְהָיָה֙ (And it came to pass), כְּנַגֵּ֣ן (at the playing) הַֽמְנַגֵּ֔ן (of the harpist), וַתְּהִ֥י (that came) עָלָ֖יו (upon him) יַד־ (the hand) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH). 16  וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (And he said), כֹּ֖ה (Thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH), עָשֹׂ֛ה (Make) הַנַּ֥חַל (the valley) הַזֶּ֖ה (this) גֵּבִ֥ים׀ (of pits) גֵּבִֽים׃ (and pits). 17  כִּֽי־ (For) כֹ֣ה׀ (thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH), לֹֽא־ (Not) תִרְא֥וּ (you⁺ shall see) ר֙וּחַ֙ (wind), וְלֹֽא־ (and not) תִרְא֣וּ (shall you⁺ see) גֶ֔שֶׁם (rain), וְהַנַּ֥חַל (and valley) הַה֖וּא (that) יִמָּ֣לֵא (shall be filled) מָ֑יִם (with water) וּשְׁתִיתֶ֛ם (so that you⁺ may drink)— אַתֶּ֥ם (you⁺) וּמִקְנֵיכֶ֖ם (and your⁺ cattle) וּֽבְהֶמְתְּכֶֽם׃ (and your⁺ animals). 18  וְנָקַ֥ל (And is slight) זֹ֖את (this) בְּעֵינֵ֣י (in the eyes) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH), וְנָתַ֥ן (and He will deliver) אֶת־ (-) מוֹאָ֖ב (the Moabites) בְּיֶדְכֶֽם׃ (into your⁺ hands). 19  וְהִכִּיתֶ֞ם (And you⁺ will strike) כָּל־ (every) עִ֤יר (city) מִבְצָר֙ (fortified) וְכָל־ (and every) עִ֣יר (city) מִבְח֔וֹר (choice), וְכָל־ (and every) עֵ֥ץ (tree) טוֹב֙ (good) תַּפִּ֔ילוּ (you⁺ will cut down), וְכָל־ (and every) מַעְיְנֵי־ (spring) מַ֖יִם (of water), תִּסְתֹּ֑מוּ (you⁺ will stop up) וְכֹל֙ (and every) הַחֶלְקָ֣ה (piece of the land) הַטּוֹבָ֔ה (good) תַּכְאִ֖בוּ (you⁺ will ruin) בָּאֲבָנִֽים׃ (with stones).

20  וַיְהִ֤י (And it came to pass) בַבֹּ֙קֶר֙ (in the morning) כַּעֲל֣וֹת (at the ascending) הַמִּנְחָ֔ה (of the grain offering), וְהִנֵּה־ (that, behold) מַ֥יִם (waters) בָּאִ֖ים (were coming) מִדֶּ֣רֶךְ (from the way) אֱד֑וֹם (of Edom), וַתִּמָּלֵ֥א (and was filled) הָאָ֖רֶץ (the land) אֶת־ (with) הַמָּֽיִם׃ (the waters).

21  וְכָל־ (And all) מוֹאָב֙ (the Moabites) שָֽׁמְע֔וּ (heard) כִּֽי־ (that) עָל֥וּ (had come up) הַמְּלָכִ֖ים (the kings) לְהִלָּ֣חֶם (to fight) בָּ֑ם (against them), וַיִּצָּעֲק֗וּ (and they were called together) מִכֹּ֨ל (from everyone) חֹגֵ֤ר (girding) חֲגֹרָה֙ (a belt) וָמַ֔עְלָה (and older), וַיַּעַמְד֖וּ (and they stood) עַֽל־ (at) הַגְּבֽוּל׃ (the border). 22  וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּ (And they rose up early) בַבֹּ֔קֶר (in the morning), וְהַשֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ (and the sun) זָרְחָ֣ה (was shining) עַל־ (on) הַמָּ֑יִם (the waters). וַיִּרְא֨וּ (And saw) מוֹאָ֥ב (the Moabites) מִנֶּ֛גֶד (on the other side) אֶת־ (-) הַמַּ֖יִם (the waters), אֲדֻמִּ֥ים (as red) כַּדָּֽם׃ (as blood).

23  וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ (And they said), דָּ֣ם (Blood) זֶ֔ה (this is)! הָחֳרֵ֤ב (Being destroyed) נֶֽחֶרְבוּ֙ (have been destroyed) הַמְּלָכִ֔ים (the kings), וַיַּכּ֖וּ (and they have struck) אִ֣ישׁ (one) אֶת־ (-) רֵעֵ֑הוּ (another). וְעַתָּ֥ה (And now) לַשָּׁלָ֖ל (to the spoil), מוֹאָֽב׃ (Moab)!

24  וַיָּבֹאוּ֮ (And when they came) אֶל־ (to) מַחֲנֵ֣ה (the camp) יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ (of Israel), וַיָּקֻ֤מוּ (and rose up) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (Israel) וַיַּכּ֣וּ (and struck) אֶת־ (-) מוֹאָ֔ב (Moab) וַיָּנֻ֖סוּ (so that they fled) מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑ם (before them). וַיָּבוֹ (And they came) בָ֔הּ (into it) וְהַכּ֖וֹת (and struck down) אֶת־ (-) מוֹאָֽב׃ (the Moabites). 25  וְהֶעָרִ֣ים (And the cities) יַהֲרֹ֡סוּ (they tore down), וְכָל־ (and on every) חֶלְקָ֣ה (piece of land) ט֠וֹבָה (good) יַשְׁלִ֨יכוּ (threw) אִישׁ־ (each man) אַבְנ֜וֹ (a stone) וּמִלְא֗וּהָ (and filled it). וְכָל־ (And all) מַעְיַן־ (the springs) מַ֤יִם (of water) יִסְתֹּ֙מוּ֙ (they stopped up), וְכָל־ (and all) עֵֽץ־ (the trees) ט֣וֹב (good) יַפִּ֔ילוּ (they cut down), עַד־ (Yet) הִשְׁאִ֧יר (they left) אֲבָנֶ֛יהָ (the stones) בַּקִּ֖יר (Kir-) חֲרָ֑שֶׂת (haraseth), וַיָּסֹ֥בּוּ (and surrounded it) הַקַּלָּעִ֖ים (the slingers) וַיַּכּֽוּהָ׃ (and attacked it).

26  וַיַּרְא֙ (And saw) מֶ֣לֶךְ (the king) מוֹאָ֔ב (of Moab) כִּֽי־ (that) חָזַ֥ק (was too fierce) מִמֶּ֖נּוּ (for him) הַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה (the battle), וַיִּקַּ֣ח (and he took) א֠וֹתוֹ (with him) שְׁבַע־ (seven) מֵא֨וֹת (hundred) אִ֜ישׁ (men) שֹׁ֣לֵֽף (who drew) חֶ֗רֶב (swords) לְהַבְקִ֛יעַ (to break through) אֶל־ (to) מֶ֥לֶךְ (the king) אֱד֖וֹם (of Edom); וְלֹ֥א (not) יָכֹֽלוּ׃ (they were able). 27  וַיִּקַּח֩ (And he took) אֶת־ (-) בְּנ֨וֹ (his son) הַבְּכ֜וֹר (eldest) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) יִמְלֹ֣ךְ (would have reigned) תַּחְתָּ֗יו (in his place), וַיַּעֲלֵ֤הוּ (and he lifted him up) עֹלָה֙ (as a burnt offering) עַל־ (upon) הַ֣חֹמָ֔ה (the wall).

וַיְהִ֥י (And there was) קֶצֶף־ (indignation) גָּד֖וֹל (great) עַל־ (against) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (Israel). וַיִּסְעוּ֙ (And they departed) מֵֽעָלָ֔יו (from him) וַיָּשֻׁ֖בוּ (and returned) לָאָֽרֶץ׃פ (to the land).