1Now Jehoram (Joram), son of Ahab, began to reign over Israel in Samaria in Jehoshaphat’s eighteenth year reigning over Judah, and Jehoram reigned twelve years. 2And he did evil in the eyes of the LORD; but not like his father, or like his mother; for he did put away the image of Baal that his father had made. 3Nevertheless, he still clung to the sins of Jeroboam, son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin; and did not turn away from them.

4And Mesha, king of Moab, was a sheep breeder, and had paid an annual tribute of a hundred thousand lambs, and a hundred thousand rams, with the wool, to the king of Israel. 5But after Ahab died, Mesha rebelled against Israel. 6So then, King Jehoram mobilized all Israel and marched from Samaria. 7And he sent this message to Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to battle against Moab?” And Jehoshaphat said, “I will go up. I am as you are, my people as your people, and my horses as your horses.” 8And Jehoram said, “How shall we go up?” And Jehoshaphat answered, “Through the wilderness of Edom.”

9So the kings of Israel, Judah, and of Edom; made a circuit of seven days' journey, but there was no water for the army, or for the cattle that followed them. 10And Ahab said, “Has the LORD called us three kings together, to hand us over to Moab?” 11But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no prophet of the LORD here, by whom we may inquire of the LORD?” And one of the Ahab's servants said, “Elisha, son of Shaphat, who was personal assistant to Elijah, is here.” 12And Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the LORD is with him.” So Ahab, Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went to consult with Elisha.

13And Elisha said to Ahab, “Why do you come to me? Go to the prophets of your father, and mother.” And Ahab replied, “No; because it was the LORD Who has called us three kings together to be defeated by Moab.” 14And Elisha replied, “As the LORD of hosts lives, before Whom I stand, surely, if it were not that I have respect for Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, I would not look at nor acknowledge you. 15But now bring me a minstrel (musician, probably a harpist).” And when the minstrel played, the power of the LORD came upon Elisha. 16And he said, “Thus says the LORD, ‘I will fill this valley with pools of water.’ 17For this is what the LORD says ‘You shall not see wind, nor rain; yet this valley shall be filled with water for both you, your cattle, and other animals to drink. 18And this is but a trivial thing in the eyes of the LORD; He will also give you victory over the Moabites. 19And you shall capture every fortified and principal city of Moab, and you shall fell every good tree, and stop all their wells of water, and ruin every good piece of land with stones.’” 20And in the morning, when the meal offering was offered, water suddenly came flowing from the direction of Edom, and the country was filled with water.

21And when all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them, they gathered all who were able to put on armor, as well as older men, and stood together at the border. 22And when they awoke early in the morning, the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water across from them as red as blood. 23And they said, “This is blood; the kings are surely dead; they have killed one another. Now go get the spoil, Moab!” 24And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose, struck and routed the Moabites; and the Israelites chased the Moabites into their own country, slaughtering them. 25And they destroyed the cities; and on every good piece of land, each man threw a stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees. Only in Kir-hareseth (Moab’s capital city) were its stones left in place; but men armed with slings surrounded it, and attacked it, as well. 26And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was going against him, he took seven hundred swordsmen with him, to try to break through to the king of Edom; but could not. 27Then he took his firstborn son, who should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt sacrifice upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel. And the Israelites withdrew, and returned to their own land.