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2 Kings 3

Jehoram son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years. He did what was evil in the Lord's sight, though not as badly as his father and mother, because he removed the pillar of Baal his father had made. Even so, he clung to the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who

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The march against Moab

Jehoram son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years. He did what was evil in the Lord's sight, though not as badly as his father and mother, because he removed the pillar of Baal his father had made. Even so, he clung to the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin, and would not turn away from them. Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder. He used to pay the king of Israel a tribute of one hundred thousand lambs and the wool of one hundred thousand rams. But after Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. So King Jehoram marched out from Samaria and mobilised all Israel. He sent word to Jehoshaphat king of Judah: The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you come with me to fight Moab? Jehoshaphat answered: I'll come. I'm with you; my people are your people, and my horses are your horses. Jehoram asked: Which way should we go? Jehoshaphat answered: Through the wilderness of Edom. So the kings of Israel, Judah and Edom set out together. After circling around for seven days, there was no water left for the army or the animals with them. The king of Israel said: This is a disaster! Has the Lord brought these three kings together just to hand us over to Moab? Jehoshaphat asked: Is there no prophet of the Lord here, so we can ask the Lord through him? One of the king of Israel's servants answered: Elisha son of Shaphat is here — the man who used to pour water on Elijah's hands. Jehoshaphat said: The word of the Lord is with him. So the king of Israel, Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to Elisha.

Now Jehoram son of Ahab started to rule over Israel in Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and ruled twelve years. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, but not like his father and like his mother. Because he put away the pillar of Baal that his father had made. But he held to the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who made Israel sin. He didn't turn from them. And Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder, and paid the king of Israel a hundred thousand lambs and a hundred thousand rams with the wool. But when Ahab was dead, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. And King Jehoram went out of Samaria at the same time and counted all Israel. And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah: The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me against Moab to battle? And he said: I'll go up. I'm the same as you, my people the same as your people, my horses the same as your horses. And he said: Which way should we go up? And he answered: The way through the wilderness of Edom. So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah and the king of Edom. And they went round about a seven days' journey. And there wasn't any water for the army or for the animals that followed them. And the king of Israel said: Trouble is coming. Because the Lord has called these three kings together to hand them over into the hand of Moab. But Jehoshaphat said: Isn't there a prophet of the Lord here, so we can ask of the Lord by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered: Elisha son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah. 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.

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. 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. Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom. 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. But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and numbered all Israel. 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. And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom. 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. And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab! 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. 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.

1

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

Plain English

Now Jehoram son of Ahab started to rule over Israel in Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and ruled twelve years.

King James Version, 1611

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 Lord's sight, though not as badly as his father and mother, because he removed the pillar of Baal his father had made.

Plain English

And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, but not like his father and like his mother. Because he put away the pillar of Baal that his father had made.

King James Version, 1611

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

Even so, he clung to the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin, and would not turn away from them.

Plain English

But he held to the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who made Israel sin. He didn't turn from them.

King James Version, 1611

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

4

Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder. He used to pay the king of Israel a tribute of one hundred thousand lambs and the wool of one hundred thousand rams.

Plain English

And Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder, and paid the king of Israel a hundred thousand lambs and a hundred thousand rams with the wool.

King James Version, 1611

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

Plain English

But when Ahab was dead, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.

King James Version, 1611

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

6

So King Jehoram marched out from Samaria and mobilised all Israel.

Plain English

And King Jehoram went out of Samaria at the same time and counted all Israel.

King James Version, 1611

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

7

He sent word to Jehoshaphat king of Judah: The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you come with me to fight Moab? Jehoshaphat answered: I'll come. I'm with you; my people are your people, and my horses are your horses.

Plain English

And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah: The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me against Moab to battle? And he said: I'll go up. I'm the same as you, my people the same as your people, my horses the same as your horses.

King James Version, 1611

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 way should we go? Jehoshaphat answered: Through the wilderness of Edom.

Plain English

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

King James Version, 1611

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

9

So the kings of Israel, Judah and Edom set out together. After circling around for seven days, there was no water left for the army or the animals with them.

Plain English

So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah and the king of Edom. And they went round about a seven days' journey. And there wasn't any water for the army or for the animals that followed them.

King James Version, 1611

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

The king of Israel said: This is a disaster! Has the Lord brought these three kings together just to hand us over to Moab?

Plain English

And the king of Israel said: Trouble is coming. Because the Lord has called these three kings together to hand them over into the hand of Moab.

King James Version, 1611

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

Jehoshaphat asked: Is there no prophet of the Lord here, so we can ask the Lord through him? One of the king of Israel's servants answered: Elisha son of Shaphat is here — the man who used to pour water on Elijah's hands.

Plain English

But Jehoshaphat said: Isn't there a prophet of the Lord here, so we can ask of the Lord by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered: Elisha son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.

King James Version, 1611

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 Elisha.

Plain English

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.

King James Version, 1611

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.

Water in the valley

Elisha said to the king of Israel: What's this got to do with me? Go to your father's prophets and your mother's prophets. The king of Israel said: No! The Lord has brought these three kings together to hand them over to Moab. Elisha said: As surely as the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, if I didn't respect Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I wouldn't even give you the time of day. But now bring me a musician. As the musician played, the hand of the Lord came on Elisha. He said: This is what the Lord says: Dig this valley full of ditches. For this is what the Lord says: You won't see wind or rain, yet this valley will fill with water. You, your cattle and your animals will all have plenty to drink. And that's only a small thing for the Lord. He will also hand Moab over to you. You will strike every fortified city and every choice city, cut down every good tree, stop every spring of water and ruin every good field with stones. The next morning, around the time of the grain offering, water suddenly came from the direction of Edom and filled the land. When all the Moabites heard that the kings had come to fight them, everyone old enough to carry weapons was called up and stationed along the border. They got up early in the morning. As the sun shone on the water, the Moabites across the way saw the water looking red like blood. They said: That's blood! The kings must have fought each other and slaughtered one another. Come on, Moab — let's grab the plunder! But when they reached Israel's camp, the Israelites rose up and struck the Moabites, who fled from them. Israel pressed on into Moab, striking them as they went. They tore down the cities, filled every good field with stones, stopped up all the wells and cut down every good tree. Only Kir-haraseth was left with its stonework, and even there the slingers surrounded and attacked it. When the king of Moab saw the battle was going against him, he took seven hundred swordsmen and tried to break through to the king of Edom, but they couldn't do it. Then the king of Moab took his oldest son, the one who would have succeeded him, and offered him as a burnt offering on the wall. Great anger came against Israel, so the Israelites withdrew and returned to their own land.

And Elisha said to the king of Israel: What have I got to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother. And the king of Israel said to him: No. Because the Lord has called these three kings together to hand them over into the hand of Moab. And Elisha said: As surely as the Lord Almighty lives, who I stand in front of, if I didn't think about the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I wouldn't look at you or see you. But bring me a musician now. And when the musician played, the hand of the Lord came on him. And he said: This is what the Lord says. Make this valley full of ditches. Because this is what the Lord says. You won't see wind or rain, but that valley will be filled with water, so you can drink, both you and your cattle and your animals. And this is only a light thing in the sight of the Lord. He'll hand the Moabites over into your hand too. And you'll strike every fortified town and every choice town, and will fell every good tree and stop all wells of water and spoil every good piece of land with stones. And in the morning, when the grain offering was offered, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water. And when all the Moabites heard the kings had come up to fight them, they gathered everyone able to strap on armour and up, and stood at the border. And they got up early in the morning, and the sun shone on the water. And the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood. And they said: This is blood. The kings have definitely killed each other and struck each other. So now, Moab, to the plunder. And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites got up and struck the Moabites, so they ran in front of them. But they went on and struck Moab. And they beat down the towns. And on every good piece of land every man threw his stone and filled it. And they stopped all the wells of water and felled all the good trees. Only in Kir Hareseth they left the stones of it, but the slingers went round it and struck it. And when the king of Moab saw the battle was too hard for him, he took seven hundred men who drew swords with him, to break through to the king of Edom. But they couldn't. Then he took his oldest son who would have ruled in his place and offered him as a burnt offering on the wall. And there was great anger against Israel. And they went away from him and came back to their own land.

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. 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. But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him. And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches. 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. And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand. 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. 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. 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. 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: And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil. 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. 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. 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. 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.

13

Elisha said to the king of Israel: What's this got to do with me? Go to your father's prophets and your mother's prophets. The king of Israel said: No! The Lord has brought these three kings together to hand them over to Moab.

Plain English

And Elisha said to the king of Israel: What have I got to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother. And the king of Israel said to him: No. Because the Lord has called these three kings together to hand them over into the hand of Moab.

King James Version, 1611

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 said: As surely as the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, if I didn't respect Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I wouldn't even give you the time of day.

Plain English

And Elisha said: As surely as the Lord Almighty lives, who I stand in front of, if I didn't think about the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I wouldn't look at you or see you.

King James Version, 1611

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. As the musician played, the hand of the Lord came on Elisha.

Plain English

But bring me a musician now. And when the musician played, the hand of the Lord came on him.

King James Version, 1611

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

He said: This is what the Lord says: Dig this valley full of ditches.

Plain English

And he said: This is what the Lord says. Make this valley full of ditches.

King James Version, 1611

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

17

For this is what the Lord says: You won't see wind or rain, yet this valley will fill with water. You, your cattle and your animals will all have plenty to drink.

Plain English

Because this is what the Lord says. You won't see wind or rain, but that valley will be filled with water, so you can drink, both you and your cattle and your animals.

King James Version, 1611

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

And that's only a small thing for the Lord. He will also hand Moab over to you.

Plain English

And this is only a light thing in the sight of the Lord. He'll hand the Moabites over into your hand too.

King James Version, 1611

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 strike every fortified city and every choice city, cut down every good tree, stop every spring of water and ruin every good field with stones.

Plain English

And you'll strike every fortified town and every choice town, and will fell every good tree and stop all wells of water and spoil every good piece of land with stones.

King James Version, 1611

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, around the time of the grain offering, water suddenly came from the direction of Edom and filled the land.

Plain English

And in the morning, when the grain offering was offered, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.

King James Version, 1611

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 them, everyone old enough to carry weapons was called up and stationed along the border.

Plain English

And when all the Moabites heard the kings had come up to fight them, they gathered everyone able to strap on armour and up, and stood at the border.

King James Version, 1611

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

They got up early in the morning. As the sun shone on the water, the Moabites across the way saw the water looking red like blood.

Plain English

And they got up early in the morning, and the sun shone on the water. And the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood.

King James Version, 1611

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: That's blood! The kings must have fought each other and slaughtered one another. Come on, Moab — let's grab the plunder!

Plain English

And they said: This is blood. The kings have definitely killed each other and struck each other. So now, Moab, to the plunder.

King James Version, 1611

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

24

But when they reached Israel's camp, the Israelites rose up and struck the Moabites, who fled from them. Israel pressed on into Moab, striking them as they went.

Plain English

And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites got up and struck the Moabites, so they ran in front of them. But they went on and struck Moab.

King James Version, 1611

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 tore down the cities, filled every good field with stones, stopped up all the wells and cut down every good tree. Only Kir-haraseth was left with its stonework, and even there the slingers surrounded and attacked it.

Plain English

And they beat down the towns. And on every good piece of land every man threw his stone and filled it. And they stopped all the wells of water and felled all the good trees. Only in Kir Hareseth they left the stones of it, but the slingers went round it and struck it.

King James Version, 1611

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 the battle was going against him, he took seven hundred swordsmen and tried to break through to the king of Edom, but they couldn't do it.

Plain English

And when the king of Moab saw the battle was too hard for him, he took seven hundred men who drew swords with him, to break through to the king of Edom. But they couldn't.

King James Version, 1611

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 the king of Moab took his oldest son, the one who would have succeeded him, and offered him as a burnt offering on the wall. Great anger came against Israel, so the Israelites withdrew and returned to their own land.

Plain English

Then he took his oldest son who would have ruled in his place and offered him as a burnt offering on the wall. And there was great anger against Israel. And they went away from him and came back to their own land.

King James Version, 1611

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.