8He asked, “Which route should we take?”

9So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom3:9 1Kg 22:47; 2Kg 8:20 set out. After they had traveled their indirect route for seven days, they had no water for the army or the animals with them.

10Then the king of Israel said, “Oh no, the Lord has summoned these three kings, only to hand them over to Moab.”

11But Jehoshaphat said, “Isn’t there a prophet of the Lord here? Let’s inquire of the Lord through him.”3:11 1Kg 22:7

12Jehoshaphat affirmed, “The word of the Lord is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went to him.3:12 2Kg 2:25

13However, Elisha said to King Joram of Israel, “What do we have in common? Go to the prophets of your father and your mother!” 3:13 1Kg 18:19,22; 22:6

14Elisha responded, “By the life of the Lord of Armies,3:14 1Kg 17:1; 2Kg 5:16 before whom I stand: If I did not have respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah,3:14 1Kg 22:41–50 I wouldn’t look at you; I would not take notice of you.

15Now, bring me a musician.”3:15 1Sm 10:5

16Then he said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Dig ditch after ditch in this wadi.’

17For the Lord says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the wadi will be filled with water,3:17 Ps 107:35; Is 32:2 and you will drink — you and your cattle and your animals.’

18This is easy in the Lord’s sight.3:18 Gn 18:14 He will also hand Moab over to you.3:18 2Kg 3:7

19Then you will attack every fortified city and every choice city. You will cut down every good tree and stop up every spring. You will ruin every good piece of land with stones.”

20About the time for the grain offering3:20 Ex 29:39–40 the next morning, water suddenly came from the direction of Edom and filled the land.

21All Moab had heard that the kings3:21 2Kg 3:9 had come up to fight against them. So all who could bear arms, from the youngest to the oldest, were summoned and took their stand at the border.

22When they got up early in the morning, the sun was shining on the water, and the Moabites saw that the water across from them was red like blood.3:22 Ex 7:17,20

23“This is blood!” they exclaimed. “The kings3:23 2Kg 3:9 have crossed swords3:23 Or have been laid waste and their men have killed one another. So, to the spoil, Moab!”

24However, when the Moabites came to Israel’s camp, the Israelites attacked them, and they fled from them. So Israel went into the land attacking the Moabites.

25They would destroy the cities, and each of them would throw a stone to cover every good piece of land. They would stop up every spring and cut down every good tree. This went on until only the buildings of Kir-hareseth3:25 Jr 48:31,36 were left. Then men with slings surrounded the city and attacked it.

26When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took seven hundred swordsmen with him to try to break through to the king of Edom,3:26 2Kg 3:9 but they could not do it.

27So he took his firstborn son,3:27 Dt 12:31; 2Kg 16:3 who was to become king in his place, and offered him as a burnt offering on the city wall. Great wrath was on the Israelites, and they withdrew from him and returned to their land.