Joram Meets Moab In Battle
1 Joram son of Ahab became king of Israel in the eighteenth year of the reign of King Jehoshaphat of Judah. He ruled in Samaria for twelve years.
1 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.
1 Now Jehoram the son of Ahab became king over Israel at Samaria (A)in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.
1 Joram son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria during the eighteenth year of Judah’s King Jehoshaphat and reigned 12 years.(A)
1 Ahab's son Jehoram ascended to the throne of Israel at Samaria during the eighteenth year of the reign of Judah's King Jehoshaphat. He reigned for twelve years,
2 Though he was not as bad as his father or his mother Jezebel; he sinned against Jehovah. He removed the image his father had made for the worship of Baal.
2 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.
2 He did evil in the sight of the Lord, though not like his father and his mother; for (B)he put away the sacred pillar of Baal (C)which his father had made.
2 He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, but not like his father and mother,(B) for he removed the sacred pillar of Baal his father had made.
2 practicing evil in the LORD's presence, only not to the extent that his mother and father had done he forced abolition of the sacred pillar to Baal that his father had crafted.
3 Like King Jeroboam son of Nebat before him, he caused Israel to sin. He would not turn away from sin.
3 Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.
3 Nevertheless, (D)he clung to the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, (E)which he made Israel sin; he did not depart from them.
3 Nevertheless, Joram clung to the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.(C) He did not turn away from them.
3 Even so, he kept on committing the sins that Nebat's son Jeroboam had done, which ensnared Israel in sin he never abandoned them.
Moab's Rebellion Against Israel
4 King Mesha of Moab raised sheep. Yearly he gave as tribute to the king of Israel one hundred thousand lambs and the wool from one hundred thousand sheep.
4 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.
4 Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder, and (F)used to pay the king of Israel 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams.
4 King Mesha of Moab(D) was a sheep breeder. He used to pay(E) the king of Israel 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams,(F)
4 Meanwhile, Moab's King Mesha was a sheep breeder. He used to pay 100,000 lambs and the wool from 100,000 rams to the king of Israel as tribute.
6 At once King Joram mobilized his troops and left Samaria.
6 And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and numbered all Israel.
6 So King Joram marched out from Samaria at that time and mobilized all Israel.
6 So King Jehoram left Samaria at that time and mustered the entire army of Israel.
7 He sent this message to King Jehoshaphat of Judah: The king of Moab rebelled against me. Will you join me to war against Moab? King Jehoshaphat replied: I will. I am on your side. My men and horses are at your disposal.
7 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.
7 Then he went and sent word to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?” And he said, “I will go up; (H)I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”
7 Then he sent a message to King Jehoshaphat(H) of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me.(I) Will you go with me to fight against Moab?”Jehoshaphat said, “I will go. I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”(J)
7 As he was going out, he sent this message to King Jehoshaphat of Judah: "The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight Moab?"
8 Which way shall we go to the attack? Joram answered: We will go the long way through the wilderness of Edom.
8 And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom.
8 Then he asked, “Which route should we take?”Joram replied, “The route of the Wilderness of Edom.”
8 "I'm coming," Jehoshaphat replied. "I'm like you! My army will act like your army and my cavalry like your cavalry," Then Jehoshaphat added: "What road do we take?" Jehoram answered, "We'll go along the Edom desert road."
9 King Joram and the kings of Judah and Edom assembled. After marching seven days, they ran out of water. There was none left for the men or the pack animals.
9 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.
9 So (I)the king of Israel went with (J)the king of Judah and (K)the king of Edom; and they made a circuit of seven days’ journey, and there was no water for the army or for the cattle that followed them.
9 So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom(K) set out. After they had traveled their indirect route for seven days, they had no water for the army or their animals.
9 So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom made a complete circuit on the road for seven days, but there was no water for the army or for the livestock that accompanied them.
10 Alas, all is done, King Joram exclaimed. Has Jehovah called us together to be at the mercy of the king of Moab?
10 And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!
10 Then the king of Israel said, “Alas! For the Lord has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.”
10 Then the king of Israel said, “Oh no, the Lord has summoned three kings, only to hand them over to Moab.”
10 Then the king of Israel remarked, "Oh no! The LORD has summoned us three kings so he can hand us over to Moab, hasn't he?"
11 King Jehoshaphat asked: Do we have a prophet here to consult Jehovah? An officer of King Joram's forces answered: Elisha son of Shaphat is here who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.
11 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may inquire 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.
11 But Jehoshaphat said, “(L)Is there not a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of the Lord by him?” And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, “(M)Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, (N)who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.”
11 But Jehoshaphat said, “Isn’t there a prophet of the Lord here? Let’s inquire of Yahweh through him.”(L)One of the servants of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat,(M) who used to pour water on Elijah’s hands, is here.”
11 Jehoshaphat asked, "Isn't there a prophet who belongs to the LORD and through whom we can ask the LORD a question?" One of the king of Israel's attendants replied, "Shaphat's son Elisha lives here. He used to be Elijah's personal attendant."
12 The word of Jehovah is with him, King Jehoshaphat said. So the three kings went to Elisha.
12 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.
12 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.
12 Jehoshaphat affirmed, “The Lord’s words are with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went to him.(N)
12 Jehoshaphat answered, "He receives messages from the LORD." So the king of Israel, Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom went to visit Elisha.
13 Why should I have anything to do with you? Elisha said to the king of Israel. Go consult the prophets your father and mother consulted. No! Joram king of Israel replied. It is Jehovah who placed us three kings at the mercy of the king of Moab.
13 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.
13 Now Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What do I have to do with you? (O)Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother.” And the king of Israel said to him, “No, for the Lord has called these three kings together to give them into the hand of Moab.”
13 However, Elisha said to King Joram of Israel, “We have nothing in common. Go to the prophets of your father and your mother!”(O)But the king of Israel replied, “No, because it is the Lord who has summoned these three kings to hand them over to Moab.”
13 Elisha asked the king of Israel, "What do I have in common with you? Go visit your parents' prophets." The king of Israel replied, "No! The LORD has summoned these three kings so he can hand them over to Moab!"
14 Elisha answered: By the living God Jehovah, whom I serve, I swear that I would have nothing to do with you if I did not respect your ally, King Jehoshaphat of Judah.
14 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.
14 Elisha said, “(P)As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look at you nor see you.
14 Elisha responded, “As the Lord of Hosts lives,(P) I stand before Him. If I did not have respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah,(Q) I would not look at you; I wouldn’t take notice of you.
14 But Elisha responded, "As the LORD of the Heavenly Armies lives, in whose presence I stand, I would never pay attention to you or even look in your direction were it not for my continuous respect for the presence of King Jehoshaphat of Judah.
15 Now bring me a musician. As the musician played his harp, the power of Jehovah came on Elisha.
15 But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.
15 But now (Q)bring me a minstrel.” And it came about, when the minstrel played, that (R)the hand of the Lord came upon him.
15 Now bring me a musician."
16 He said: This is what Jehovah says: 'Dig ditches all over this dry streambed (wadi).
16 And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches.
16 He said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Make this valley full of trenches.’
16 Then he said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Dig ditch after ditch in this wadi.’
16 As the musician played, the hand of the LORD rested on Elisha, so he said, "This is what the LORD says: "Fill this valley with trench after trench!'
17 You will not see any rain or wind. This streambed will be filled with water and you and your animals will have plenty to drink.
17 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.
17 For thus says the Lord, ‘You shall not see wind nor shall you see rain; yet that valley (S)shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, both you and your cattle and your beasts.
17 For the Lord says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the wadi will be filled with water,(U) and you will drink—you and your cattle and your animals.’
17 This is what the LORD says: "Though you won't see wind or storm, nevertheless that river will overflow with water so that you, your cattle, and your livestock may drink.'
18 Elisha continued: This is an easy thing for Jehovah to do. He will also give you victory over the Moabites.
18 And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand.
18 This is but a (T)slight thing in the sight of the Lord; He will also give the Moabites into your hand.
18 And this is the easy part for the LORD he's also going to hand the Moabites over to you!
19 You will conquer all their beautiful fortified cities. You will cut down all their fruit trees, stop all their springs, and ruin all their fertile fields by covering them with stones.
19 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.
19 (U)Then you shall strike every fortified city and every choice city, and fell every good tree and stop all springs of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.’”
19 Then you must attack every fortified city and every choice city. You must cut down every good tree and stop up every spring of water. You must ruin every good piece of land with stones.”
19 Then you are to attack every fortified city and every significant city. Cut down every significant tree, fill in all of the water springs, and ruin every prime piece of land with stones."
20 The next morning when the sacrifice was offered water came flowing from the direction of Edom. It covered the ground.
20 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.
20 It happened in the morning (V)about the time of offering the sacrifice, that behold, water came by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.
20 About the time for the grain offering(X) the next morning, water suddenly came from the direction of Edom and filled the land.
20 The very next day, about the time of the morning offering, water suddenly appeared, coming from the direction of Edom, and the land overflowed with water!
21 The Moabites heard that the three kings came to attack them. All the young and old men who could bear arms were called out and stationed at the border.
21 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.
21 Now all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them. And all who were able to (c)put on armor and older were summoned and stood on the border.
21 All Moab had heard that the kings(Y) 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.
21 Meanwhile, all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to attack them, so everyone old enough to wear battle armor was mustered to stand guard at the border.
22 They got up the next morning. The sun was shining on the water. It looked as red as blood.
22 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:
22 They rose early in the morning, and the sun shone on the water, and the Moabites saw the water opposite them as red as blood.
22 When 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.(Z)
22 As the Moabites arose early that morning, the sun cast its rays on the water, and to the Moabites, the water across from them appeared to be red like blood.
23 They said: It is blood! The three armies fought and killed each other! Let us go and loot their camp!
23 And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.
23 Then they said, “This is blood; the kings have surely fought together, and they have slain one another. Now therefore, Moab, to the spoil!”
23 “This is blood!” they exclaimed. “The kings(AA) have clashed swords and killed each other. So, to the spoil, Moab!”
23 So they concluded, "This must be blood! The kings must have had one mighty big fight and each man killed the other! So let's go get the battle spoil, Moab!"
24 When they came to the camp the Israelites attacked them and drove them back. The Israelites kept up the pursuit, killing the Moabites.
24 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.
24 But when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites arose and struck the Moabites, so that they fled before them; and they went forward (d)into the land, (e)slaughtering the Moabites.
24 However, when the Moabites came to Israel’s camp, the Israelites attacked them, and they fled from them. So Israel went into the land and struck down the Moabites.
24 But when the Moabites arrived at the Israeli encampment, the Israelis got up and attacked them. The Moabites ran away from the Israelis, who followed them into the land as they continued their pursuit against Moab.
25 They destroyed their cities. As they passed by a fertile field, every Israelite would throw a stone on it until finally all the fields were covered with stones. They also stopped up the springs and cut down the fruit trees. At last only the capital city of Kir Heres was left. The slingers surrounded it and attacked it.
25 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.
25 (W)Thus they destroyed the cities; and each one threw a stone on every piece of good land and filled it. So they stopped all the springs of water and felled all the good trees, until in (X)Kir-hareseth only they left its stones; however, the slingers went about it and struck it.
25 They destroyed the cities, and each of them threw stones to cover every good piece of land. They stopped up every spring of water and cut down every good tree. In the end, only the buildings of Kir-hareseth(AB) were left. Then men with slings surrounded the city and attacked it.
25 They destroyed their cities, and all of them threw stones onto every piece of farm land, ruining the fields. Then they filled in all the water wells and chopped down all of the useful trees. Stone walls remained surrounding Kir-hareseth only, until the archers surrounded and attacked that city.
26 The king of Moab realized that he was losing the battle. So he took seven hundred swordsmen with him and tried to force his way through the enemy lines and escape to the king of Edom. However they failed.
26 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.
26 When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took with him 700 men who drew swords, to break through to the king of Edom; but they could not.
26 When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took 700 swordsmen with him to try to break through to the king of Edom,(AC) but they could not do it.
26 When the king of Moab realized that the battle was going strongly against him, he took 700 expert swordsmen to attempt to break through to the king of Edom, but was unable to do so.
27 He took his oldest son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him on the city wall as a sacrifice to the god of Moab. The Israelites were terrified and so they drew back from the city and returned to their own country.
27 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.
27 Then he took his oldest son who was to reign in his place, and (Y)offered him as a burnt offering on the wall. And there came great wrath against Israel, and they departed from him and returned to their own land.
27 So he took his firstborn son,(AD) 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.
27 So he took his firstborn son, whom he intended to reign after him, and offered him up as a burnt offering on the wall. There subsequently came great anger against Israel, so they abandoned the attack and returned to their homeland.