Moab’s Rebellion
1In the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat’s reign over Judah, Jehoram son of Ahab became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria twelve years. 2And he did evil in the sight of Yahweh, but not as his father and mother had done. He removed the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had made.
- 2KI 3:2[DEMONIC]Joram removes the sacred pillar of Baal
3Nevertheless, he clung to the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them.
4Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder, and he would render to the king of Israel a hundred thousand lambs and the wool of a hundred thousand rams. 5But after the death of Ahab, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. 6So at that time King Jehoram set out from Samaria and mobilized all Israel. 7And he sent a message to Jehoshaphat king of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?”
- 2KI 3:4[ARCHAEOLOGY]Mesha king of Moab tells how he broke free from Israel
- 2KI 3:4[FIELD NOTES]Mesha bragged about this very revolt on a stone. See The Mesha Stele Field Notes page in Ruth.
“I will go,” replied Jehoshaphat. “I am as you are, my people are your people, and my horses are your horses.” 8Then he asked, “Which way shall we go up?”
“By way of the Desert of Edom,” replied Joram.
9So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom set out, and after they had traveled a roundabout route for seven days, they had no water for their army or for their animals.
10“Alas,” said the king of Israel, “for Yahweh has summoned these three kings to deliver them into the hand of Moab!”
11But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no prophet of Yahweh here? Let us inquire of Yahweh through him.”
And one of the servants of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.”
12Jehoshaphat affirmed, “The word of Yahweh is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.
13Elisha, however, said to the king of Israel, “What have we to do with each other? Go to the prophets of your father and of your mother!”
“No,” replied the king of Israel, “for it is Yahweh who has summoned these three kings to deliver them into the hand of Moab.”
14Then Elisha said, “As surely as Yahweh of Hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not for my regard for the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you or acknowledge you. 15But now, bring me a harpist.”
And while the harpist played, the hand of Yahweh came upon Elisha 16and he said, “This is what Yahweh says: ‘Dig this valley full of ditches.’ 17For Yahweh says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the valley will be filled with water, and you will drink—you and your cattle and your animals.’ 18This is a simple matter in the sight of Yahweh, and He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand. 19And you shall attack every fortified city and every city of importance. You shall cut down every good tree, stop up every spring, and ruin every good field with stones.”
- 2KI 3:16[MIRACLE]Trenches filled with water without rain or wind
- 2KI 3:17[PROPHECY]The dry valley would fill with water without rain and Moab would be defeated → 2KI 3:20; 2KI 3:24
20The next morning, at the time of the morning sacrifice, water suddenly flowed from the direction of Edom and filled the land.
- 2KI 3:20[FULFILLS]The dry valley would fill with water without rain and Moab would be defeated ← 2KI 3:17-18
21Now all the Moabites had heard that the kings had come up to fight against them. So all who could bear arms, young and old, were summoned and stationed at the border. 22When they got up early in the morning, the sun was shining on the water, and it looked as red as blood to the Moabites across the way.
23“This is blood!” they exclaimed. “The kings have clashed swords and slaughtered one another. Now to the plunder, Moab!”
24But when the Moabites came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and attacked them, and they fled before them. So the Israelites invaded their land and struck down the Moabites. 25They destroyed the cities, and each man threw stones on every good field until it was covered. They stopped up every spring and cut down every good tree. Only Kir-haraseth was left with stones in place, but men with slings surrounded it and attacked it as well.
- 2KI 3:24[FULFILLS]The dry valley would fill with water without rain and Moab would be defeated ← 2KI 3:17-18
26When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took with him seven hundred swordsmen to break through to the king of Edom, but they could not prevail. 27So he took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him, and offered him as a burnt offering on the city wall.
And there was great fury against the Israelites, so they withdrew and returned to their own land.
- 2KI 3:27[DEMONIC]The king of Moab burns his son as an offering
- 2KI 3:27[NOTE]CHILD SACRIFICE. The king of Moab burned his oldest son as an offering to his god, in front of both armies. GREAT FURY: the Hebrew does not say whose. Some think Moab was stirred to fight harder, some think Israel was horrified and went home, and some think it was God's anger.