4. For many years the country of Moab had been controlled by Israel and was forced to pay taxes to the kings of Israel. King Mesha of Moab raised sheep, so he paid the king of Israel one hundred thousand lambs and the wool from one hundred thousand rams.
5. But soon after the death of Ahab, Mesha rebelled against Israel.
6. One day, Joram left Samaria and called together Israel's army.
7. He sent this message to King Jehoshaphat of Judah, “The king of Moab has rebelled. Will you go with me to attack him?”“Yes, I will,” Jehoshaphat answered. “I'm on your side, and my soldiers and horses are at your command.
8. But which way should we go?”“We will march through Edom Desert,” Joram replied.
9. So Joram, Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom led their troops out. But seven days later, there was no drinking water left for them or their animals.
10. Joram cried out, “This is terrible! The Lord must have led us out here to be captured by Moab's army.”
11. Jehoshaphat said, “Which of the Lord's prophets is with us? We can find out from him what the Lord wants us to do.”One of Joram's officers answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He was one of Elijah's closest followers.”
12. Jehoshaphat replied, “He can give us the Lord's message.”The three kings went over to Elisha,
13. and he asked Joram, “Why did you come to me? Go and talk to the prophets of the foreign gods your parents worshipped.”“No,” Joram answered. “It was the Lord who led us out here, so that Moab's army could capture us.”
14. Elisha said to him, “I serve the Lord All-Powerful, and as surely as he lives, I swear I wouldn't even look at you if I didn't respect King Jehoshaphat.”
15. Then Elisha said, “Send for someone who can play the harp.”The harpist began playing, and the Lord gave Elisha this message for Joram: