2nd Kings — 3

War between Yashar'AL and Muab

1 Ahab’s son Yuram began to rule over Yashar'AL in the eighteenth year of King Yahushaphat’s reign in Yahudah, he reigned in Samaria twelve years. 

2 He did what was evil in the sight of  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, but not to the same extent as his father and mother, he at least tore down the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had set up. 

3 Nevertheless, he continued in the sins that Yarubuam son of Nebat had committed and led the people of Yashar'AL to commit.

4 King Masha of Muab was a sheep breeder. He used to pay the king of Yashar'AL an annual tribute of 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams. 

5 But after Ahab’s death, the king of Muab rebelled against the king of Yashar'AL. 

6 So King Yuram promptly mustered the army of Yashar'AL and marched from Samaria. 

7 On the way, he sent this message to King Yahushaphat of Yahudah: “The king of Muab has rebelled against me. Will you join me in battle against him?” And Yahushaphat replied, “Why, of course! You and I are as one. My troops are your troops, and my horses are your horses.” 

8 Then Yahushaphat asked, “What route will we take? “We will attack from the wilderness of Adum,” Yuram replied.

9 The king of Adum and his troops joined them, and all three armies traveled along a roundabout route through the wilderness for seven days. But there was no water for the men or their animals.

10 “What should we do?” the king of Yashar'AL cried out. “𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has brought the three of us here to let the king of Muab defeat us.”

11 But King Yahushaphat of Yahudah asked, “Is there no prophet of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH with us? If there is, we can ask 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH  what to do through him.” One of King Yuram’s officers replied, “Alysha son of Shaphat is here, he used to be AliYahu’s personal assistant.”

12 Yahushaphat said, “Yes, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH  speaks through him.” So the king of Yashar'AL, King Yahushaphat of Yahudah, and the king of Adum went to consult with Alysha.

13 “Why are you coming to me?” Alysha asked the king of Yashar'AL. “Go to the pagan prophets of your father and mother!” But King Yuram of Yashar'AL said, “No! For it was  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH who called us three kings here, only to be defeated by the king of Muab!”

14 Alysha replied, “As surely as  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Almighty lives, whom I serve, I would not even bother with you except for my respect for King Yahushaphat of Yahudah. 

15 Now bring me someone who can play the harp.” While the harp was being played, the power of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH came upon Alysha, 

16 and he said, “This is what 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH  Dabar: This dry valley will be filled with pools of water! 

17 You will see neither wind nor rain, says  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, but this valley will be filled with water. You will have plenty for yourselves and your cattle and other animals. 

18 But this is only a simple thing for  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH will make you victorious over the army of Muab! 

19 You will conquer the best of their towns, even the fortified ones. You will cut down all their good trees, stop up all their springs, and ruin all their good land with stones.”

20 The next day at about the time when the morning sacrifice was offered, water suddenly appeared! It was flowing from the direction of Adum, and soon there was water everywhere.

21 Meanwhile, when the people of Muab heard about the three armies marching against them, they mobilized every man who was old enough to strap on a sword, and they stationed themselves along their border. 

22 But when they got up the next morning, the sun was shining across the water, making it appear red to the Muabites—like blood. 

23 “It is blood!” the Muabites exclaimed. “The three armies must have attacked and killed each other! Let us go, men of Muab, and collect the plunder!”

24 But when the Muabites arrived at the Yasharalym camp, the army of Yashar'AL rushed out and attacked them until they turned and ran. The army of Yashar'AL chased them into the land of Muab, destroying everything as they went. 

25 They destroyed the towns, covered their good land with stones, stopped up all the springs, and cut down all the good trees. Finally, only Kir-harasath and its stone walls were left, but men with slings surrounded and attacked it.

26 When the king of Muab saw that he was losing the battle, he led 700 of his swordsmen in a desperate attempt to break through the enemy lines near the king of Adum, but they failed. 

27 Then the king of Muab took his oldest son, who would have been the next king, and sacrificed him as a burnt offering on the wall. So there was great anger and wrath against Yashar'AL, and the Yasharalym withdrew and returned to their own land.