1 Ora Jorão, filho de Acabe, começou a reinar sobre Israel em Samaria no décimo oitavo ano de Josafá, rei de Judá, e reinou doze anos.2 Fez o mal aos olhos de Jeová; porém não tanto como seu pai nem sua mãe, pois tirou a coluna de Baal que seu pai tinha feito.3 Todavia se apegou aos pecados de Jeroboão, filho de Nebate, com que este fez pecar a Israel; não se apartou deles.4 Ora Mesa, rei de Moabe, era criador de ovelhas, e pagava seu tributo ao rei de Israel com a lã de cem mil cordeiros e de cem mil carneiros.5 Quando, porém, Acabe morreu, rebelou-se o rei de Moabe contra o rei de Israel.6 O rei Jorão saiu nesse tempo de Samaria, e fez revista de todo o Israel.7 Mandou dizer a Josafá, rei de Judá: O rei de Moabe rebelou-se contra mim; irás comigo à guerra contra Moabe? Respondeu ele: Subirei; como tu és, sou eu, o meu povo como teu povo, os meus cavalos como os teus cavalos.8 Então perguntou Jorão: Por que caminho havemos de subir? Respondeu ele: Pelo caminho do deserto de Edom.9 Partiram o rei de Israel, o rei de Judá e o rei de Edom; e andaram rodeando com uma marcha de sete dias; não havia água para o exército nem para as bestas que os seguiam.10 Disse o rei de Israel: Ai! Jeová chamou estes três reis para os entregar nas mãos de Moabe.11 Perguntou, porém, Josafá: Não há aqui algum profeta de Jeová, para por meio dele consultarmos a Jeová? Respondeu um dos servos do rei de Israel: Aqui está Eliseu, filho de Safate, que derramava água sobre as mãos de Elias.12 Disse Josafá: A palavra de Jeová está com ele. Desceram a estar com ele o rei de Israel, o rei de Judá e o rei de Edom.13 Eliseu disse ao rei de Israel: Que tenho eu contigo? Vai ter com os profetas de teu pai, e com os profetas de tua mãe. Respondeu-lhe o rei de Israel: Não; porque Jeová chamou estes três reis para os entregar nas mãos de Moabe.14 Disse Eliseu: Pela vida de Jeová, em cuja presença estou, se não fosse respeitar eu a presença de Josafá, rei de Judá, sem dúvida não te daria atenção nem te veria.15 Agora, porém, trazei-me um menestrel. Quando o menestrel tocava, veio a mão de Jeová sobre Eliseu.16 Ele disse: Assim diz Jeová: Enchei este vale de covas.17 Pois assim diz Jeová: Não sentireis vento, nem vereis chuva, contudo esse vale se encherá de água; e bebereis vós, e os vossos servos, e as vossas bestas.18 Isto é ainda pouco aos olhos de Jeová; ele também entregará os moabitas nas vossas mãos.19 Ferireis todas as cidades fortalecidas e todas as cidades escolhidas, e cortareis todas as árvores boas, e entupireis todas as fontes de água e danificareis com pedras todos os terrenos bons.20 Pela manhã, ao tempo de se oferecer a oblação, eis que vinham as águas pelo caminho de Edom, e a terra se encheu de água.21 Quando todos os moabitas ouviram que os reis haviam subido para pelejarem contra eles, convocaram-se a si mesmos, a saber, todos os que estavam em idade de pegar armas, e mesmo para cima, e esperaram nas fronteiras.22 Levantando-se de madrugada, e raiando o sol sobre as águas, viram os moabitas diante de si as águas vermelhas como sangue.23 Disseram: É sangue, sem dúvida os reis são destruídos, e de parte a parte se mataram; agora, ó Moabe, à presa.24 Tendo os moabitas chegado ao arraial de Israel, levantaram-se os israelitas e feriram-nos, de modo que fugiram diante deles; e os israelitas entraram na terra, ferindo aos moabitas.25 Arrasaram as cidades; sobre todos os bons terrenos lançaram cada um a sua pedra, e os entulharam; entupiram todas as fontes de água, e cortaram todas as boas árvores; até que só a Quir-Haresete lhe deixaram ficar as pedras. Contudo os fundeiros a cercaram, e a feriram.26 Vendo o rei de Moabe que a peleja lhe ia sendo adversa, tomou consigo setecentos homens que puxavam de espada para abrir caminho até o rei de Edom; porém não puderam.27 Então ele tomou seu filho primogênito que havia de reinar em seu lugar, e o ofereceu em holocausto sobre o muro. Suscitou-se grande ira contra Israel; retiraram-se dele, e voltaram para sua terra.

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.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.3 Like King Jeroboam son of Nebat before him, he caused Israel to sin. He would not turn away from sin.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.5 When King Ahab of Israel died Mesha rebelled against Israel.6 At once King Joram mobilized his troops and left Samaria.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.8 »Which way shall we go to the attack?« Joram answered: »We will go the long way through the wilderness of Edom.«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.10 »Alas, all is done,« King Joram exclaimed. »Has Jehovah called us together to be at the mercy of the king of Moab?«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.«12 »The word of Jehovah is with him,« King Jehoshaphat said. So the three kings went to 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.«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.15 »Now bring me a musician. As the musician played his harp, the power of Jehovah came on Elisha.«16 He said: »This is what Jehovah says: ‘Dig ditches all over this dry streambed wadi.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.«18 Elisha continued: »This is an easy thing for Jehovah to do. He will also give you victory over the Moabites.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.«20 The next morning when the sacrifice was offered water came flowing from the direction of Edom. It covered the ground.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.22 They got up the next morning. The sun was shining on the water. It looked as red as blood.23 They said: »It is blood! The three armies fought and killed each other! Let us go and loot their camp!«24 When they came to the camp the Israelites attacked them and drove them back. The Israelites kept up the pursuit, killing the Moabites.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.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.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.