1. In the eighteenth year of the reign of King Jehoshaphat of Judah, Joram son of Ahab became king of Israel, and he ruled in Samaria for twelve years.
2. He sinned against the Lord, but he was not as bad as his father or his mother Jezebel; he pulled down the image his father had made for the worship of Baal.
3. Yet, like King Jeroboam son of Nebat before him, he led Israel into sin, and would not stop.
4. King Mesha of Moab bred sheep, and every year he gave as tribute to the king of Israel 100,000 lambs, and the wool from 100,000 sheep.
5. But when King Ahab of Israel died, Mesha rebelled against Israel.
6. At once King Joram left Samaria and gathered all his troops.
7. He sent word to King Jehoshaphat of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me; will you join me in war against him?”“I will,” King Jehoshaphat replied. “I am at your disposal, and so are my men and my horses.
8. What route shall we take for the attack?”“We will go the long way, through the wilderness of Edom,” Joram answered.
9. So King Joram and the kings of Judah and Edom set out. After marching for seven days, they ran out of water, and there was none left for the men or the pack animals.
10. “We're done for!” King Joram exclaimed. “The Lord has put the three of us at the mercy of the king of Moab!”
11. King Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there a prophet here through whom we can consult the Lord?”An officer of King Joram's forces answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He was Elijah's assistant.”