|
1. When Joram had taken upon him the kingdom, he determined to
make an expedition against the king of Moab, whose name was
Mesha; for, as we told you before, he was departed from his
obedience to his brother [Ahaziah], while he paid to his father
Ahab two hundred thousand sheep, with their fleeces of wool. When
therefore he had gathered his own army together, he sent also to
Jehoshaphat, and entreated him, that since he had from the
beginning been a friend to his father, he would assist him in the
war that he was entering into against the Moabites, who had
departed from their obedience, who not only himself promised to
assist him, but would also oblige the king of Edom, who was under
his authority, to make the same expedition also. When Joram had
received these assurances of assistance from Jehoshaphat, he took
his army with him, and came to Jerusalem; and when he had been
sumptuously entertained by the king of Jerusalem, it was resolved
upon by them to take their march against their enemies through
the wilderness of Edom. And when they had taken a compass of
seven days' journey, they were in distress for want of water for
the cattle, and for the army, from the mistake of their roads by
the guides that conducted them, insomuch that they were all in an
agony, especially Joram; and cried to God, by reason of their
sorrow, and [desired to know] what wickedness had been committed
by them that induced him to deliver three kings together, without
fighting, unto the king of Moab. But Jehoshaphat, who was a
righteous man, encouraged him, and bade him send to the camp, and
know whether any prophet of God was come along with them, that we
might by him learn from God what we should do. And when one of
the servants of Joram said that he had seen there Elisha, the son
of Shaphat, the disciple of Elijah, the three kings went to him,
at the entreaty of Jehoshaphat; and when they were come at the
prophet's tent, which tent was pitched out of the camp, they
asked him what would become of the army? and Joram was
particularly very pressing with him about it. And when he replied
to him, that he should not trouble him, but go to his father's
and mother's prophets, for they [to be sure] were true prophets,
he still desired him to prophesy, and to save them. So he swore
by God that he would not answer him, unless it were on account of
Jehoshaphat, who was a holy and righteous man; and when, at his
desire, they brought him a man that could play on the psaltery,
the Divine Spirit came upon him as the music played, and he
commanded them to dig many trenches in the valley; for, said he,
"though there appear neither cloud, nor wind, nor storm of rain,
ye shall see this river full of water, till the army and the
cattle be saved for you by drinking of it. Nor will this be all
the favor that you shall receive from God, but you shall also
overcome your enemies, and take the best and strongest cities of
the Moabites, and you shall cut down their fruit trees, and
lay waste their country, and stop up their fountains and rivers."
2. When the prophet had said this, the next day, before the
sun-rising, a great torrent ran strongly; for God had caused it
to rain very plentifully at the distance of three days' journey
into Edom, so that the army and the cattle found water to drink
in abundance. But when the Moabites heard that the three kings
were coming upon them, and made their approach through the
wilderness, the king of Moab gathered his army together
presently, and commanded them to pitch their camp upon the
mountains, that when the enemies should attempt to enter their
country, they might not be concealed from them. But when at the
rising of the sun they saw the water in the torrent, for it was
not far from the land of Moab, and that it was of the color of
blood, for at such a time the water especially looks red, by the
shining of the sun upon it, they formed a false notion of the
state of their enemies, as if they had slain one another for
thirst; and that the river ran with their blood. However,
supposing that this was the case, they desired their king would
send them out to spoil their enemies; whereupon they all went in
haste, as to an advantage already gained, and came to the enemy's
camp, as supposing them destroyed already. But their hope
deceived them; for as their enemies stood round about them, some
of them were cut to pieces, and others of them were dispersed,
and fled to their own country. And when the kings fell into the
land of Moab, they overthrew the cities that were in it, and
spoiled their fields, and marred them, filling them with stones
out of the brooks, and cut down the best of their trees, and
stopped up their fountains of water, and overthrew their walls to
their foundations. But the king of Moab, when he was pursued,
endured a siege; and seeing his city in danger of being
overthrown by force, made a sally, and went out with seven
hundred men, in order to break through the enemy's camp with his
horsemen, on that side where the watch seemed to be kept most
negligently; and when, upon trial, he could not get away, for he
lighted upon a place that was carefully watched, he returned into
the city, and did a thing that showed despair and the utmost
distress; for he took his eldest son, who was to reign after him,
and lifting him up upon the wall, that he might be visible to all
the enemies, he offered him as a whole burnt-offering to God,
whom, when the kings saw, they commiserated the distress that was
the occasion of it, and were so affected, in way of humanity and
pity, that they raised the siege, and every one returned to his
own house. So Jehoshaphat came to Jerusalem, and continued in
peace there, and outlived this expedition but a little time, and
then died, having lived in all sixty years, and of them reigned
twenty-five. He was buried in a magnificent manner in Jerusalem,
for he had imitated the actions of David.
|
|