Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Moab’s Rebellion against Israel

⁴ King Mesha of Moab^(A) was a sheep breeder. He used to pay^(B) the king of Israel 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams,^{(C) 5} but when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.^{(D) 6} So King Joram marched out from Samaria at that time and mobilized all Israel. ⁷ Then he sent a message to King Jehoshaphat^(E) of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me.^(F) Will you go with me to fight against Moab?”

Jehoshaphat said, “I will go. I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”^{(G) 8} Then he asked, “Which route should we take?”

Joram replied, “The route of the Wilderness of Edom.”

⁹ So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom^(H) set out. After they had traveled their indirect route for seven days, they had no water for the army or their animals.

¹⁰ Then the king of Israel said, “Oh no, the Lord has summoned three kings, only to hand them over to Moab.”

¹¹ But Jehoshaphat said, “Isn’t there a prophet of the Lord here? Let’s inquire of Yahweh through him.”^(I)

One of the servants of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat,^(J) who used to pour water on Elijah’s hands, is here.”

¹² Jehoshaphat affirmed, “The Lord’s words are with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went to him.^(K)

¹³ However, Elisha said to King Joram of Israel, “We have nothing in common. Go to the prophets of your father and your mother!”^(L)

But the king of Israel replied, “No, because it is the Lord who has summoned these three kings to hand them over to Moab.”

¹⁴ Elisha responded, “As the Lord of Hosts lives,^(M) I stand before Him. If I did not have respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah,^(N) I would not look at you; I wouldn’t take notice of you. ¹⁵ Now, bring me a musician.”^(O)

While the musician played,^(P) the Lord’s hand^(Q) came on Elisha. ¹⁶ Then he said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Dig ditch after ditch in this wadi.’ ¹⁷ For the Lord says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the wadi will be filled with water,^(R) and you will drink—you and your cattle and your animals.’ ¹⁸ This is easy in the Lord’s sight.^(S) He will also hand Moab over to you.^{(T) 19} Then you must attack every fortified city and every choice city. You must cut down every good tree and stop up every spring of water. You must ruin every good piece of land with stones.”

²⁰ About the time for the grain offering^(U) the next morning, water suddenly came from the direction of Edom and filled the land.

The Christian Life

¹² Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved,^(A) put on heartfelt compassion, kindness,^(B) humility,^(C) gentleness,^(D) and patience,^{(E) 13} accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive.^{(F) 14} Above all, put on love—the perfect bond of unity. ¹⁵ And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called^(G) in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name^(H) of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.