2 Kings 3: Water in the Valley

Moab rebels against Israel. Jehoram king of Israel, Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and the king of Edom march out together, but they run out of water. Elisha tells them God will fill the valley with water without wind or rain. In the morning the water comes, and God gives them victory over Moab.

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Read 2 Kings 3

World English Bible · 27 verses

¹ Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, but not like his father and like his mother, for he put away the pillar of Baal that his father had made.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ Nevertheless he held to the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin. He didn’t depart from them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder; and he supplied the king of Israel with one hundred thousand lambs and the wool of one hundred thousand rams.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ But when Ahab was dead, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ King Jehoram went out of Samaria at that time, and mustered all Israel.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ He went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me against Moab to battle?” He said, “I will go up. I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ Then he said, “Which way shall we go up?” Jehoram answered, “The way of the wilderness of Edom.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom, and they marched for seven days along a circuitous route. There was no water for the army or for the animals that followed them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ The king of Israel said, “Alas! For Yahweh has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ But Jehoshaphat said, “Isn’t there a prophet of Yahweh here, that we may inquire of Yahweh by him?” One of the king of Israel’s servants answered, “Elisha the son of Shaphat, who poured water on the hands of Elijah, is here.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² Jehoshaphat said, “Yahweh’s word is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father, and to the prophets of your mother.” The king of Israel said to him, “No, for Yahweh has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ Elisha said, “As Yahweh of Armies lives, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I respect the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward you, nor see you.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ But now bring me a musician.” When the musician played, Yahweh’s hand came on him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ He said, “Yahweh says, ‘Make this valley full of trenches.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ For Yahweh says, ‘You will not see wind, neither will you see rain, yet that valley will be filled with water, and you will drink, both you and your livestock and your other animals.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ This is an easy thing in Yahweh’s sight. He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ You shall strike every fortified city and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all springs of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.’”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ In the morning, about the time of offering the sacrifice, behold, water came by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ Now when all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them, they gathered themselves together, all who were able to put on armor, young and old, and stood on the border.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² They rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone on the water, and the Moabites saw the water opposite them as red as blood.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ They said, “This is blood. The kings are surely destroyed, and they have struck each other. Now therefore, Moab, to the plunder!”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ When they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and struck the Moabites, so that they fled before them; and they went forward into the land attacking the Moabites.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁵ They beat down the cities; and on every good piece of land each man cast his stone, and filled it. They also stopped all the springs of water and cut down all the good trees, until in Kir Hareseth all they left was its stones; however the men armed with slings went around it and attacked it.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁶ When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too severe for him, he took with him seven hundred men who drew a sword, to break through to the king of Edom; but they could not.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁷ Then he took his oldest son who would have reigned in his place, and offered him for a burnt offering on the wall. There was great wrath against Israel; and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Open Preschool on its own page

2 Kings 3 · Preschool

An Easy Thing

Name Date

Color the valley filling with water. Nothing is too hard for God.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“This is an easy thing in Yahweh’s sight. He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.”

2 Kings 3:18 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: Filling a valley with water is easy for God. Nothing is too hard for Him.

Open Grade 4 on its own page

2 Kings 3 · Grade 4

An Easy Thing for God

Name Date

Read and Think

When Ahab died, Mesha king of Moab, who had paid Israel a huge tribute of lambs and wool, rebelled. Jehoram king of Israel called on Jehoshaphat king of Judah and the king of Edom. Their armies marched seven days around through Edom, and there was no water for the army or the animals.

Jehoram despaired, but Jehoshaphat asked for a prophet of the Lord. Elisha told Jehoram that if not for Jehoshaphat, he would not even look at him. He called for a musician, and the hand of the Lord came on him. God said to make the valley full of trenches. They would see neither wind nor rain, yet the valley would fill with water. This was an easy thing in God's sight, and He would also give Moab into their hand.

In the morning, at the time of the offering, water came by way of Edom and filled the land. The Moabites saw the sun shining on the water and thought it was blood. They rushed to plunder the camp and were driven back. Israel advanced into Moab. When the king of Moab saw the battle was too strong, he offered his oldest son as a burnt offering on the wall. There was great wrath against Israel, and they withdrew to their own land.

Show What You Know

What tribute had Mesha paid Israel?
What did God say they would not see?
When did the water come?
What did the Moabites think when they saw the water?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

EdomvalleyMoabElishawater

When Ahab died, Mesha king of , who had paid Israel a huge tribute of lambs and wool, rebelled.
Jehoram king of Israel called on Jehoshaphat king of Judah and the king of .
Their armies marched seven days around through Edom, and there was no for the army or the animals.
told Jehoram that if not for Jehoshaphat, he would not even look at him.
God said to make the full of trenches.

Think About It

God called filling a dry valley an easy thing. What problem seems big to you but is easy for God?
The kings obeyed by digging trenches before water came. How can you obey God before you see the answer?

Memory Verse

“This is an easy thing in Yahweh’s sight. He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.”

2 Kings 3:18 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for filling my needs. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Why did Elisha help the kings?
How can you pray to God before trouble comes, not only after?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

2 Kings 3 · Grade 5

Trenches of Faith

Name Date

Read and Think

Jehoram was not as wicked as Ahab; he removed a pillar of Baal, but he clung to the sins of Jeroboam. When Moab rebelled, he formed an alliance with Jehoshaphat and Edom. The long march through the wilderness left them without water, and Jehoram blamed God. Jehoshaphat, despite his unwise alliances, still knew to seek the word of the Lord.

Elisha's words to Jehoram were blunt. He would not look at him except out of respect for Jehoshaphat. Then, as a musician played, the hand of the Lord came on him. The command was strange: dig trenches in a dry valley. The promise was stranger: no wind, no rain, yet water. The trenches were an act of faith, preparing for something not yet seen. God called the miracle an easy thing, and added victory as well.

At the hour of the morning offering, water flowed from Edom. The sun's glare made it look like blood, and Moab, deceived, rushed to plunder and was defeated. In desperation, the king of Moab sacrificed his firstborn son on the city wall, a horrifying act of pagan religion. Israel withdrew under great wrath. The scene shows the darkness of idolatry beside the kindness of the God who gives water in the desert. In the New Testament, Jesus says that with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

Show What You Know

What good thing had Jehoram done?
Why were the trenches an act of faith?
What did the king of Moab do in desperation?
What does Jesus say in Matthew 19:26 in the New Testament?

Crossword

Across

Who poured ____ on the hands of Elijah.
____ said to the king of Israel.

Down

Yet that ____ will be filled with water.
The king of ____ has rebelled against me.
The ____ are surely destroyed.

Think About It

Digging trenches in a dry valley took faith. What trench can you dig, preparing for God to work?
In the New Testament, Jesus says all things are possible with God. What are you trusting Him for right now?

Memory Verse

“This is an easy thing in Yahweh’s sight. He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.”

2 Kings 3:18 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for filling my needs. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can you care for animals and people the way God does?
How can you trust God when He answers in a way you did not expect?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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‹ All 2 Kings chapters · All books

2 Kings 3: Water in the Valley

Read 2 Kings 3

Worksheets

An Easy Thing

Prayer

Take It Home

Water Comes

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

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God Gives Water

Trace the Words

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God Fills the Valley

Prayer

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Water in the Valley

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

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Nothing Too Hard

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

God Fills the Valley

Prayer

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An Easy Thing for God

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

Trenches of Faith

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

More print options