, 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, [6] 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; f