INTRODUCTION: Jehoram continues the wickedness of Ahab. Jehoshaphat wrongly joins in with Jehoram. The kings and their armies are in serious trouble in the wilderness of Edom. Yet, they win the battle completely. Why? Because Jehoshaphat had enough spiritual sense to seek the Lord in the time of trouble. Do you have that much sense?

1. THE REIGN OF JEHORAM OVER ISRAEL (2 Kings 3:1-3 [1] Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years. [2] And he wrought evil in the sight of the LORD; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made. [3] Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.
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1. The Historical Details of Jehoram’s Reign (2 Kings 3:1Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.
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1. Reigned over Israel with his capital in Samaria
2. The son of Ahab and Jezebel (2 Kings 9:22And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?
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3. Began his reign in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat (cp. 2 Kings 1:17So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram reigned in his stead in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son.
   See All...; 2 Kings 8:16And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Je hoshaphat king of Judah began to reign.
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4. Reigned for twelve years
2. The Moral Nature of Jehoram’s Reign (2 Kings 3:2-3 [2] And he wrought evil in the sight of the LORD; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made. [3] Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.
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1. He did evil in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 3:2And he wrought evil in the sight of the LORD; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made.
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1. But not to the level of his father and mother (see 1 Kings 16:30-33 [30] And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him. [31] And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. [32] And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. [33] And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.
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2. He put away the image of Baal made by Ahab.
2. He held to the sins of Jeroboam (2 Kings 3:3Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.
   See All...; 1 Kings 12:26-33 [26] And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David: [27] If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah. [28] Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. [29] And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan. [30] And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan. [31] And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi. [32] And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made. [33] So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.
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2. THE BATTLE SET AGAINST THE MOABITES (2 Kings 3:4-10 [4] And Mesha king of Moab was a sheepmaster, and rendered unto the king of Israel an hundred thousand lambs, and an hundred thousand rams, with the wool. [5] But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. [6] And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and numbered all Israel. [7] And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up: I am as thou art, my people as thy people, and my horses as thy horses. [8] And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom. [9] So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days' journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them. [10] And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!
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1. The Rebellion of the Moabites (2 Kings 3:4-5 [4] And Mesha king of Moab was a sheepmaster, and rendered unto the king of Israel an hundred thousand lambs, and an hundred thousand rams, with the wool. [5] But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
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1. Mesha, the king of Moab (2 Kings 3:4And Mesha king of Moab was a sheepmaster, and rendered unto the king of Israel an hundred thousand lambs, and an hundred thousand rams, with the wool.
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1. A sheepmaster
2. Paid tribute to the king of Israel
2. The rebellion of Mesha (2 Kings 3:5But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
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1. When Ahab was dead (1 Kings 21:28-29 [28] And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, [29] Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house.
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2. He rebelled against the king of Israel.
3. Had served from the time of king David (2 Samuel 8:1-2 [1] And after this it came to pass that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines. [2] And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.
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2. The Gathering of Israel and Judah (2 Kings 3:6-7 [6] And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and numbered all Israel. [7] And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up: I am as thou art, my people as thy people, and my horses as thy horses.
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1. Jehoram gathered the armies of Israel (2 Kings 3:6And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and numbered all Israel.
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2. Jehoram sent to king Jehoshaphat of Judah (2 Kings 3:7And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up: I am as thou art, my people as thy people, and my horses as thy horses.
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1. He informed Jehoshaphat of the rebellion of Moab.
2. He requested the assistance of Jehoshaphat.
3. Jehoshaphat submitted to his command (cp. 1 Kings 22:2-4 [2] And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. [3] And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we be still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria? [4] And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramothgilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.
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3. The Way Through the Wilderness of Edom (2 Kings 3:8-9 [8] And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom. [9] So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days' journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them.
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1. The path of attack (2 Kings 3:8And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom.
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1. They went south to go around the Dead Sea and then pass up through Edom northward into Moab.
2. This is a very dry and desolate land.
2. The confederacy (2 Kings 3:9So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days' journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them.
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1. Israel
2. Judah
3. Edom
3. The length of the journey - seven days (2 Kings 3:9So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days' journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them.
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4. The danger – no water (2 Kings 3:9So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days' journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them.
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4. The Despair of the King of Israel (2 Kings 3:10And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!
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1. He feared deliverance into the hand of Moab.
2. He feared that God had laid a trap for them.
3. THE WORD OF THE LORD FROM ELISHA (2 Kings 3:11-19 [11] But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may enquire of the LORD by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah. [12] And Jehoshaphat said, The word of the LORD is with him. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him. [13] And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab. [14] And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee. [15] But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him. [16] And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches. [17] For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts. [18] And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand. [19] And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.
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1. Their Inquiry at the Mouth of Elisha (2 Kings 3:11-12 [11] But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may enquire of the LORD by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah. [12] And Jehoshaphat said, The word of the LORD is with him. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.
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1. Jehoshaphat sought for a prophet of God (2 Kings 3:11But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may enquire of the LORD by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.
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2. A servant announced the nearness of Elisha (2 Kings 3:11But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may enquire of the LORD by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.
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3. The kings agree to go to Elisha (2 Kings 3:12And Jehoshaphat said, The word of the LORD is with him. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.
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1. Jehoshaphat confirms the presence of God with him.
2. The three kings go down to see Elisha.
2. Elisha’s Agreement to Give Them God’s Word (2 Kings 3:13-14 [13] And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab. [14] And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.
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1. Elisha rebukes the king of Israel (2 Kings 3:13And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab.
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2. Elisha regards the presence of Jehoshaphat (2 Kings 3:14And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.
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1. For his sake only will the Lord speak.
2. He would not look to the king of Israel.
3. The Word of the Lord by Elisha (2 Kings 3:15-19 [15] But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him. [16] And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches. [17] For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts. [18] And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand. [19] And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.
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1. Elisha called for a minstrel to play (2 Kings 3:15But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.
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1. The minstrel came and played for him.
2. The hand of the Lord came upon him.
2. Elisha commanded the valley to be filled with ditches (2 Kings 3:16And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches.
   See All...); they were to prepare to receive the blessing of the Lord (cp. 2 Kings 4:34And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm.
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3. Elisha prophesied the filling of the ditches with water (2 Kings 3:17For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts.
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1. Without wind
2. Without rain
3. To provide drink for them and their beasts
4. Elisha prophesied victory over the Moabites (2 Kings 3:18-19 [18] And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand. [19] And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.
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1. As a light thing in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 3:18And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand.
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2. To give complete victory over the Moabites (2 Kings 3:19And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.
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1. To smite their cities
2. To fell their trees
3. To stop their wells
4. To mar their land with stones
4. THE GREAT VICTORY OVER THE MOABITES (2 Kings 3:20-27 [20] And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat offering was offered, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water. [21] And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered all that were able to put on armour, and upward, and stood in the border. [22] And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood: [23] And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil. [24] And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in their country. [25] And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees: only in Kirharaseth left they the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about it, and smote it. [26] And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords, to break through even unto the king of Edom: but they could not. [27] Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.
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1. The Filling of the Ditches with Water (2 Kings 3:20And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat offering was offered, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.
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1. In the morning
2. At the time of the meat offering
3. By the way of Edom
4. The country was filled with water.
2. The Advance of the Moabites for Spoil (2 Kings 3:21-23 [21] And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered all that were able to put on armour, and upward, and stood in the border. [22] And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood: [23] And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.
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1. They came prepared to fight (2 Kings 3:21And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered all that were able to put on armour, and upward, and stood in the border.
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2. The water in the ditches shined like blood (2 Kings 3:22And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood:
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3. They assumed that it was the result of the kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom fighting one another (2 Kings 3:23And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.
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4. They went in to take the spoil (2 Kings 3:23And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.
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3. The Slaughter of the Moabites in Battle (2 Kings 3:24-25 [24] And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in their country. [25] And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees: only in Kirharaseth left they the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about it, and smote it.
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1. They were smitten on the battlefield (2 Kings 3:24And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in their country.
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2. They were smitten in their own country (2 Kings 3:24And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in their country.
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3. Their cities were destroyed (2 Kings 3:25And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees: only in Kirharaseth left they the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about it, and smote it.
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4. Only Kirharaseth (a fortress city of Moab) was left standing.
4. The Complete Defeat of the Moabites (2 Kings 3:26-27 [26] And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords, to break through even unto the king of Edom: but they could not. [27] Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.
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1. They failed to break through to the king of Edom (2 Kings 3:26And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords, to break through even unto the king of Edom: but they could not.
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2. The king of Moab sacrificed his eldest son (2 Kings 3:27Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.
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3. They departed and returned to their own country (2 Kings 3:27Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.
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CONCLUSION: Even a wicked king was helped when he sought the word of the Lord. Oh, that God’s people would seek the word of the Lord for help in battle!