Jericho and Moab

Jehoram the son of Ahab wants to suppress the rebellion of Mesha, king of Moab (2 Kings 3). He gains the support of Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom, and then marches into the wilderness. They “go around” seven days and then find there is no water. Jehoshaphat, typically, asks for a prophet, and Elisha gives them counter-military instructions on winning the battle.

The account echoes with parallels with the battle of Jericho. Throughout Joshua 6, Joshua instructs Israel to “march around” Jericho, using the same verb used in 2 Kings 3:9 (cf. Josh 6:3-4, 7, 11, 14, 15). As Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, so the three kings march for seven days. Elisha then tells the kings to dig trenches, and Yahweh gives victory to Jehoram. Elisha, the replacement for the Moses-like Elijah, proves himself another Joshua.