2 Ki. 3: Moab Rule

2 Kings 3:15 "'But now bring me a harpist.' While the harpist was playing, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha."

Israel has a new king, and because of this, one of the vassals of Israel, Moab, doesn't believe it needs to continually be forced to supply sheep to them. After all, it was Ahab who had made that deal, and he was dead.

The evil Joram, who replaced Ahab, figured this was a united kingdom effort, so he sent for Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah for his help. Jehoshaphat, still keen on consulting the LORD, asks for a prophet, and Elisha's the guy. Elisha, not surprisingly isn't thrilled about possibly helping Joram, and sarcastically makes his feelings known, suggesting Joram consult his own gods. Finally Elisha relents, and calls for a harpist. Music helped him prophesy? Is that what I am to believe? Did the spirit come upon him from the playing of music?

I always find the prophet's words so interesting:

"This is what the LORD says: Make this valley full of ditches. For this is what the LORD says: You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink. This is an easy thing in the eyes of the LORD; he will also hand Moab over to you. You will overthrow every fortified city and every major town. You will cut down every good tree, stop up all the springs, and ruin every good field with stones."

The LORD alone has the ability to fill something with water where there is no wind nor rain. It's easy. Nothing is too hard for the LORD. After Moab was spared previously, the LORD instructs the complete destruction.

The ditches must have seemed absurd to Israel at the time, but it was the sunrise over them when the LORD filled them with water that made them look like blood. It was as if Israel had cut gashes into the land, and these gashes would save them. This led Moab to believe Israel and Judah had slaughtered each other. And this makes me wonder. Did they have that reputation at the time that they hated each other? Or at the very least didn't get along?

Another thing. Israel cuts down trees here, yet were commanded not to in Deuteronomy? What's the difference? Conquest vs. Non-conquest?