Joram ascends to the throne of Israel, and the narrator notes that “he did what the Lord disapproved of” (2). How-ever, Joram has at least one point in his favor: he removed the pillar of Baal that his father had erected (2b). The story continues to focus on Elisha, who is sought by the kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom, all of whom are united in their attack against the Moabites. The Moabite king has rebelled and refuses to continue paying tribute to Joram. The prophet has the privilege of despising the king of Israel (13); only out of respect for Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, does he agree to consult the Lord. The prophecy is positive, and everything ends with the defeat of the rebel Mesha, king of Moab, and the destruction of his cities (20-26).