71 ISRAEL’S RETREAT FAILURE PROPHECY 2 KINGS 3 AND THE OF IN 1. Did Elisha’s prophecy fail? Interpreters have answered this question in a variety of ways. The following survey focuses on some recent attempts to solve this problem. 2. The prophecy failed because of Mesha’s drastic counteraction Tiemeyer compares Mesha’s human sacrifice to a Mesopotamian namburbi ritual, “the purpose of which was to undo or avert a portended evil ” 1. She states: “The most surprising aspect of this narrative is the ac- knowledgement that Elisha’s prediction failed to come true. Also, it is re- markable that the narrative ends with the Moabites’ successful counteract. From their point of view, Elisha’s foreknowledge and subsequent instruc- tions were initially successful but only up to the point of the Moabite king’s sacrifice, a counteraction powerful enough to revoke his prophecy” 2. While Tiemeyer’s analysis seems to be an accurate description of what the text records, it is difficult to believe this is the whole story the Yahwistic editor wishes to convey. Anyone sharing his Yahwistic perspective is forced to ask: “How can this possibly be?” I will argue that there is a more satis- factory explanation for Israel’s failure than the interpretation offered by Tiemeyer. 3. The prophecy was fulfilled, but only partially Some interpreters argue that the prophecy was only partially fulfilled. For example, Cogan and Tadmor state that verses 26-27 “stand in open contradiction to Elisha’s prophecy.” They add, “It is this clash between the prophetic tradition (vv. 6-25) and the historical tradition be- hind vv. 26-27 which the epilogue in its present form attempts to resolve. The editor of the prophetic stories resorted to a theological expedient, a sudden divine wrath, to explain Israel’s retreat” 3. Cogan and Tadmor seem to assume that a prophecy must be realized in its entirety, or else its failure to materialize fully becomes a problem for its readers, gener- ating harmonistic fervor. But is this really the case? I will argue to the contrary. L. TIEMEYER, “Prophecy as a Way of Cancelling Prophecy — The Strate- 1 gic Uses of Foreknowledge”, ZAW 117 (2005) 333. TIEMEYER, “Prophecy”, 346. 2 M. COGAN – H. TADMOR, II Kings (AB 1, Garden City, NY 1988) 51. 3 See as well B. Long, “2 Kings III and Genres of Prophetic Narrative”, VT 23 (1973) 340.