2 Kings 3:8

8 "Which road should we take?" Joram asked. Jehoshaphat responded, "The road that goes through the Edomite wilderness."

2 Kings 3:8 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 3:8

And he said, which way shall we go up
&c.] That is, Jehoram said so to Jehoshaphat, consulting with him which was the best way to take to the land of Moab, whether the shortest way, over Jordan; or some other:

and he answered, the way through the wilderness of Edom;
which bordered upon it, and the same through which the Israelites passed; for Kadesh was on the extreme border of Edom, whither they came, ( Numbers 20:1 Numbers 20:16 ) and this Jehoshaphat proposed, partly that they might come upon Moab unawares, and attack them where they were weakest, and not on their guard; and partly, to take the king of Edom with them, who was no other than Jehoshaphat's deputy, and so be assisting to them, and prevent him from revolting, which otherwise he might take this opportunity of doing.

2 Kings 3:8 In-Context

6 So King Joram set out from Samaria at once. He prepared all Israel for war.

7 He sent word to Judah's King Jehoshaphat, "Moab's king has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?" Jehoshaphat responded, "Yes, I'll go. We'll fight as one: you and I, our troops and our horses."

8 "Which road should we take?" Joram asked. Jehoshaphat responded, "The road that goes through the Edomite wilderness."

9 So Israel's and Judah's kings set out with the king of Edom. They marched around for seven days until there was no water left for the army or for the animals with them.

10 Israel's king said, "This is terrible! Has the LORD brought us three kings together only to hand us over to Moab?"