2 Kings 3:9

9 So the king of Israel went , and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days' journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them.

2 Kings 3:9 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 3:9

So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah
The way of the wilderness of Edom, proposed by the latter:

and the king of Edom;
whom they took with them in their way, who was not properly a king, but a viceroy or deputy, see ( 1 Kings 22:47 )

and they fetched a compass of seven days journey;
they went round the Dead Sea, and through the wilderness of Edom, and so to the borders of Moab:

and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed
them;
neither for the soldiers in the army, nor the cattle that drew the carriages, being in a wilderness.

2 Kings 3:9 In-Context

7 And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying , The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle? And he said , I will go up : I am as thou art, my people as thy people, and my horses as thy horses.

8 And he said , Which way shall we go up ? And he answered , The way through the wilderness of Edom.

9 So the king of Israel went , and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days' journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them.

10 And the king of Israel said , Alas! that the LORD hath called these three kings together , to deliver them into the hand of Moab!

11 But Jehoshaphat said , Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may enquire of the LORD by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said , Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.