2 Kings 3:9

9 Therefore the king of Israel, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom, went forth, and compassed by the way of seven days; and (then) there was not water to the host, and to the beasts, that followed them. (And so the king of Israel, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom, went forth, and travelled on the way for seven days; and then there was no more water for the army, and for the beasts, 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 sent to Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, and said, The king of Moab hath gone away from me; come thou with me against him to battle. And Jehoshaphat answered, I shall go up with thee; he that is mine, is thine (all that is mine, is thine); my people is thy people; and mine horses be thine horses.

8 And he said, By what way shall we ascend? And Joram answered, By the desert of Idumea (And Joram answered, Through the wilderness of Edom).

9 Therefore the king of Israel, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom, went forth, and compassed by the way of seven days; and (then) there was not water to the host, and to the beasts, that followed them. (And so the king of Israel, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom, went forth, and travelled on the way for seven days; and then there was no more water for the army, and for the beasts, that followed them.)

10 And the king of Israel said, Alas! alas! alas! the Lord hath gathered together us three kings to betake us in(to) the hand of Moab. (And the king of Israel said, Alas! alas! alas! the Lord hath gathered us three kings together to deliver us into the hands of the Moabites.)

11 And Jehoshaphat said, Whether any prophet of the Lord is here, (so) that we (can) beseech the Lord by him? And one of the servants of the king of Israel answered, Elisha, the son of Shaphat, is here, that poured water upon the hands of Elijah (Elisha, the son of Shaphat, is here, who poured water upon Elijah's hands).