2 Kings 3:8

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).

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 Therefore king Joram went out of Samaria in that day, and numbered all Israel. (And King Joram went out of Samaria that day, and gathered together Israel's army.)

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.)