2 Kings 3 8

2 Kings 3:8 kjv

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

2 Kings 3:8 nkjv

Then he said, "Which way shall we go up?" And he answered, "By way of the Wilderness of Edom."

2 Kings 3:8 niv

"By what route shall we attack?" he asked. "Through the Desert of Edom," he answered.

2 Kings 3:8 esv

Then he said, "By which way shall we march?" Jehoram answered, "By the way of the wilderness of Edom."

2 Kings 3:8 nlt

Then Jehoshaphat asked, "What route will we take?" "We will attack from the wilderness of Edom," Joram replied.

2 Kings 3 verses

2 Kings 3 8 Meaning

2 Kings 3:8 records King Jehoshaphat of Judah's strategic decision concerning the military campaign against Moab. Having agreed to join King Jehoram of Israel and the king of Edom, Jehoshaphat, known for seeking divine guidance, posed a critical question regarding their approach route. He then answered his own query by proposing the difficult path through "the wilderness of Edom." This choice, while potentially tactically surprising to the enemy, was also inherently perilous, requiring the divine provision of water for the confederate army, thus setting the stage for their subsequent desperate plea to God through the prophet Elisha.

2 Kings 3 8 Context

Chapter 3 of 2 Kings opens with Jehoram becoming king of Israel after Ahab. King Mesha of Moab rebels against Israel, ceasing his tribute payments. Jehoram seeks an alliance with Jehoshaphat of Judah and the king of Edom to reclaim Moab. Their chosen approach through the wilderness of Edom (the route proposed in verse 8) turns disastrous, as their armies run out of water. This dire situation compels them to seek the prophet Elisha, who, despite initial reluctance due to Jehoram's idolatry, prophesies divine provision of water and victory for Jehoshaphat's sake. This verse thus marks a critical turning point where the kings commit to a specific, challenging military strategy that ultimately necessitates a miracle of God. Historically, such campaigns were complex, and relying on wilderness routes implied a high risk, making the subsequent divine intervention all the more significant.

2 Kings 3 8 Word analysis

• And he said: Refers to King Jehoshaphat, as established by the preceding verses. His inquiry shows a strategic consideration for military logistics.
• Which way: Hebrew: אֵי זֶה דָּרֶךְ ('ê zeh dārek), literally "what is this way?" or "by which way?". It signifies a critical decision point for the alliance regarding their military approach to Moab. It indicates seeking an optimal, or perhaps unexpected, path.
• shall we go?: Emphasizes the collective action of the three allied kings. It is a shared challenge and shared decision.
• And he answered: This "he" is still Jehoshaphat. This is not Elisha's prophecy yet; rather, it is Jehoshaphat offering his strategic counsel in response to his own (or the collective's implied) question. This highlights Jehoshaphat's leadership and the tactical choice made by the human alliance.
• By the way of the wilderness of Edom: Hebrew: דֶּרֶךְ מִדְבַּר אֱדוֹם (dereḵ miḏbar 'Edowm).
  • דֶּרֶךְ (dereḵ): "Way," "path," or "road." Conveys a chosen direction.
  • מִדְבַּר (miḏbar): "Wilderness," "desert," or "pasture land." Often implies a desolate, arid, and difficult region. This specific wilderness region south of the Dead Sea was known for its harsh conditions and lack of water.
  • אֱדוֹם ('Edowm): Edom, a neighboring kingdom southeast of Judah, often in conflict with Israel. Traversing their wilderness meant either alliance (which they had for this campaign) or navigating hostile terrain with limited resources.
• Word-groups Analysis:
  • "And he said, 'Which way shall we go?' And he answered, 'By the way of the wilderness of Edom.'": This dialogue reveals Jehoshaphat's careful, yet ultimately human-initiated, military planning. While a wise king, his choice of a wilderness route for a large army indicates either great faith that God would provide or a tactical decision so unconventional that it carried immense risk, implicitly requiring divine intervention. The mention of Edom's wilderness highlights the strategic objective of surprising Moab from a less expected direction. This phrase encapsulates a leadership moment where a calculated risk is taken, anticipating potential difficulty and setting the stage for reliance on a higher power.

2 Kings 3 8 Bonus section

The choice to march through the wilderness of Edom, as proposed by Jehoshaphat, might also have served a geopolitical purpose: securing Edom's full commitment to the alliance, as they would be actively participating in and directly threatened by the campaign's failure, potentially motivating them further against Moab. This route was strategically surprising to the Moabites, who would likely expect an attack from the north or across the Jordan River. However, it placed immense stress on logistics. The historical context shows that despite Jehoram's idolatry, God chose to work through Jehoshaphat's presence and righteousness (2 Ki 3:14), emphasizing the profound impact of even one faithful individual within an ungodly confederation.

2 Kings 3 8 Commentary

2 Kings 3:8 is a pivotal verse because it details the chosen approach for the allied army, revealing a strategic decision by Jehoshaphat, a righteous king, to take a path through a challenging wilderness. This route, though possibly intended to flank or surprise Moab, posed significant logistical challenges, primarily the scarcity of water. The narrative emphasizes that this decision was a human military calculation, not an immediate prophetic command. It led the armies into a desperate situation, underscoring their vulnerability and forcing them to ultimately seek the Lord's intervention through Elisha. Thus, the verse highlights the often-difficult paths that faith can lead us to, creating a need for God's supernatural provision when human planning falls short.