2 Kings 3 9

2 Kings 3:9 kjv

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 nkjv

So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom, and they marched on that roundabout route seven days; and there was no water for the army, nor for the animals that followed them.

2 Kings 3:9 niv

So the king of Israel set out with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. After a roundabout march of seven days, the army had no more water for themselves or for the animals with them.

2 Kings 3:9 esv

So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. And when they had made a circuitous march of seven days, there was no water for the army or for the animals that followed them.

2 Kings 3:9 nlt

The king of Edom and his troops joined them, and all three armies traveled along a roundabout route through the wilderness for seven days. But there was no water for the men or their animals.

2 Kings 3 verses

2 Kings 3 9 Meaning

The verse describes the initial phase of a military campaign against Moab, detailing the three allied kings – Israel's Joram, Judah's Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom – taking a circuitous route that lasted seven days. This strategic but prolonged journey led them into a severe and immediate crisis: a complete absence of water, threatening the survival of their entire army and their essential livestock.

2 Kings 3 9 Context

This verse is situated early in 2 Kings chapter 3, which details the war against Moab during the reign of Joram, king of Israel. King Mesha of Moab had rebelled against Israel's tribute payments following Ahab's death (2 Kgs 1:1, 3:4-5). Joram, seeking to reassert control, formed a military alliance with Jehoshaphat, king of Judah (a historically common but often divinely disapproved alliance for Judah), and the vassal king of Edom. The alliance chose an unconventional southern route through the wilderness of Edom. Verse 9 specifically highlights the critical consequence of this strategic decision: after seven days of marching, their armies and their crucial livestock faced imminent demise from a severe lack of water in the arid desert terrain. This desperate situation forces the kings to confront their limitations and sets the stage for miraculous divine intervention through the prophet Elisha, thus emphasizing God's sovereignty over military endeavors and natural elements.

2 Kings 3 9 Word analysis

• So: Indicates a logical consequence or a progression of events, linking back to the formation of the alliance and the decision to attack Moab.
• the king of Israel: Refers to Jehoram (Joram), son of Ahab. Though he removed the Baal stone (2 Kgs 3:2), his reign continued to practice calf worship in Dan and Bethel, highlighting a partial reform and continued spiritual compromise in the Northern Kingdom.
• went with: Denotes alliance and cooperation, reflecting Jehoshaphat's readiness to assist the king of Israel despite their spiritual differences, a recurring theme for Jehoshaphat.
• the king of Judah: Jehoshaphat. A generally righteous king who undertook reforms in Judah but often compromised his spiritual integrity through military and familial alliances with the idolatrous Omride dynasty. His presence in this alliance provides the conduit for God's eventual aid.
• and the king of Edom: Likely a vassal ruler under the authority of Judah or compelled by the alliance. Edom (descendants of Esau) had a complex, often adversarial, relationship with Israel. Their participation highlights the regional scope of the conflict and the extensive resources mustered, yet proved inadequate without divine aid.
• and they marched: Implies active military movement and the undertaking of their planned campaign. It sets the scene of an organized expedition.
• on a roundabout course: Hebrew: derekh sibbat (דֶּרֶךְ סִבָּה), meaning "way of encircling" or "circuitous route." This indicates a strategic, indirect approach, likely intended to outmaneuver Moabite defenses or find a path through difficult terrain, possibly via the Araba desert south of the Dead Sea. This human strategy ultimately backfired, leading them into extreme peril.
• of seven days: Hebrew: shiv'at yamim (שִׁבְעַת יָמִים). The number 'seven' often denotes completeness, divine order, or a significant period. Here, it underscores the full extent of their strenuous and calculated journey, emphasizing the duration of their human planning and its eventual failure without God. It marks the precise point where their self-reliance reached its breaking point.
• And there was no water: Hebrew: ein mayim (אֵין מַיִם). A stark declaration of extreme crisis. In an arid region, the absence of water is a matter of life or death, highlighting the absolute vulnerability of even a formidable army to the forces of nature without divine intervention. It signifies complete dependence on a power beyond their own.
• for the army: Refers to the collective fighting force. Thousands of soldiers, along with their attendants and support staff, facing incapacitation and death without hydration. Their suffering emphasizes the urgency of the situation and the magnitude of the need.
• or for the animals that followed them: Includes horses, mules, and camels, vital for transportation, cavalry, and carrying supplies. These animals consume vast amounts of water, and their imminent demise threatened the logistical viability and mobility of the entire campaign, compounding the crisis.

2 Kings 3 9 Bonus section

• The wilderness route was chosen for military advantage, but it unexpectedly led to their immediate undoing, illustrating the unpredictability of human strategy apart from divine leading.
• The involvement of Jehoshaphat is crucial here; despite his questionable alliances, his personal piety enables Elisha's engagement and thus divine intervention for the otherwise unworthy King Joram.
• This narrative parallels earlier Old Testament accounts of God's miraculous provision for Israel in the wilderness (e.g., Exod 17), reminding the audience of Yahweh's unique power over creation and His faithful provision for His people, even those who make imperfect choices.

2 Kings 3 9 Commentary

2 Kings 3:9 dramatically pivots the narrative from military strategy to existential crisis. The meticulously planned roundabout route, likely intended for tactical advantage or to bypass formidable defenses, ironically leads the combined forces of Israel, Judah, and Edom into a life-threatening predicament in the parched desert. This verse succinctly conveys the dire reality: after seven days of arduous marching, a critical shortage of water threatens to incapacitate the entire military contingent and their indispensable animals. This situation serves to underscore the profound limitations of human wisdom, strategic planning, and military might when faced with the overwhelming power of nature and the ultimate sovereignty of God. It directly sets the stage for the kings' desperate plea to the Lord through Elisha, thus highlighting God's providential care and His capacity to intervene miraculously where human efforts fall catastrophically short. The crisis, brought on by self-reliant planning, forces humility and a turn towards divine aid.