EasyEnglish Bible 2018
2 Kings 3:8
8King Jehoram asked, ‘What road should we go on to attack Moab?’ King Jehoshaphat replied, ‘We should travel through the Edom desert.’
2 Kings 3:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom.
- New International Version (NIV)“By what route shall we attack?” he asked. “Through the Desert of Edom,” he answered.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then he said, "By which way shall we march?" Jehoram answered, "By the way of the wilderness of Edom."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then he said, “Which way shall we go up?” And he answered, “By way of the Wilderness of Edom.”
Context of 2 Kings 3:8
6So King Jehoram left Samaria to bring all Israel's army together. They were ready to attack Moab. 7He also sent this message to Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah: ‘The king of Moab has turned against me. Will you go with me to fight against the Moabites?’ Jehoshaphat replied, ‘Yes, I will go with you. We will have one army. My soldiers will join with your soldiers. My horses will be under your authority.’ King Jehoram asked, ‘What road should we go on to attack Moab?’ King Jehoshaphat replied, ‘We should travel through the Edom desert.’ 9So the king of Israel, the king of Judah and the king of Edom joined together to attack Moab. They were travelling along the road for seven days. After that time, there was no more water for the army or for their animals. 10The king of Israel was very upset. He said, ‘What has happened? Perhaps the Lord has brought us three kings here to put us under the power of the king of Moab!’
Read all of 2 Kings 32 Kings 3:8 word by word
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אֵי־זֶ֥ה הַדֶּ֖רֶךְ נַעֲלֶ֑ה וַיֹּ֕אמֶר דֶּ֖רֶךְ מִדְבַּ֥ר אֱדֽוֹם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 2 Kings 3:8
- Numbers 13:21So the men went and they explored the land of Canaan. They started in the desert called Zin, and they continued to Rehob, near Lebo-Hamath.
- Numbers 21:4The Israelites left Hor mountain. They travelled round the edge of Edom to the Red Sea. As they travelled, the people were upset.
- Malachi 1:2The Lord says, ‘I have loved you.’ But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’ The Lord says, ‘I chose to love Jacob and his descendants. Esau was Jacob's brother.
Commentaries on 2 Kings 3:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Through the wilderness of Edom - Because he expected the king of Edom to join them, as we find he did; for, being tributary to Judah, he was obliged to do it.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8The readiest and most natural “way” was across the Jordan near Jericho into the Arboth-Moab, and then along the eastern shore of the Dead Sea to Moab proper, the tract south of the Arnon. But the way chosen was that which led to the Edomite country, namely, round the southern extremity of the Dead Sea, and across the Arabah, or continuation of the Jordan and Dead Sea valley. Thus would be effected a junction with the forces of Edom, which had resumed its…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-19Verses 6-19 The king of Israel laments their distress, and the danger they were in. He called these kings together, yet he charges it upon Providence. Thus the foolishness of man perverteth his way, and then his heart fretteth against the Lord, Pr 19:3. It was well that Jehoshaphat inquired of the Lord now, but it had been much better if he had done it before he engaged in this war. Good men sometimes neglect their duty, till necessity and affliction…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8-9the king of Edom set out: At this time, Edom was likely under Judah's control. Later, during Jehoshaphat’s son Jehoram's reign, Edom rebelled and gained independence from Judah (2 Kings 8:20–22). The southern route through Edom bypassed strong Moabite defenses, but it was risky due to limited water.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 8-128-12. Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom--This was a long and circuitous route, by the southern bend of the Dead Sea. Jehoshaphat however preferred it, partly because the part of the Moabite territory at which they would arrive, was the most defenseless; and partly because he would thereby enlist, in the expedition, the forces of the king of Edom. But, in penetrating the deep, rocky valley of Ahsy, which…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Kings 3:8
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Kings 3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
EasyEnglish Bible 2018 — Copyright © MissionAssist 2018
Commentaries