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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>2 Kings 3:8 Then he asked, "Which way shall we go up?" "By way of the Desert of Edom," replied Joram.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/2_kings/3-8.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/10/12_2Ki_03_08.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="2 Kings 3:8 - Joram Overcomes Moab's Rebellion" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Then he asked, Which way shall we go up? By way of the Desert of Edom, replied Joram." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/2_kings/3-8.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/2_kings/3-8.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/2_kings/">2 Kings</a> > <a href="/2_kings/3.htm">Chapter 3</a> > Verse 8</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad8.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/2_kings/3-7.htm" title="2 Kings 3:7">◄</a> 2 Kings 3:8 <a href="/2_kings/3-9.htm" title="2 Kings 3:9">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/2_kings/3.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/2_kings/3.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />&#8220By what route shall we attack?&#8221 he asked. &#8220Through the Desert of Edom,&#8221 he answered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/2_kings/3.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Then Jehoshaphat asked, “What route will we take?” “We will attack from the wilderness of Edom,” Joram replied.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/2_kings/3.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Then he said, “By which way shall we march?” Jehoram answered, “By the way of the wilderness of Edom.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/2_kings/3.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then he asked, “Which way shall we go up?” “By way of the Desert of Edom,” replied Joram.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/2_kings/3.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/2_kings/3.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Then he said, “Which way shall we go up?” And he answered, “By way of the Wilderness of Edom.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/2_kings/3.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then he said, “Which way shall we go up?” And he answered, “The way of the wilderness of Edom.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/2_kings/3.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />He said, &#8220Which way shall we go up?&#8221 And he answered, &#8220The way of the wilderness of Edom.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/2_kings/3.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And he said, “Which way shall we go up?” And he answered, “The way of the wilderness of Edom.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/2_kings/3.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And he said, “Which way shall we go up?” And he answered, “The way of the wilderness of Edom.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/2_kings/3.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Jehoram said, “Which way shall we go up?” Jehoshaphat answered, “The way through the Wilderness of Edom.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/2_kings/3.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He asked, “Which route should we take? ” He replied, “The route of the Wilderness of Edom.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/2_kings/3.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then he asked, &#8220Which route should we take?&#8221 Joram replied, &#8220The route of the Wilderness of Edom.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/2_kings/3.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way of the wilderness of Edom.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/2_kings/3.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />But which way should we go?" "We will march through Edom Desert," Joram replied. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/2_kings/3.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way of the wilderness of Edom.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/2_kings/3.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Joram asked, "Which road should we take?" Jehoshaphat answered, "The road through the desert of Edom."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/2_kings/3.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />What route shall we take for the attack?" "We will go the long way through the wilderness of Edom," Joram answered. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/2_kings/3.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"What road do we take?" Jehoram answered, "We'll go along the Edom desert road."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/2_kings/3.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then he asked, ?Which way shall we go up?? ?By way of the Desert of Edom,? replied Joram.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/2_kings/3.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />He then asked, "Which invasion route are we going to take?" Jehoram answered, "By the road through the Desert of Edom."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/2_kings/3.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />He said, "Which way shall we go up?" He answered, "The way of the wilderness of Edom."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/2_kings/3.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And he said, which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/2_kings/3.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Then he said, “Which way shall we go up?” Jehoram answered, “The way of the wilderness of Edom.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/2_kings/3.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And he says, “Where [is] this—the way we go up?” And he says, “The way of the wilderness of Edom.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/2_kings/3.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And he saith, 'Where is this -- the way we go up?' and he saith, 'The way of the wilderness of Edom.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/2_kings/3.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And he will say, Where the way we shall go up? And he will say, The way of the desert of Edom.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/2_kings/3.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And he said: Which way shall we go up? But he answered: By the desert of Edom. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/2_kings/3.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And he said, “Along which way shall we ascend?” So he responded, “Along the desert of Idumea.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/2_kings/3.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />He said, “By what route shall we attack?” and the other said, “By way of the wilderness of Edom.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/2_kings/3.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Then he asked, “By which way shall we march?” Jehoram answered, “By the way of the wilderness of Edom.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/2_kings/3.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And he said to him, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, By the way of the wilderness of Edom.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/2_kings/3.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And he said to him: “By which road will we go up?” And he said: “In the road of the wilderness of Edom.”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/2_kings/3.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And he said: 'Which way shall we go up?' And he answered: 'The way of the wilderness of Edom.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/2_kings/3.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And he said, What way shall I go up? and he said, The way of the wilderness of Edom.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/2_kings/3-8.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FiLs3w_mMFQ?start=668" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/2_kings/3.htm">Joram Overcomes Moab's Rebellion</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">7</span>And he sent a message to Jehoshaphat king of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?” “I will go,” replied Jehoshaphat. “I am like you, my people are your people, and my horses are your horses.” <span class="reftext">8</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">Then he asked,</a> <a href="/hebrew/335.htm" title="335: ’ê- (Interrog) -- Where?. Perhaps from 'aiyn; where? Hence how?.">“Which</a> <a href="/hebrew/2088.htm" title="2088: zeh (Pro-ms) -- This, here. A primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1870.htm" title="1870: had·de·reḵ (Art:: N-cs) -- Way, road, distance, journey, manner. From darak; a road; figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb.">way</a> <a href="/hebrew/5927.htm" title="5927: na·‘ă·leh (V-Qal-Imperf-1cp) -- A primitive root; to ascend, intransitively or actively; used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative.">shall we go up?”</a> <a href="/hebrew/1870.htm" title="1870: de·reḵ (N-csc) -- Way, road, distance, journey, manner. From darak; a road; figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb.">“By way</a> <a href="/hebrew/4057.htm" title="4057: miḏ·bar (N-msc) -- A pasture, a desert, speech. From dabar in the sense of driving; a pasture; by implication, a desert; also speech.">of the Desert</a> <a href="/hebrew/123.htm" title="123: ’ĕ·ḏō·wm (N-proper-ms) -- The name of a condiment. Or oedowm; from 'adom; red; Edom, the elder twin-brother of Jacob; hence the region occupied by him.">of Edom,”</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">replied Joram.</a> </span><span class="reftext">9</span>So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom set out, and after they had traveled a roundabout route for seven days, they had no water for their army or for their animals.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/1-16.htm">Judges 1:16</a></span><br />Now the descendants of Moses’ father-in-law, the Kenite, went up with the men of Judah from the City of Palms to the Wilderness of Judah in the Negev near Arad. They went to live among the people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/11-18.htm">Judges 11:18</a></span><br />Then Israel traveled through the wilderness and bypassed the lands of Edom and Moab. They came to the east side of the land of Moab and camped on the other side of the Arnon. But they did not enter the territory of Moab, since the Arnon was its border.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/8-20.htm">2 Kings 8:20-22</a></span><br />In the days of Jehoram, Edom rebelled against the hand of Judah and appointed their own king. / So Jehoram crossed over to Zair with all his chariots. When the Edomites surrounded him and his chariot commanders, he rose up and attacked by night. His troops, however, fled to their homes. / So to this day Edom has been in rebellion against the hand of Judah. Likewise, Libnah rebelled at the same time.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/22-47.htm">1 Kings 22:47</a></span><br />And there was no king in Edom; a deputy served as king.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/14-47.htm">1 Samuel 14:47</a></span><br />After Saul had assumed the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side—the Moabites, the Ammonites, the Edomites, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he routed them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/20-10.htm">2 Chronicles 20:10</a></span><br />And now, here are the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, whom You did not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt. So Israel turned away from them and did not destroy them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/16-1.htm">Isaiah 16:1-2</a></span><br />Send the tribute lambs to the ruler of the land, from Sela in the desert to the mount of Daughter Zion. / Like fluttering birds pushed out of the nest, so are the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/48-28.htm">Jeremiah 48:28</a></span><br />Abandon the towns and settle among the rocks, O dwellers of Moab! Be like a dove that nests at the mouth of a cave.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/2-1.htm">Amos 2:1</a></span><br />This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Moab, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because he burned to lime the bones of Edom’s king.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/25-8.htm">Ezekiel 25:8-11</a></span><br />This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because Moab and Seir said, “Look, the house of Judah is like all the other nations,” / therefore I will indeed expose the flank of Moab beginning with its frontier cities—Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim—the glory of the land. / I will give it along with the Ammonites as a possession to the people of the East, so that the Ammonites will no longer be remembered among the nations. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/2-12.htm">Matthew 2:12</a></span><br />And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they withdrew to their country by another route.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/10-30.htm">Luke 10:30-37</a></span><br />Jesus took up this question and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. / Now by chance a priest was going down the same road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. / So too, when a Levite came to that spot and saw him, he passed by on the other side. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/9-3.htm">Acts 9:3</a></span><br />As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/15-4.htm">Romans 15:4</a></span><br />For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/10-11.htm">1 Corinthians 10:11</a></span><br />Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom.</p><p class="hdg">the wilderness of Edom.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/13-21.htm">Numbers 13:21</a></b></br> So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/13-21.htm">Numbers 13:21</a></b></br> So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/21-4.htm">Numbers 21:4</a></b></br> And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/1_kings/22-32.htm">Attack</a> <a href="/1_kings/19-15.htm">Desert</a> <a href="/1_kings/22-47.htm">Edom</a> <a href="/2_kings/3-6.htm">Jeho'ram</a> <a href="/2_samuel/15-22.htm">March</a> <a href="/judges/8-11.htm">Route</a> <a href="/1_kings/19-15.htm">Waste</a> <a href="/2_kings/2-23.htm">Way</a> <a href="/1_kings/19-15.htm">Wilderness</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/2_kings/3-24.htm">Attack</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/5-9.htm">Desert</a> <a href="/2_kings/3-9.htm">Edom</a> <a href="/2_kings/8-16.htm">Jeho'ram</a> <a href="/2_kings/3-9.htm">March</a> <a href="/matthew/2-12.htm">Route</a> <a href="/2_kings/9-37.htm">Waste</a> <a href="/2_kings/3-20.htm">Way</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/5-9.htm">Wilderness</a><div class="vheading2">2 Kings 3</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_kings/3-1.htm">Jehoram's reign</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_kings/3-4.htm">Mesha rebels</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_kings/3-6.htm">Jehoram, with Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom, being distressed for want of water, </a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_kings/3-13.htm">by Elisha obtains water, and promise of victory</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_kings/3-21.htm">The Moabites, deceived by the colour of the water, coming to spoil, are overcome</a></span><br><span class="reftext">26. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_kings/3-26.htm">The king of Moab sacrifices his son, and raises the siege</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/2_kings/3.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/2_kings/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/2_kings/3.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Then he asked, “Which way shall we go up?”</b><br>This question is posed by Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, as he consults with Joram, the king of Israel. The context is a military campaign against Moab, which had rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab. The inquiry reflects the need for strategic planning in warfare, a common practice in ancient times. The phrase also highlights the importance of seeking counsel and making decisions collaboratively, a principle seen throughout Scripture (<a href="/proverbs/15-22.htm">Proverbs 15:22</a>).<p><b>“By way of the Desert of Edom,” replied Joram.</b><br>Joram's response indicates the chosen route for the military campaign. The Desert of Edom, located to the south of the Dead Sea, was a challenging terrain, suggesting a strategic move to surprise the Moabites. Historically, Edom was a region often in conflict with Israel, yet at this time, it was under Judah's control, allowing safe passage. This route also underscores the alliance between Israel and Judah, despite their divided kingdoms. The choice of the desert path can be seen as a test of faith and endurance, reminiscent of Israel's wilderness journey in Exodus. The alliance and the chosen path reflect the complexities of political and military strategies in the ancient Near East.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/jehoram.htm">Jehoram (Joram) of Israel</a></b><br>The king of Israel who sought to join forces with Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom to fight against Moab.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/j/jehoshaphat.htm">Jehoshaphat</a></b><br>The king of Judah, known for his faithfulness to God, who agreed to assist Jehoram in the battle against Moab.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/k/king_of_edom.htm">King of Edom</a></b><br>An unnamed king who allied with Israel and Judah in their campaign against Moab.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/m/moab.htm">Moab</a></b><br>A neighboring nation that rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab, Jehoram's father.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/d/desert_of_edom.htm">Desert of Edom</a></b><br>The route chosen for the military campaign, a challenging and arid region that tested the faith and resolve of the allied kings.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/s/seeking_godly_counsel.htm">Seeking Godly Counsel</a></b><br>Jehoshaphat's involvement reminds us of the importance of seeking counsel from those who are faithful to God. Aligning with godly leaders can provide wisdom and guidance in difficult situations.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_challenge_of_the_desert.htm">The Challenge of the Desert</a></b><br>The choice to go through the Desert of Edom symbolizes the difficult paths we sometimes must take in obedience to God's plans. It teaches us perseverance and reliance on God in challenging circumstances.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_alliances.htm">The Consequences of Alliances</a></b><br>The alliance between Israel, Judah, and Edom serves as a reminder to carefully consider our partnerships and the spiritual implications of our alliances.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_battles.htm">God's Sovereignty in Battles</a></b><br>This passage encourages believers to trust in God's sovereignty over all situations, including conflicts and challenges, knowing that He can bring victory even in seemingly impossible circumstances.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_2_kings_3.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 2 Kings 3</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_was_king_jehoram_joram.htm">Who was King Jehoram/Joram in biblical history?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/did_psalm_83_nations_unite_against_israel.htm">Does the historical or archaeological record confirm that the nations listed in Psalm 83:6-8 ever formed a united conspiracy against Israel?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_did_water_appear_in_the_desert.htm">How could water supernaturally appear in a desert valley without rain or wind (2 Kings 3:17)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_jehoram's_reign_fit_with_other_accounts.htm">In 2 Kings 8:16-19, how does Jehoram's reign fit with other biblical accounts that describe conflicting details about Judah's kings?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/2_kings/3.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(8) <span class= "bld">And he said</span>--<span class= "ital">i.e.</span>, Jehoram said.<p><span class= "bld">Which way.</span>--They might cross the Jordan, and attack the northern frontier of Moab, or they might round the southern end of the Dead Sea, and invade Moab from the side of Edom. The former was the shortest route for both kings. But Moab's strongest defences were on the north frontier, and the allies would be liable to attacks from the Syrians in Ramoth-gilead (<a href="/2_kings/8-28.htm" title="And he went with Joram the son of Ahab to the war against Hazael king of Syria in Ramothgilead; and the Syrians wounded Joram.">2Kings 8:28</a>). The longer and more difficult southern road may have been chosen partly on these grounds, and partly because Jehoshaphat wished to march as far as might be within his own territory, and to get a contingent from Edom, which was at this time subject to him (<a href="/1_kings/22-48.htm" title="Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber.">1Kings 22:48</a>), and perhaps to hold it in check. Moreover, the Moabites were less likely to be on their guard on the southern border, which was more difficult of access.<p><span class= "bld">And he answered.</span>--<span class= "ital">Said</span>--<span class= "ital">i.e.</span>, Jehoshaphat.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/2_kings/3.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 8.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And he said, Which way shall we go up?</span> Jehoram asked Jehoshaphat's advice as to the plan of campaign. There 'were two ways in which Moab might be approached - the direct one across the Jordan and then southward through the country east of the Dead Sea to the Amen, which was the boundary between Moab and Israel; and a circuitous one through the desert west of the Red Sea, and across the Arabah south of it, then northwards through Northern Edom, to the brook Zered, or Wady-el- Ahsy, which was the boundary between Moab and Edom. If the former route were pursued, Moab would be entered on the north; if the latter, she would be attacked on the south. Jehoshaphat recommended the circuitous route. <span class="cmt_word">And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom</span>; probably for two reasons: Edom, though under a native king, was a dependency of Judah (<a href="/1_kings/22-47.htm">1 Kings 22:47</a>), and on passing through the Edomite country, an Edomite contingent might be added to the invading force; Moab, moreover, was mere likely to be surprised by an attack on this quarter, which was unusual, and from which she would not anticipate danger. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/2_kings/3-8.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Then he asked,</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּ֕אמֶר</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“Which</span><br /><span class="heb">אֵי־</span> <span class="translit">(’ê-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interrogative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_335.htm">Strong's 335: </a> </span><span class="str2">Where?, how?</span><br /><br /><span class="word">way</span><br /><span class="heb">הַדֶּ֖רֶךְ</span> <span class="translit">(had·de·reḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1870.htm">Strong's 1870: </a> </span><span class="str2">A road, a course of life, mode of action</span><br /><br /><span class="word">shall we go up?”</span><br /><span class="heb">נַעֲלֶ֑ה</span> <span class="translit">(na·‘ă·leh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5927.htm">Strong's 5927: </a> </span><span class="str2">To ascend, in, actively</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“By way</span><br /><span class="heb">דֶּ֖רֶךְ</span> <span class="translit">(de·reḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - common singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1870.htm">Strong's 1870: </a> </span><span class="str2">A road, a course of life, mode of action</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the Desert</span><br /><span class="heb">מִדְבַּ֥ר</span> <span class="translit">(miḏ·bar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4057.htm">Strong's 4057: </a> </span><span class="str2">A pasture, a desert, speech</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Edom,”</span><br /><span class="heb">אֱדֽוֹם׃</span> <span class="translit">(’ĕ·ḏō·wm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_123.htm">Strong's 123: </a> </span><span class="str2">The name of a condiment</span><br /><br /><span class="word">replied Joram.</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּ֕אמֶר</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/2_kings/3-8.htm">2 Kings 3:8 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/2_kings/3-8.htm">2 Kings 3:8 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/2_kings/3-8.htm">2 Kings 3:8 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/2_kings/3-8.htm">2 Kings 3:8 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/2_kings/3-8.htm">2 Kings 3:8 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/2_kings/3-8.htm">2 Kings 3:8 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/2_kings/3-8.htm">2 Kings 3:8 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/2_kings/3-8.htm">2 Kings 3:8 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/2_kings/3-8.htm">2 Kings 3:8 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/2_kings/3-8.htm">2 Kings 3:8 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/2_kings/3-8.htm">OT History: 2 Kings 3:8 He said Which way shall we go (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/2_kings/3-7.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="2 Kings 3:7"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="2 Kings 3:7" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/2_kings/3-9.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="2 Kings 3:9"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="2 Kings 3:9" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>