2 Kings 3:9

And the king of Edom. Only a short time before this, “there was then no king in Edom” (1 Kings 22:47), and Jehoshaphat had access through the country of Edom to Ezion-geber on the Gulf of Aqabah (1 Kings 22:48), which was then his seaport, as it had been Solomon’s (1 Kings 9:26). The present king of Edom was thus probably a vassal of Judah, appointed by Jehoshaphat.

Fetched a compass. That is, they made a circuitous march. Evidently conditions were such in the wild, desolate region through which they passed that they could not take a direct road toward their destination, but had to go in a roundabout way, looking for the most favorable passage that at the time might offer itself.

Seven days’ journey. No information is given as to where this seven days’ journey began. From Jerusalem south to Hebron and over the best-watered route would probably be at least 100 mi. (161 km.) to the borders of Moab. But the difficulties of the journey were great, weather conditions were probably against them, and the going evidently was slow. In such an enterprise even the best-laid plans might go awry. Because of the terrain they must traverse, numbers were against them and the very size of the army aggravated their suffering and increased their hardships.

No water. Even under the best conditions water in these southern desert regions was scarce. Undoubtedly they had selected a route that promised the best water supply. But even streams that normally might be expected to flow could go dry in this arid region.

The cattle. They had cattle both for food and as beasts of burden (v. 17). An army headed for a region where cattle could be expected in abundance, as was the case in Moab, would probably not overburden itself by taking along large numbers of cattle for purposes of food. But baggage animals would be necessary.