2 Kings 3:9

King James Version (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.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

A compass of seven days' journey - By taking a circuitous route, to go round the southern part of the Dead Sea, they probably intended to surprise the Moabites; but it appears their journey was ill planned, as they at last got into a country in which it was impossible to obtain water, and they were brought in consequence to the utmost extremity.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

Seven days‘ journey - The distance of the route probably followed is not much more than 100 miles. But the difficulties of the way are great; and the army might not be able to move along it at a faster rate than about 15 miles a day.

No water - The kings had probably expected to find sufficient water for both men and baggage animals in the Wady-el-Ahsy, which divides Edom from Moab, and which has a stream that is now regarded as perennial. But it was dried up - quite a possible occurrence with any of the streams of this region.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

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 drive them to it. Wicked people often fare the better for the friendship and society of the godly. To try their faith and obedience, Elisha bids them make the valley full of pits to receive water. Those who expect God's blessings, must dig pools for the rain to fill, as in the valley of Baca, and thus make even that a well, Ps 84:6. We need not inquire whence the water came. God is not tied to second causes. They that sincerely seek for the dew of God's grace, shall have it, and by it be made more than conquerors.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

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.

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Cross References

Edom

no water

that followed them