3:4 Now King Mesha of Moab was a sheep breeder. 1 He would send as tribute 2 to the king of Israel 100,000 male lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams. 3:5 When Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. 3:6 At that time King Jehoram left Samaria and assembled all Israel for war. 3:7 He sent 3 this message to King Jehoshaphat of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you fight with me against Moab?” Jehoshaphat 4 replied, “I will join you in the campaign; my army and horses are at your disposal.” 5 3:8 He then asked, “Which invasion route are we going to take?” 6 Jehoram 7 answered, “By the road through the Desert of Edom.”
1 tn For a discussion of the meaning of term (נֹקֵד, noqed), see M. Cogan and H. Tadmor, II Kings (AB), 43.
2 tn The vav + perfect here indicates customary action contemporary with the situation described in the preceding main clause. See IBHS 533-34 §32.2.3e.
3 tn Heb “went and sent.”
4 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Jehoshaphat) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
5 tn Heb “I will go up – like me, like you; like my people, like your people; like my horses; like your horses.”
5 tn Heb “Where is the road we will go up?”
6 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Jehoram) has been specified in the translation for clarity.