2 Kings 3:4-8

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.”

[3:4]  ¹ tn For a discussion of the meaning of term (נֹקֵד, noqed), see M. Cogan and H. Tadmor, II Kings (AB), 43.

[3:4]  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.

[3:7]  ³ tn Heb “went and sent.”

[3:7]  ⁴ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Jehoshaphat) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[3:7]  ⁵ tn Heb “I will go up – like me, like you; like my people, like your people; like my horses; like your horses.”

[3:8]  ⁵ tn Heb “Where is the road we will go up?”

[3:8]  ⁶ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Jehoram) has been specified in the translation for clarity.