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.
So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom set out together. They marched in a roundabout way for seven days, but there was no water for their army or for the animals traveling with them.
The writer is describing how three kings joined forces for a military campaign, but after a week-long march through difficult terrain, they ran out of water for their troops and animals.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of 2 Kings, the kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom formed an alliance to attack the Moabites, who had rebelled against Israelite rule. As they traveled through the desert on a strategic but circuitous route, their seven-day journey led to a severe shortage of water for their army and animals. This event highlights the challenges faced by ancient Near Eastern kings during military campaigns in arid regions.
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