He said; either Jehoshaphat; or rather, Jehoram; for the following answer may seem to be Jehoshaphat s. Through the wilderness of Edom; which though it was much the longer way, yet they thought it best; partly to secure the king or viceroy of Edom, of whom they might have some suspicion, from that passage, 2 Chronicles 20:22, and to carry both him and his soldiers along with them into the war, both to get their assistance, and to prevent them from, making a war of diversion against Judah, whilst Jehoshaphat was engaged against Moab; and partly that they might invade Moab on their weakest side, and where they least expected them. God also thus disposed their hearts to make way for the following miracle.
Related Commentaries of 2 Kings 3:8
2 Kings 3:8
8 And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom.