Then he said: The text again leaves a great deal to the imagination. Here it sounds like the two kings are now together and no longer using messengers as intermediaries. The pronoun he refers to Jehoshaphat. Since the question that follows is a continuation of words from the same speaker as at the end of verse 7, certain modern versions leave the quotation open and omit Then he said. If these words are retained in translation, they are probably best translated “and added” (New Jerusalem Bible) or “He [Jehoshaphat] added” (La Bible du Semeur).

By which way shall we march?: From Samaria the attacking armies could go to the country of Moab by going east across the Jordan River and then moving south along the east side of the Dead Sea, or they could go south along the west side of the Dead Sea and then to the south of it before turning back north to attack Moab. Jehoshaphat was inquiring about which plan of attack would be wiser.

Most manuscripts of the Septuagint have the singular “By which way shall I go up?” but Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament does not discuss this variant, and translators should follow the Masoretic Text here.

By the way of the wilderness of Edom: The route implied in this response would involve going almost directly south from Samaria through Jerusalem and continuing to the south of the Dead Sea and then turning north after passing through Edom. The proposed route perhaps explains how the king of Edom (verse 9) also got involved in this military action. This longer, indirect approach was probably chosen to add an element of surprise. Or perhaps the northern and western borders of Moab were better fortified than the southern border. Joram’s grandfather, Omri, had made peace with the kingdom of Judah. In this alliance Israel dominated Moab while Judah dominated Edom (1 Kgs 22.47). Just as Moab revolted against Israel, so Edom will later revolt against Judah when Jehoshaphat’s son Jehoram is king (2 Kgs 8.20-22). For wilderness see 1 Kgs 2.34; for Edom see 1 Kgs 9.26 and 11.1.

New American Bible provides a possible model for those languages that prefer indirect discourse in this verse:

• They discussed the route for their attack, and settled upon the route through the desert of Edom.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .