If they were from Aram, which is in the north, why were they in Ein Gedi, which is in the south?
Malbim: The informer did not know which nations they are; he thought that they are from Aram 1 .
Malbim (23): Mo'av and Edom were subservient to Yisrael. They hired many troops from overseas, in order to cast Yisrael's yoke off of them. These are the other nations mentioned in Tehilim 83, which refers to this war. Peleshes and Yoshevei Tzur came via the sea; Yishmaelim and Bnei Ashur came via Aram. They joined with Amon, Mo'av and Edom to surround Yisrael and destroy it. When they passed by the east border and Chatzetzon Tamar, respectively, Hagrim and Amalek joined with them.
Malbim (23): This is difficult. Aram is in the north - Amon, Mo'av and Se'ir are all south of Yehudah! Also, why was Yehoshafat afraid (3)? Mo'av was under Yisrael, and rebelled only after Achav died. Edom was under Yehoshafat. Asa had only 580,000 soldiers, and he defeated millions of Kush. Yehoshafat had twice as many soldiers!
Why does it add "Hu Ein Gedi"?
'Rashi': They told him, they came very close to us.
