A military campaign intended to crush a rebellion quickly devolves into a chaotic night battle, exposing the deep vulnerabilities of a king. King Joram leads his army toward Zair, which is identified as either a city or a general region within Edom [מצודת דוד, רד״ק], possibly referring to the Mount Seir area [ביאור שטיינזלץ].
The ensuing clash takes place under the cover of darkness, a detail that highlights Joram's fragile military standing. The primary approach among commentators is that Joram was simply too weak and afraid to wage an open war in broad daylight. To avoid a massive, head-on collision with the enemy, he is forced to operate in the dead of night [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד].
As the battle unfolds, there are different perspectives on exactly who strikes whom. The primary approach suggests that Joram and his army initiate a surprise night attack against the Edomite camp that has ambushed and surrounded them [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. However, his success is highly limited. He manages to defeat only the Edomite forces immediately surrounding him or those stationed near the border. He lacks the military power to push deeper into enemy territory and secure a complete victory [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. Conversely, an alternative viewpoint suggests that the Edomite rebels are the ones who launch the night assault. In this scenario, the rebels attack Joram's chariot commanders as well as a loyal faction of Edomites who have not rebelled and are actually assisting the Israelites [רלב״ג, רד״ק].
The battle's chaotic end is also viewed from two distinct angles. Some explain that the Edomites, startled by the sudden night attack, panic and flee for their lives [רד״ק]. However, other commentators maintain that the fleeing forces are actually the Israelites. According to this understanding, after Joram lands only a partial, ineffective blow, he and his army immediately retreat to their tents, driven by their fear of the remaining Edomites [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד, רלב״ג]. Ultimately, while Joram manages to escape the battle with his life, the entire military campaign ends in a panicked retreat without any real achievement [ביאור שטיינזלץ].