2 Samuel 10:9

2 Samuel 10:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:
• New International Version (NIV)Joab saw that there were battle lines in front of him and behind him; so he selected some of the best troops in Israel and deployed them against the Arameans.
• English Standard Version (ESV)When Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and in the rear, he chose some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Syrians.
• New King James Version (NKJV)When Joab saw that the battle line was against him before and behind, he chose some of Israel’s best and put them in battle array against the Syrians.

Context of 2 Samuel 10:9

7David heard about it and sent Joab and all the elite troops. 8The Ammonites marched out and lined up in battle formation at the entrance to the city gate while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were in the field by themselves. When Joab saw that there was a battle line in front of him and another behind him, he chose some of Israel’s finest young men and lined up in formation to engage the Arameans. 10He placed the rest of the forces under the command of his brother Abishai. They lined up in formation to engage the Ammonites. 11“If the Arameans are too strong for me,” Joab said, “then you will be my help. However, if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I’ll come to help you.

2 Samuel 10:9 word by word

וַיַּ֣רְא יוֹאָ֗ב כִּֽי־הָיְתָ֤ה אֵלָיו֙ פְּנֵ֣י הַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה מִפָּנִ֖ים וּמֵֽאָח֑וֹר וַיִּבְחַ֗ר מִכֹּל֙ בְּחוּרֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַֽיַּעֲרֹ֖ךְ לִקְרַ֥את אֲרָֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• When Joabיוֹאָבyô'âb · JoabH3097
• sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• that the frontפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• of the battleמִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh · battleH4421
• and behindאָחוֹר'âchôr 'âchôr · backH268
• he choseבָּחַרbâchar · to chooseH977
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• in arrayעָרַךְ‛ârak · to arrangeH6186
• againstקִרְאָהqir'âh · befallH7125
• the Syriansאֲרָם'ărâm · SyriaH758

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 10:9

• Joshua 8:21When Joshua and all Israel saw that the men in ambush had captured the city and that smoke was rising from it, they turned back and struck down the men of Ai.
• Judges 20:42They retreated before the men of Israel toward the wilderness, but the battle overtook them, and those who came out of the cities slaughtered those between them.

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 10:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Before and behind - It is probable that one of the armies was in the field, and the other in the city, when Joab arrived. When he fronted this army, the other appears to have issued from the city, and to have taken him in the rear; he was therefore obliged to divide his army as here mentioned; one part to face the Syrians commanded by himself, and the other to face the Ammonites commanded by his brother Abishai.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9The two armies of the Ammonites and the Syrians were drawn up facing one another; the Ammonites supported by the city Rabbah behind them; the Syrians in great force, with numerous chariots able to manoeuvre in the plain in front of Medeba. If Joab advanced against either, he would have the other in his rear.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-14Verses 6-14 They that are at war with the Son of David, not only give the provocation, but begin the war. God has forces to send against those that set his wrath at defiance, Is 5:19, which will convince them that none ever hardened his heart against God, and prospered. Christ's soldiers should strengthen one another's hands in their spiritual warfare. Let nothing be wanting in us, whatever the success be. When we make conscience of doing our duty, we…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-19After the break in 2 Samuel 9, the story goes back to David's military successes. The Ammonites were likely the dominant political power in Transjordan (the area east of the Jordan) during Saul’s reign and the early years of David’s reign.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 6-146-14. when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David--To chastise those insolent and inhospitable Ammonites, who had violated the common law of nations, David sent a large army under the command of Joab, while they, informed of the impending attack, made energetic preparations to repel it by engaging the services of an immense number of Syrian mercenaries. Beth-rehob--the capital of the low-lying region between Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 10:9

• Joab
• Zobah

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Joab
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Ammonite
• Chronicles, Books of
• Hadarezer
• Hanun
• Medeba
• Nahash

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings