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

7After David heard about this, he sent Joab and all the elite troops. 8The Ammonites formed a battle line at the entrance of the ⌞city⌟ gate, while the Arameans from Zobah and Rehob and the men from Tob and Maacah remained by themselves in the open country. When Joab saw he was under attack in front and behind, he took the select troops of Israel and organized them for combat against the Arameans. 10He put his brother Abishai in charge of the rest of the troops. Abishai organized them for combat against the Ammonites. 11Joab said, “If the Arameans are too strong for my ⌞troops⌟, be ready to help me. And if the Ammonites are too strong for your ⌞troops⌟, 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 who had been hiding had captured the city and that it was going up in smoke, they turned and attacked the men of Ai.
• Judges 20:42They turned in front of Israel toward the road to the desert. But the battle caught up with the men of Benjamin. Israel slaughtered whoever came out of the cities on the road to the desert.

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