1 Chronicles 19:10 kjv
Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose out of all the choice of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians.
1 Chronicles 19:10 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.
1 Chronicles 19:10 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.
1 Chronicles 19:10 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.
1 Chronicles 19:10 nlt
When Joab saw that he would have to fight on both the front and the rear, he chose some of Israel's elite troops and placed them under his personal command to fight the Arameans in the fields.
1 Chronicles 19 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 10:9 | When Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and in the rear... | Direct parallel account of Joab's strategy. |
| 2 Sam 10:10 | He chose some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Syrians. | Direct parallel action of Joab choosing elite. |
| 1 Chron 19:12 | The rest of the people he put under the command of Abishai his brother... | Joab's strategy of dividing forces. |
| 1 Chron 19:13 | "Be strong and let us be courageous... The LORD do what seems good to him." | Joab's pep talk and dependence on God. |
| Josh 1:9 | Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous... for the LORD your God is with you... | Divine command for courage in warfare. |
| Deut 31:6 | Be strong and courageous. Do not fear... for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. | Encouragement in the face of enemies. |
| Prov 24:6 | For by wise guidance you can wage your war, and victory is won through many advisers. | Wisdom and strategy in warfare. |
| Prov 20:18 | Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war. | Importance of good counsel in battle. |
| Jdg 7:7 | The LORD said to Gideon, "With the 300 men... I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand." | God choosing few elite men for victory. |
| Gen 32:7-8 | Jacob was greatly afraid... He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds... | Dividing forces due to perceived threat. |
| Psa 3:6 | I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. | Facing overwhelming numbers with faith. |
| Psa 27:3 | Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear... | Confidence amidst dire military threats. |
| 2 Ki 6:15-16 | "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" He said, "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more." | God's invisible army in the face of opposition. |
| Psa 18:29 | For by You I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. | God empowering for conquest and overcoming odds. |
| Psa 44:5-6 | Through You we push back our foes... For not by my sword did I win the land, nor did my arm save me. | Acknowledging God as source of victory, not human might. |
| Deut 20:4 | For the LORD your God is He who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies. | God fighting for His people in battle. |
| 1 Sam 17:47 | And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. | God's deliverance regardless of human arms. |
| Eph 6:10-12 | Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might... against the spiritual forces of evil. | Spiritual battle echoing military strategies. |
| 1 Pet 5:8 | Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. | Alertness against a powerful enemy. |
| Jas 4:7 | Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. | Resisting opposition through divine reliance. |
| Phil 4:13 | I can do all things through him who strengthens me. | Empowerment to face all circumstances. |
| 1 Cor 14:40 | But all things should be done decently and in order. | Principle of order and strategy in operations. |
| Prov 21:31 | The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD. | Human preparation combined with divine sovereignty. |
1 Chronicles 19 verses
1 Chronicles 19 10 Meaning
This verse describes Joab, King David's commander, encountering a dire strategic situation during a battle where the enemy forces had surrounded his army, confronting them from both front and rear. Recognizing the extreme peril, Joab immediately implemented a shrewd military tactic: he selected the most skilled and valiant soldiers from the Israelite army and deployed them specifically to engage the Aramean (Syrian) forces, who posed the primary and most immediate threat. This demonstrates Joab's strategic insight and decisive leadership in a critical moment.
1 Chronicles 19 10 Context
This verse is set within the reign of King David and describes a pivotal moment during the Ammonite-Aramean war. The conflict began when Hanun, king of Ammon, grossly dishonored David's ambassadors, prompting David to send Joab to avenge the insult. The Ammonites, recognizing the might of David's army, hired formidable Aramean (Syrian) forces from various regions to bolster their ranks, forming a massive coalition.
Chapter 19 narrates Joab's initial engagement with this formidable alliance. Verse 10 specifically captures the point when Joab, on the battlefield, realized his army was trapped between the Ammonite and Aramean forces, creating a highly precarious pincer movement. This strategic quandary necessitated immediate, decisive action. The Chronicler, writing for a post-exilic audience, emphasizes God's favor and the successes of the Davidic dynasty, even highlighting the skillful leadership of David's commanders as instruments of divine purpose, which subtly foreshadows the future success under God's hand, despite dire initial circumstances.
1 Chronicles 19 10 Word analysis
- Now when Joab: Yo’av (יוֹאָב) meaning "the LORD is father/brother." Joab was King David's ruthless but incredibly skilled military commander. His actions here underscore his strategic brilliance and immediate responsiveness.
- saw: wayyar (וַיַּרְא), from the Hebrew root ra’ah, meaning "to see," but also "to perceive" or "to understand." Joab didn't just physically see; he immediately apprehended the tactical dilemma his forces were in.
- that the battle: milḥāmāh (מִלְחָמָה), meaning "war" or "combat." It refers to the overall conflict and the specific engagement taking place.
- was set against him: nātsḇāh ‘ālāyw (נָצְבָה עָלָיו), implying the battle or enemy array was "standing firm" or "established" against him. It conveys a sense of direct and organized opposition, not a skirmish.
- before and behind: pənê wə’āḥôr (פְּנֵי וְאָחֹר), literally "face and back." This vivid phrase indicates a critical and highly dangerous tactical situation: Joab's forces were surrounded, or being attacked from two major directions simultaneously, making retreat difficult and conventional maneuvers perilous. This is a common strategy in ancient warfare to entrap and decimate an enemy.
- he chose: wayyiqqaḥ (וַיִּקַּח), "he took," implying a deliberate and selective act. Joab made a conscious decision.
- some of the best men: mimbḥar yisrā’êl (מִמִּבְחַר יִשְׂרָאֵל), where mibḥar means "chosen," "select," "prime," or "elite." This signifies Joab's wisdom in allocating his most capable soldiers to the most challenging and crucial front. These were likely experienced, courageous, and highly trained warriors.
- of Israel: yiśrā’êl (יִשְׂרָאֵל), referring to the nation or the Israelite army as a whole.
- and arrayed them: wayya‘ărōḵ (וַיַּעֲרֹךְ), meaning "he arranged," "set in order," or "deployed for battle." This highlights Joab's expertise in military formation and organization, quickly positioning his elite troops for maximum impact.
- against the Syrians: liqraṯ ’ă·rām (לִקְרַת אֲרָם). The Syrians, or Arameans, were renowned for their military prowess, often employing chariots and highly effective infantry. By sending his best men against this formidable contingent, Joab identified them as the most significant threat and a priority target.
1 Chronicles 19 10 Bonus section
The account in 1 Chronicles 19, particularly verses 10-13, is closely paralleled in 2 Samuel 10:9-12. While generally consistent, Chronicles often re-emphasizes certain aspects or streamlines narratives to suit its specific theological purpose, which includes highlighting the positive aspects of David's reign and the success of God's chosen line. Both accounts agree on Joab's strategic response of dividing his forces: one elite unit under his direct command to face the Syrians, and the other under his brother Abishai to face the Ammonites. The very next verse, 1 Chronicles 19:11, details this division. Importantly, Joab’s subsequent exhortation to his soldiers in 1 Chronicles 19:13, urging them to "be strong and let us be courageous" and adding, "The LORD do what seems good to him," reveals that his astute military strategy was coupled with a dependence on divine sovereignty. This combination of human effort and trust in God is a recurring theme throughout biblical narratives of warfare.
1 Chronicles 19 10 Commentary
1 Chronicles 19:10 captures a moment of decisive leadership and military genius by Joab in the face of extreme adversity. When confronted with a strategic nightmare – an enemy force attacking from two directions, putting his army in a dangerous pincer movement – Joab's immediate response was not panic, but astute tactical assessment. His selection of "the best men of Israel" to confront the formidable Syrians demonstrates his understanding of the importance of concentrating superior force at the point of greatest danger. This action underscores that while divine providence is always paramount in Israel's history, God also uses the wisdom and skill of His human instruments. The account emphasizes preparation, strategic planning, and courageous leadership as integral parts of achieving victory, even when victory ultimately belongs to the Lord (Proverbs 21:31).