1 Chronicles 19 9

1 Chronicles 19:9 kjv

And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array before the gate of the city: and the kings that were come were by themselves in the field.

1 Chronicles 19:9 nkjv

Then the people of Ammon came out and put themselves in battle array before the gate of the city, and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.

1 Chronicles 19:9 niv

The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle formation at the entrance to their city, while the kings who had come were by themselves in the open country.

1 Chronicles 19:9 esv

And the Ammonites came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the city, and the kings who had come were by themselves in the open country.

1 Chronicles 19:9 nlt

The Ammonite troops came out and drew up their battle lines at the entrance of the city, while the other kings positioned themselves to fight in the open fields.

1 Chronicles 19 verses

1 Chronicles 19 9 Meaning

This verse describes the tactical military deployment of the combined Ammonite and Aramean armies in anticipation of their confrontation with King David's Israelite forces. The main Ammonite army positioned itself defensively at the entrance of a key city, likely to guard their stronghold or block a strategic pathway. Simultaneously, the allied Aramean mercenary kings and their troops took up a distinct and separate position in the open field. This dual formation demonstrated a calculated and serious intent by David's adversaries to engage in battle, creating a complex threat that required a specific strategic response.

1 Chronicles 19 9 Context

This verse is part of the account in 1 Chronicles 19 detailing David's war against the Ammonites and their Aramean allies. The conflict arose from a profound act of disrespect: David, desiring to show kindness to Hanun, the new king of Ammon, upon the death of his father Nahash, sent ambassadors to convey condolences. However, Hanun, misled by his advisors who suspected David's intentions, shamefully humiliated the envoys by shaving off half their beards and cutting their garments at the hips before sending them away. This act was an unforgivable insult in the ancient Near East, an offense to David's honor and to Israel. In response, David dispatched his mighty army under the command of Joab. Realizing their mistake and the formidable threat posed by Israel, the Ammonites hired vast mercenary forces from various Aramean city-states—specifically from Aram-naharaim, Aram-maacah, and Zobah, comprising 32,000 chariots and horsemen, in addition to troops from Beth-rehob. Verse 9 then describes the outcome of these preparations: the precise, two-pronged deployment of the enemy armies, setting the immediate stage for the decisive battles that would follow. The Chronicler emphasizes David's righteousness and the severity of the challenge, thereby highlighting God's eventual delivery.

1 Chronicles 19 9 Word Analysis

• So the Ammonites: Refers to the descendants of Ben-Ammi, son of Lot (Gen 19:38). Historically, they were a people group constantly in conflict with Israel, inhabiting the territory east of the Jordan River. Their leaders instigated the offense against David, leading to this conflict.
• came out: (Hebrew: יָצְאוּ, yatse'u from יָצָא, yatsa', "to go forth, come out"). This signifies a deliberate movement, typically from a city or defensive position, indicating an intent to confront or engage in battle. It's a calculated offensive maneuver rather than a casual emergence.
• and drew up in battle formation: (Hebrew: עָרְכוּ, areku from עָרַךְ, arakh, "to arrange, set in order, array"). This is a military technical term. It implies organized and disciplined preparation for combat, where troops are strategically positioned, rather than haphazardly assembled. It highlights their serious intent and readiness.
• at the entrance of the city: (Hebrew: פֶּתַח הַשַּׁעַר, petakh hash-sha'ar, "opening of the gate"). City gates were highly significant defensive and strategic locations in ancient warfare. Placing their main force here allowed them to control access, serve as a sally point for attacks, or provide a secure fall-back position. It signifies a primary defensive or immediate offensive stance.
• and the kings: (Hebrew: וְהַמְּלָכִים, vehammaelakhim, "the kings"). These "kings" were not necessarily absolute monarchs of large nations but rather leaders of independent or semi-independent city-states in Aram (Syria), who led their military contingents as mercenaries. They represent the considerable external military might hired by the Ammonites (1 Chr 19:6).
• who came were by themselves: (Hebrew: לְבַדָּם, levaddam, "by themselves, separately, alone"). This detail is crucial. It reveals the enemy's divided strategy: the Aramean mercenary forces were not integrated with the main Ammonite army but operated as a distinct unit. This could be to enable independent flanking maneuvers, act as a powerful reserve, or present two separate fronts to divide the Israelite forces.
• in the open country: (Hebrew: בַּשָּׂדֶה, bas-sadeh, "in the field, open land"). This type of terrain was ideal for the numerous chariots and horsemen (1 Chr 19:7) that the Aramean contingents typically possessed. Positioning them here allowed for maximum maneuverability, speed, and breadth of attack, especially for a heavy cavalry charge or encirclement.
• Words-group: "Ammonites... entrance of the city": This shows the Ammonite home defense force taking a static, defensive or sally-out position close to their fortifications. Their proximity to the city indicates their role in protecting their immediate interests or blocking a direct advance towards their center.
• Words-group: "kings... open country": This distinct group signifies the mobile, offensive punch of the hired mercenary armies. Their deployment in open ground maximized their specific strengths—chariots and cavalry—allowing them the space to maneuver and flank, and implying an aggressive, expansive military objective.

1 Chronicles 19 9 Bonus Section

The specificity of the enemy's deployment—the main Ammonite force at the city gate and the allied kings' armies by themselves in the open country—provides critical intelligence that Joab, David's commander, uses to devise his successful counter-strategy in the verses that follow (1 Chr 19:10-12). He recognizes the need to fight on two fronts simultaneously, assigning his brother Abishai to face the Ammonites while he himself dealt with the Arameans. This attention to enemy formation by the Chronicler emphasizes the military wisdom granted to David's leaders, and implicitly, God's providential hand in preparing them for the overwhelming opposition. The heavy cost paid by the Ammonites to secure these alliances (1,000 talents of silver for 32,000 chariots and horsemen, 1 Chr 19:6-7) indicates the scale of their fear of David and their determination to resist, underscoring the severity of the insult and the ensuing conflict.

1 Chronicles 19 9 Commentary

1 Chronicles 19:9 marks a pivotal moment in David's war with the Ammonites, detailing the immediate readiness of the formidable allied forces. Having grossly insulted David's envoys, the Ammonites prepared for the inevitable confrontation, enlisting substantial mercenary support from Aramean kingdoms. This verse paints a vivid picture of their strategic deployment: the core Ammonite army positioned at a city's vulnerable entrance, and a separate, potent force of allied kings in the open field. This deliberate, two-pronged arrangement was designed to create a complex military challenge for Israel, compelling Joab to divide his forces. Yet, within the Chronicler's narrative, such overwhelming earthly preparation only serves to highlight the subsequent divine intervention and ultimate Israelite victory, which demonstrated God's faithfulness to David and His anointed kingdom. For believers, this account, while historical, underscores that our adversaries, whether physical challenges or spiritual forces (Eph 6:11-12), often appear organized and formidable. It calls for awareness, reliance not on human might, but on the God who gives victory even against strategically deployed enemies.