2 Samuel 10 15

2 Samuel 10:15 kjv

And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together.

2 Samuel 10:15 nkjv

When the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered together.

2 Samuel 10:15 niv

After the Arameans saw that they had been routed by Israel, they regrouped.

2 Samuel 10:15 esv

But when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves together.

2 Samuel 10:15 nlt

The Arameans now realized that they were no match for Israel. So when they regrouped,

2 Samuel 10 verses

2 Samuel 10 15 Meaning

This verse describes the immediate aftermath of the initial battle between the Israelites, led by Joab, and the Arameans. Despite suffering a clear defeat at the hands of Israel, the Arameans did not retreat entirely or concede their loss. Instead, driven by their pride or military determination, they strategically regrouped. This act of reassembly signified their intent to re-engage in conflict, setting the stage for a second, decisive confrontation. It reveals their defiance and military resolve, unwilling to accept a single setback as the end of their campaign against Israel.

2 Samuel 10 15 Context

This verse follows directly after the initial confrontation of the war against the Ammonites and Arameans, instigated by Ammon's severe insult to David's envoys (2 Sam 10:1-5). The Ammonites, recognizing the grave offense they committed, hired powerful Aramean mercenaries to strengthen their forces (2 Sam 10:6-8). David sent his mighty men, led by Joab and Abishai, to counter this threat. In the first engagement, Joab expertly divided his forces, personally leading against the formidable Arameans while Abishai engaged the Ammonites (2 Sam 10:9-12). Joab's strategy, coupled with his rallying cry for courage and reliance on the Lord (2 Sam 10:12), resulted in a clear victory; the Arameans fled before him (2 Sam 10:13-14). Verse 15 marks the Arameans' response to this defeat, showing their strategic mindset and resilience rather than immediate surrender. It sets the stage for a more significant military mobilization where the Arameans gather even greater forces, necessitating King David's personal involvement in the next phase of the war (2 Sam 10:16-19). Historically, Aram was a region comprised of various kingdoms in present-day Syria and northern Mesopotamia, known for their powerful armies. Their immediate re-grouping reflects not only their military pride but also the gravity of the conflict from their perspective, likely protecting their allied territories or strategic interests.

2 Samuel 10 15 Word analysis

• When (וַיַּרְאוּ, vayyar'u): Introduces a sequential event, signaling the immediate reaction of the Arameans to what had just occurred.
• the Arameans (הָאֲרַמִּים, ha'Arammim): Refers to the Syrian peoples from various city-states, specifically those mercenary forces allied with the Ammonites, highlighting their collective identity as a military entity.
• saw (וַיַּרְאוּ, vayyar'u): From the Hebrew root ra’ah (רָאָה), meaning to see, perceive, understand. It implies that they not only physically witnessed their defeat but also recognized its reality and significance.
• that they had been defeated (כִּי נִגְּפוּ, ki niggəfu):
  • ki (כִּי): A conjunction meaning 'that', introducing a subordinate clause stating the reason for their subsequent action.
  • niggəfu (נִגְּפוּ): A nifal perfect third person plural of nāgaph (נָגַף), meaning to strike, smite, plague, or defeat. The nifal stem indicates a passive voice, "they were struck down" or "they were defeated," emphasizing that the action was inflicted upon them. This highlights a clear, decisive, and humbling loss.
• by Israel (לִפְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, lifnê Yisra'el): Literally "before Israel," commonly rendered "by Israel" in this context. It signifies that the defeat occurred at the hand of, or in the presence of, the Israelite army. It highlights Israel's direct agency in their defeat.
• they gathered themselves together (וַיֵּאָסְפוּ יַחְדָּו, wayyê'āsefu yaḥdāv):
  • wayyê'āsefu (וַיֵּאָסְפוּ): A nifal imperfect third person plural of ’āsaph (אָסַף), meaning to gather, assemble, collect. The nifal stem suggests "they were gathered" or "they gathered themselves," implying a deliberate act of rallying their forces.
  • yaḥdāv (יַחְדָּו): An adverb meaning "together" or "unitedly." This emphasizes the cohesive and intentional nature of their regrouping, signifying their collective resolve.
• Words-group analysis:
  • "When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel": This phrase emphasizes the undeniable reality of their loss. It wasn't a skirmish but a decisive military setback that forced them to acknowledge Israel's superior prowess in that specific encounter. This acknowledgment forms the direct catalyst for their subsequent action.
  • "they gathered themselves together": This crucial concluding phrase describes their immediate strategic response. Instead of abandoning the conflict or scattering in full retreat, they made a unified and determined decision to regroup. This suggests their military discipline, pride, and perhaps an underestimation of Israel's divine backing, leading them to believe a second attempt could yield a different outcome.

2 Samuel 10 15 Bonus section

• The military doctrine evident here for the Arameans shows their sophistication and determination. Unlike a scattered retreat, their immediate re-gathering points to established leadership, command structures, and a deep-seated commitment to their strategic objectives or national honor. This makes their eventual complete submission to David even more significant as a testimony to God's power.
• This verse indirectly sets up the display of David's own faith and leadership, as he subsequently takes the field himself (2 Sam 10:16-19) to confront this reassembled, now even larger, Aramean force, culminating in their subjugation and a further extension of David's kingdom.
• The use of "nifal" verbal stems (passive/reflexive voice) for "defeated" (נִגְּפוּ) and "gathered" (וַיֵּאָסְפוּ) suggests that the defeat was an action upon them, while the re-gathering was an action of themselves, indicating their internal will to act despite their circumstances.

2 Samuel 10 15 Commentary

2 Samuel 10:15 succinctly describes the enemy's resilience and defiance. After being decisively defeated by Joab and the Israelite army, the Arameans, a formidable and professional fighting force, did not succumb to despair. Their act of "gathering themselves together" was a clear statement of their intent to continue the war, refusing to accept the initial outcome as final. This illustrates the human tendency towards persistence, pride, and sometimes, a misjudgment of strength when pitted against a divinely-aided force. For the biblical reader, this action elevates the stakes, showing that God's people faced not just one-off victories but often persistent, re-emerging opposition. It underscores that even clear victories do not always signal the end of conflict, requiring continuous vigilance and faith in God's sustained help. It foreshadows the need for David himself to lead the decisive counter-attack in the following verses, ensuring complete submission of these adversarial forces and thereby further demonstrating God's sovereign power through His anointed king.