Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 19:9
The Ammonites marched out and arrayed themselves for battle at the entrance to the city, while the kings who had come stayed by themselves in the open country.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative positions the Ammonites and their allied kings at the city perimeter immediately after David dispatches Joab and the Israelite army, directly preceding Joab's assessment of the dual threat.
The words — The Hebrew וַ/יַּֽעַרְכ֥וּ (va/i.ya.'ar.Khu) translates as "and they deployed," while פֶּ֣תַח (Pe.tach) means "the entrance," specifying that the Ammonites formed their battle lines precisely at the city gate.
The thread — This exact positioning is recorded in 2 Samuel 10:8, and the broader motif of armies arraying at a designated point appears in 1 Samuel 17:2 where Saul camps at the Valley of Elah.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that the physical separation of the Ammonites at the gate and the allied kings in the open field creates the precise tactical conditions that will force Joab to split his forces.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 17:2 Saul and the men of Israel assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah, arraying themselves for battle against the Philistines.
- 2 Samuel 10:8 The Ammonites marched out and arrayed themselves for battle at the entrance of the city gate, while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the open country.
- 2 Samuel 18:4 “I will do whatever seems best to you,” the king replied. So he stood beside the gate, while all the troops marched out by hundreds and by thousands.
- 1 Kings 20:1 Now Ben-hadad king of Aram assembled his entire army. Accompanied by thirty-two kings with their horses and chariots, he marched up, besieged Samaria, and waged war against it.
- 1 Kings 20:24 So do this: Dismiss all the kings from their positions and replace them with other officers.
- 2 Chronicles 13:3 Abijah went into battle with an army of 400,000 chosen men, while Jeroboam drew up in formation against him with 800,000 chosen and mighty men of valor.
- 2 Chronicles 14:10 So Asa marched out against him and lined up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.
- Isaiah 28:6 a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and a strength to those who repel the onslaught at the gate.
- Jeremiah 50:42 They grasp the bow and spear; they are cruel and merciless. Their voice roars like the sea, and they ride upon horses, lined up like men in formation against you, O Daughter of Babylon.
- Joel 2:5 With a sound like that of chariots they bound over the mountaintops, like the crackling of fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army deployed for battle.