2 Samuel 10:9

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

When Joab saw that battle lines were drawn up against him both in front and behind, he chose some of the select men of Israel and arrayed them against the Arameans.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיַּ֣רְא יוֹאָ֗ב כִּֽי־הָיְתָ֤ה אֵלָיו֙ פְּנֵ֣י הַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה מִפָּנִ֖ים וּמֵֽאָח֑וֹר וַיִּבְחַ֗ר מִכֹּל֙ בְּחוּרֵ֣י *בישראל **יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַֽיַּעֲרֹ֖ךְ לִקְרַ֥את אֲרָֽם׃

Transliteration

And wayyarʾ yôʾāb that-kî-hāyətāh to-him ʾēlāyw pənê the-hammilḥāmāh from-front mippānîm and-from-behind ûmēʾāḥôr and wayyibḥar from-all mikkōl bəḥûrê yiśrāʾēl and wayyaʿărōk toward liqraʾt ʾărām.

Grammar Details

• *wayyarʾ*: waw-consecutive with qal imperfect 3ms - and he saw
• *yôʾāb*: proper name - Joab
• *kî-hāyətāh*: conjunction with qal perfect 3fs - that it was
• *ʾēlāyw*: preposition with 3ms suffix - to him/against him
• *pənê*: masculine plural construct - face of/front of
• *hammilḥāmāh*: definite article with feminine singular noun - the battle
• *mippānîm*: preposition with masculine plural noun - from the front
• *ûmēʾāḥôr*: conjunction with preposition with masculine singular noun - and from behind
• *wayyibḥar*: waw-consecutive with qal imperfect 3ms - and he chose
• *mikkōl*: preposition with masculine singular - from all
• *bəḥûrê*: masculine plural construct - chosen men of
• *yiśrāʾēl*: proper name - Israel
• *wayyaʿărōk*: waw-consecutive with qal imperfect 3ms - and he arranged/set in order
• *liqraʾt*: preposition with qal infinitive construct - to meet/against
• *ʾărām*: proper name - Aram

Word Meanings

• *pənê hammilḥāmāh*: front of the battle/battle lines
• *bəḥûrê*: chosen men/elite soldiers/select men

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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:

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose all the elite men of Israel, and set them in array against the Syrians.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  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:

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Now when Joab{H3097} saw{H7200} that the battle{H4421} was set{H6440} against him before{H6440} and behind,{H268} he chose{H977} of all the choice{H977} men of Israel,{H3478} and put them in array{H6186} against{H7125} the Syrians:{H758}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  When Joab{H3097} saw{H7200}{(H8799)} that the front{H6440} of the battle{H4421} was against him before{H6440} and behind{H268}, he chose{H977}{(H8799)} of all the choice{H977}{(H8803)} men of Israel{H3478}, and put them in array{H6186}{(H8799)} against{H7125}{(H8800)} the Syrians{H758}:

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Now whan Ioab sawe that the battayll was set vpo him before and behynde, he chose of all the best yonge men in Israel, & prepared him selfe agaynst the Syrians.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  When Ioab saw that the front of the battel was against him before and behinde, he chose of all the choyse of Israel, and put them in aray against the Aramites.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Whe Ioab sawe that the front of the battaile was against him before and behinde, he chose of all the choyse of Israel, and put them in aray against the Syrians.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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:

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and Joab seeth that the front of the battle hath been unto him before and behind, and he chooseth of all the chosen in Israel, and setteth in array to meet Aram,

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Now when Joab saw that their forces were in position against him in front and at his back, he took the best of the men of Israel and put them in line against the Aramaeans;

• World English Bible (2000)

  Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  When Joab saw that the battle would be fought on two fronts, he chose some of Israel’s best men and deployed them against the Arameans.

Referenced Verses

• Josh 8:21-22 : 21 When Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had captured the city and that its smoke was rising, they turned back and struck down the men of Ai. 22 The others came out from the city to meet them, so the men of Ai were surrounded by the Israelites, some on one side and some on the other. They struck them down until no survivors or fugitives were left.
• Judg 20:42-43 : 42 They fled before the Israelites toward the wilderness, but they were overtaken, and those who came out of the cities destroyed them. 43 They surrounded the Benjaminites, pursued them, and overran them until they were opposite Gibeah on the east side.