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 19:10KJV
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1 Chronicles 19:10 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 19:10 mean?

1 Chronicles 19:10 describes Joab’s response to a dangerous military position. Enemy forces were in front of and behind his army, so he selected some of Israel’s best soldiers and positioned them to fight the Syrians.

The picture is of an army facing threats from two directions. After the opposing forces take their positions in verse 9, Joab acts to meet the Syrian force himself. In the next verse, he places the rest of his men under his brother Abishai to face the Ammonites.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 19:10

  • “choice” — בָּחַר (bachar): This Hebrew word carries the sense of choosing or selecting. The wording points to men picked from among Israel’s chosen soldiers, emphasizing their quality.
  • “array” — עָרַךְ (arakh): This word can mean to arrange or set in order. Here it describes placing soldiers in a battle formation, rather than simply sending them toward the enemy.

Why 1 Chronicles 19:10 matters

  • The verse shows Joab dividing responsibility between two commanders. His own selected force faces the Syrians, while Abishai leads the other men against the Ammonites in verse 11.
  • Joab’s choice also sets up the brothers’ agreement to help each other. In verse 12, each promises to come to the other’s aid if the enemy proves too strong.

Where else these words appear

“behind” Hebrew H268 · used in 41 verses

  • Genesis 49:17 Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.
  • Psalms 44:18 Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;
  • Isaiah 42:17 They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.

“array” Hebrew H6186 · used in 71 verses

  • Genesis 14:8 And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela(the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;
  • 1 Samuel 17:8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.
  • Job 32:14 Now he hath not directed his words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches.

“against” Hebrew H7125 · used in 117 verses

  • Genesis 14:17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale.
  • Judges 6:35 And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.
  • 2 Samuel 19:25 And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?

“Syrians” Hebrew H758 · used in 117 verses

  • Genesis 10:22 The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.
  • 1 Kings 22:35 And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot.
  • 1 Chronicles 1:17 The sons of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram, and Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Meshech.