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 19:9KJV
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1 Chronicles 19:9 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 19:9 mean?

1 Chronicles 19:9 describes how the Ammonite army came out and arranged themselves for battle in front of their city gate, while the allied kings who had come to help them positioned themselves separately in the open field. This sets the stage for a confrontation between the Israelites and the combined forces of Ammon and their allies.

The verse is part of a narrative where King David’s army is about to face the Ammonites and their hired mercenaries. The Ammonites, feeling threatened, prepare for battle by organizing their troops defensively near their city, while their allies take up a position in the field, likely to create a two-front challenge for Israel’s forces.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 19:9

  • "children" (בְּנֵי, bənê): This word means "sons" or "descendants," and here it refers specifically to the people of Ammon, emphasizing their identity as a distinct group.
  • "array" (עָרַךְ, ‘ārakh): This verb means to arrange or set in order, often used for organizing troops for battle. It highlights the deliberate military preparation and strategy being used.
  • "gate" (פֶּתַח, petaḥ): This word means "entrance" or "gate," pointing to the strategic location where the Ammonites set up—right in front of their city’s main access point, likely for defensive advantage.
  • "field" (שָׂדֶה, sadeh): This term means "open country" or "field," showing that the allied kings were not inside the city but positioned in the open, possibly to flank or support the Ammonite forces.

Why 1 Chronicles 19:9 matters

  • The verse clarifies that the Ammonites and their allies were not a single, unified force but were positioned separately, which affects how the battle unfolds in the following verses.
  • Understanding the arrangement of troops helps explain the tactical challenge faced by Israel’s army, who would have to fight on two fronts.
  • This setup is important for the narrative, as it leads to the strategic decisions made by Joab, David’s commander, in the next part of the story.

Where else these words appear

“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.

“Ammon” Hebrew H5983 · used in 98 verses

  • Genesis 19:38 And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.
  • Judges 11:36 And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon.
  • 1 Chronicles 19:11 And the rest of the people he delivered unto the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon.