And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.

2 SAMUEL 10:14KJV
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2 Samuel 10:14 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 10:14 mean?

2 Samuel 10:14 describes the end of a battle against two forces. When the Ammonites see their Syrian allies flee, they retreat into their city rather than continue fighting Abishai’s force. Joab then leaves the Ammonite area and returns to Jerusalem.

The narrator connects the two retreats: the Ammonites act when they see what has happened to their allies. After Joab’s victory over the Syrians in verse 13, the focus shifts to Abishai, Joab’s brother, who had been facing the Ammonites.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 10:14

  • “before” — פָּנִים (panim): This word can mean “face” or “presence.” Here, “before Abishai” pictures the Ammonites fleeing from the force facing them under his command.
  • “returned” — שׁוּב (shuv): This word means to turn back or return. Joab’s movement away from the Ammonites brings this part of the fighting to a close.

Why 2 Samuel 10:14 matters

  • The two sides of Israel’s force had different opponents. In verse 10, Joab placed Abishai against the Ammonites while Joab faced the Syrians. That explains why the Ammonites flee “before Abishai” even though Joab leads the wider operation.

  • The retreat is not the same as the capture of the city. The Ammonites “entered into the city,” while Joab returned to Jerusalem. The later account in 2 Samuel 11:1 describes renewed fighting against the Ammonites and a siege of Rabbah.

Where else these words appear

“Abishai” Hebrew H52 · used in 24 verses

  • 1 Samuel 26:6 Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.
  • 2 Samuel 10:10 And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon.
  • 2 Samuel 20:10 But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.

“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.

“Syrians” Hebrew H758 · used in 117 verses

  • Genesis 10:22 The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.
  • 2 Kings 5:1 Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.
  • 1 Chronicles 2:23 And he took Geshur, and Aram, with the towns of Jair, from them, with Kenath, and the towns thereof, even threescore cities. All these belonged to the sons of Machir the father of Gilead.

“Joab” Hebrew H3097 · used in 124 verses

  • 1 Samuel 26:6 Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.
  • 2 Samuel 14:22 And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked the king: and Joab said, To day thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of his servant.
  • 2 Samuel 24:4 Notwithstanding the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.