1 Chronicles 19:14

So Joab and the people that [were] with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him.

So Joab {H3097} and the people {H5971} that were with him drew nigh {H5066} before {H6440} the Syrians {H758} unto the battle {H4421}; and they fled {H5127} before {H6440} him.

So Yo'av and the people with him went to engage Aram in battle, and they fled before him.

So Joab and his troops advanced to fight the Arameans, who fled before him.

So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him.

Commentary

1 Chronicles 19:14 depicts a moment of decisive victory for Israel's forces under the command of Joab, King David's chief general. This verse succinctly describes the confrontation and immediate retreat of the Syrian army, highlighting the effectiveness of Joab's military leadership and the strength of the Israelite army.

Context

This verse is situated within the narrative of the Ammonite-Syrian war against Israel, a significant conflict in King David's reign. The war began after King Hanun of Ammon severely insulted David's messengers, who had been sent to offer condolences upon the death of Hanun's father. In response to David's perceived affront, the Ammonites hired vast numbers of Aramean (Syrian) mercenaries from various kingdoms, including Beth-rehob, Zoba, Maacah, and Tob, to fight against Israel. Joab, facing a two-front battle with the Ammonites besieging the city and the Syrians positioned in the open field, strategically divided his forces. This particular verse describes the immediate outcome of Joab's direct confrontation with the Syrian forces, a critical engagement in the larger war. This battle is part of the larger conflict detailed in 2 Samuel chapter 10, which offers a parallel account of these events.

Key Themes

  • Military Efficacy and Leadership: The verse showcases Joab's competence as a military commander. His decision to "draw nigh" indicates a direct and bold engagement, which quickly led to the enemy's rout. This highlights the importance of decisive leadership in conflict.
  • Divine Favor and Victory: While not explicitly stated as God's direct intervention in this specific verse, the Chronicler's narrative often emphasizes divine favor as the underlying cause of Israel's military successes. The immediate flight of the Syrians suggests a strong, perhaps divinely-backed, advantage for Israel.
  • Confrontation and Resolution: The verse illustrates the principle of direct confrontation leading to a swift resolution. Joab's approach to battle was not one of hesitation but of immediate engagement, which broke the enemy's lines and morale.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase translated "drew nigh" (ื•ึทื™ึผึดื’ึผึทืฉื, vayyiggash) comes from the root nagash, meaning "to approach," "to draw near," or "to engage in battle." This emphasizes the direct and purposeful movement of Joab and his men towards the enemy. The term "fled" (ื•ึทื™ึผึธื ื•ึผืกื•ึผ, vayyanusu) is from the root nus, meaning "to flee" or "to escape," indicating a decisive and rapid retreat by the Syrians, showing the overwhelming nature of Joab's initial assault.

Practical Application

The account of Joab's swift victory offers several timeless lessons:

  • Courage in Confrontation: Just as Joab "drew nigh" to the Syrians, we are often called to directly confront challenges or obstacles in our lives rather than avoiding them.
  • Strategic Action: The success of Joab's initial strategy, including his earlier decision to divide forces (compare 1 Chronicles 19:9), underscores the importance of planning and wise execution in overcoming difficulties.
  • Trust in Strength (Divine or Human): While Joab's military skill is evident, the broader context of Chronicles often points to God as the ultimate source of Israel's strength and victory. This encourages believers to rely on divine power when facing seemingly insurmountable odds (Psalm 20:7).
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 20:13

    And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I [am] the LORD.

  • Jeremiah 46:15

    Why are thy valiant [men] swept away? they stood not, because the LORD did drive them.

  • Jeremiah 46:16

    He made many to fall, yea, one fell upon another: and they said, Arise, and let us go again to our own people, and to the land of our nativity, from the oppressing sword.

  • 1 Kings 20:19

    So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed them.

  • 1 Kings 20:21

    And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.

  • 1 Kings 20:28

    And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD [is] God of the hills, but he [is] not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD.

  • 1 Kings 20:30

    But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and [there] a wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand of the men [that were] left. And Benhadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber.
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