2 Samuel 10:9

9 When Joab saw that he had two fronts to fight, before and behind, he took his pick of the best of Israel and deployed them to confront the Arameans.

2 Samuel 10:9 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 10:9

When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him
before and behind
Or "the face" of it ^F23; armies appeared both before and behind, about to attack him both in front and rear; the Targum is,

``and Joab saw that the warriors, or those that made war, were strong against him before and behind:''

he chose of all the choice [men] of Israel;
the most eminent for strength, and valour, and military skill, who had been tried, and were famous for warlike exploits, the flower of the army:

and put [them] in array against the Syrians;
who might be the strongest party, and the best soldiers; though being but mercenaries, if hard beset, would sooner give way, as he might suppose, upon which the Ammonites would do the same.

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FOOTNOTES:

F23 (ynp) "facies", Pagninus, Montanus.

2 Samuel 10:9 In-Context

7 When David heard of this, he dispatched Joab with his strongest fighters in full force.

8 The Ammonites marched out and arranged themselves in battle formation at the city gate. The Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah took up a position out in the open fields.

9 When Joab saw that he had two fronts to fight, before and behind, he took his pick of the best of Israel and deployed them to confront the Arameans.

10 The rest of the army he put under the command of Abishai, his brother, and deployed them to confront the Ammonites.

11 Then he said, "If the Arameans are too much for me, you help me. And if the Ammonites prove too much for you, I'll come and help you.