2 Samuel 10:8

8 The children of `Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entrance of the gate: and the Aram of Tzovah and of Rechov, and the men of Tov and Ma`akhah, were by themselves in the field.

2 Samuel 10:8 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 10:8

And the children of Ammon came out
Either out of Rabbah their metropolis, as Josephus ^F21; or rather out of Medeba, as it seems from ( 1 Chronicles 19:7 ) ; a city that lay on the borders of their country, and was a frontier town, see ( Numbers 21:30 ) ;

and put the battle in array, at the entering in of the gate;
of the city of Medeba; they were first within the city, but, upon the approach of Joab and his army, they came out and drew up in a line of battle at the gate of it:

and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, [were]
by themselves in the field;
at some distance from the city, the Ammonites not choosing to trust: mercenaries in it; and perhaps they placed these ambush in the field, to get Joab between two fires, as we now express it.

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FOOTNOTES:

F21 Antiqu. l. 7. c. 6. sect. 2.

2 Samuel 10:8 In-Context

6 When the children of `Ammon saw that they were become odious to David, the children of `Ammon sent and hired the Aram of Beit-Rechov, and the Aram of Tzovah, twenty thousand footmen, and the king of Ma`akhah with one thousand men, and the men of Tov twelve thousand men.

7 When David heard of it, he sent Yo'av, and all the host of the mighty men.

8 The children of `Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entrance of the gate: and the Aram of Tzovah and of Rechov, and the men of Tov and Ma`akhah, were by themselves in the field.

9 Now when Yo'av saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Yisra'el, and put them in array against the Aram:

10 The rest of the people he committed into the hand of Avishai his brother; and he put them in array against the children of `Ammon.