2 Chronicles 13:14

14 And Judah beheld, and he saw battle nigh even against before them, and behind their back; and he cried to the Lord, and [the] priests began to trump. (But then the men of Judah looked about, and they saw that the battle was to come from in front of them, and also from behind their backs; and they cried to the Lord, and the priests began to sound their trumpets.)

2 Chronicles 13:14 Meaning and Commentary

2 Chronicles 13:14

And when Judah looked back
On hearing a noise behind them:

behold, the battle was before and behind;
men were set in battle array, and the battle was begun, and an attack made upon them both ways:

and they cried unto the Lord;
for help against their enemies, and to deliver them out of their hands:

and the priests sounded with the trumpets;
to inspire them with cheerfulness, and to suggest to them that God was with them and they need not be afraid.

2 Chronicles 13:14 In-Context

12 Therefore God is duke in our host, and his priests, that trump and sound against you; do not ye, sons of Israel, fight against the Lord God of your fathers, for it speedeth not to you. (And so God is the leader of our army, and of his priests, who be ready to sound against you with trumpets; do not, ye Israelites, fight against the Lord God of your fathers, for it shall not profit you/for ye shall not prosper.)
13 While Abijah spake these things, Jeroboam made ready treasons behind (them); and when Jeroboam stood even against his enemies, he (en)compassed (them) with his host, Judah unwitting. (And while Abijah spoke all these things, Jeroboam prepared an attack behind them; and so while Jeroboam stood in front of his enemies, he was also behind them with his army, but Judah was unwitting, or unknowing.)
14 And Judah beheld, and he saw battle nigh even against before them, and behind their back; and he cried to the Lord, and [the] priests began to trump. (But then the men of Judah looked about, and they saw that the battle was to come from in front of them, and also from behind their backs; and they cried to the Lord, and the priests began to sound their trumpets.)
15 And all the men of Judah cried out, and, lo! while they cried on high, God made afeared Jeroboam and all Israel, that stood even against Judah and Abijah/which stood [over] against Judah and Abijah. (And all the men of Judah cried out, and, lo! while they cried on high, God made Jeroboam and all Israel afraid, who stood opposite, or in front of, Judah and Abijah.)
16 And the men of Israel fled from Judah, and God betook them into the hands of the men of Judah.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.