So Joab and his troops advanced to fight the Arameans, who fled before him.
Parallel translations
- WEB So Joab and the people who were with him came near to the front of the Syrians to the battle; and they fled before him.
- KJV So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him.
- NKJV So Joab and the people who were with him drew near for the battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him.
- NASB So Joab and the people who were with him advanced to battle against the Arameans, and they fled from him.
- NLT When Joab and his troops attacked, the Arameans began to run away.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
When Joab advances, the Syrians flee before him. It shows God granting the first phase of victory.
Overview
As Joab engages, the formidable Aramean force breaks and flees. The swift rout confirms that the Lord is fighting for Israel. The collapse of the stronger enemy emboldens Israel and triggers the Ammonites' retreat in the next verse, demonstrating God's deliverance of his people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- 1 Kgs 20:13Meanwhile a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel and declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Do you see this entire great army? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand this very day, and you will know that I am the LORD.’”
- 2 Chr 13:5–16Do you not know that the LORD, the God of Israel, has given the kingship of Israel to David and his descendants forever by a covenant of salt?
- 1 Kgs 20:19–21Meanwhile, these young officers of the district governors marched out of the city, with the army behind them,
- Jer 46:15–16Why have your warriors been laid low? They cannot stand, for the LORD has thrust them down.
- 1 Kgs 20:28–30Then the man of God approached the king of Israel and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because the Arameans think the LORD is a god of the hills and not of the valleys, I will deliver all this great army into your hand. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”
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Original language
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