📖WEB · 1 Chronicles 19:12
What does 1 Chronicles 19:12 mean?
"He said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you are to help me; but if the children of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you."
— 1 Chronicles 19:12 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
The children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the gate of the city; and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.
Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose some of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians.
The rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother; and they put themselves in array against the children of Ammon.
He said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you are to help me; but if the children of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you.
Be courageous, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. May Yahweh do that which seems good to him.”
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.
When the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.
Explanation
First Chronicles 19:12 records the words of Joab, the commander of King David's army, as he prepares his troops for a difficult battle. In plain terms, Joab is speaking to his brother Abishai,
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