What Does 2 Chronicles 13:3 Mean in the King James?
And Abijah set the battle in array with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men: Jeroboam also set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, being mighty men of valour.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
English says both commanders “set the battle in array,” but Hebrew says Abijah binds the battle while Jeroboam arranges it.
THE MEANING
The imbalance arrives before its meaning: 400,000 chosen men stand against 800,000, and both forces are described as battle-ready. The verse leaves the result open, so the visible count is not yet a verdict.
THE ROOT
וַיֶּאְסֹר
wayye'esor
GROWS FROM
אָסַר
To bind or tie; in this expression, to bind or engage in battle.
“set the battle in array” in this verse is wayye'esor. The Hebrew verb behind Abijah’s battle formation comes from a root of binding. The English makes his action sound identical to Jeroboam’s, though the Hebrew gives it a different texture.
ALSO GROWS
asur: Bound
אָסוּר
It shows the root’s basic image of binding behind Abijah’s verb.
asir: Captive or prisoner
אָסִיר
A captive is someone bound and held, another branch of the same root.
עָרַךְ
ʿārak
GROWS FROM
עָרַךְ
To arrange, set in order, or lay out.
“set the battle in array” in this verse is ʿārak. The Hebrew changes verbs halfway through the verse, although the KJV repeats the same phrase. Jeroboam’s army is arranged with the same root used for setting a table before enemies in Psalm 23:5, so battle formation and table preparation share a word for laying things out.
ALSO GROWS
maʿărākâ: Battle array or formation
מַעֲרָכָה
This noun names the ordered ranks produced by arranging an army.
taʿarokh: You set or prepare
תַּעֲרֹךְ
Psalm 23:5 uses this form for preparing a table before enemies, linking the root to a different kind of arrangement.
בָּחוּר
bachur
GROWS FROM
בָּחַר
To choose or select.
Both armies are called chosen men, so the word does not distinguish one force from the other; the visible contrast is their number. Bachur can also mean a young man, carrying the sense of one selected or choice.
ALSO GROWS
bachir: Chosen one
בָּחִיר
It keeps the sense of selection explicit in a related form.
mibchar: Choice selection or the best of something
מִבְחָר
It shows the root extending from choosing to what is selected.
THE PATTERN
A force can be measured exactly before its size tells you who will prevail.
And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.THE THREAD
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.Jeroboam’s “set ... in array” is עָרַךְ (ʿārak), meaning arrange or lay out; Psalm 23:5 uses the same root for preparing a table before enemies. The shared verb lets the battle formation echo with another kind of arrangement.
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