The Ammonite soldiers stationed themselves outside their capital city of Rabbah, while their Syrian allies stationed themselves out in the open country to attack the Israelite army from the rear.

The Ammonites came out: The Ammonites may be rendered “The Ammonite troops” (New Living Translation) or “The army of Ammon” (similarly Complete Jewish Bible). The verb came out implies that the Ammonite soldiers left the confines of the city. In many languages it will be necessary to say “came out of the city” or “left behind the city walls.”

Drew up in battle array may be rendered “arranged themselves in their battle positions,” “set themselves in battle formation,” “got ready for battle” (International Children’s Bible), or “prepared to fight the battle.” The Hebrew verb here has the connotation of putting things in rows.

At the entrance of the city: The name of the city of Rabbah is not specifically mentioned in the text until the beginning of the next chapter. But there is little doubt that this passage is talking about the defense of the Ammonites’ capital city, which was located about 37 kilometers (23 miles) northeast of the Dead Sea. In fact, Rabbah is the only city mentioned in the Bible as being Ammonite. Today it is called Amman and is the capital of Jordan. By adding the name “Rabbah,” Good News Translation provides more explicit information than is found in the Hebrew, but the original readers would have understood this. Bible en français courant and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente say “their capital” instead of the city. For this whole phrase New International Version says “at the entrance to their city.”

And the kings who had come were by themselves in the open country: Good News Translation makes explicit why these Syrian kings and their armies had come by adding the words “to help.” Bible en français courant goes a bit further in saying “to help them.” Were by themselves means they were separate from the Ammonite soldiers. The Hebrew noun translated the open country usually stands in opposition to the cities and highways (see, for example, Jdg 20.31). This noun refers to places away from where large groups of people are usually found (see 1 Sam 30.11). It also implies that there are probably no forests in the immediate vicinity. Contemporary English Version translates “the open fields.” International Children’s Bible renders this clause as a separate sentence, saying “The kings who had come to help stayed out in the fields by themselves.”

Contemporary English Version keeps clear the two groups of soldiers in this verse by saying “The Ammonite troops marched to the entrance of the city and prepared for battle, while the Syrian troops took their positions in the open fields.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .