ma.a.ra.khah denotes an ordered formation, especially opposing military ranks, and also arranged rows or orderly placement.

The term most often identifies military formations: Israel and the Philistines stand or are addressed as opposing ranks, and people move from or toward the battle formation. In non-military settings, it marks an ordered arrangement, including rows on the table and the ordered setting of lamps.

1. Military formation or opposing ranks · dominant

   In 1 Samuel 17:21, two singular absolute forms occur as Israel and the Philistines arrange formation against formation; the APB renders the clause, "Israel and the Philistines arranged rank to encounter rank." Plural construct forms identify the ranks of Israel or the Philistines in the Philistine's challenge and David's reply, while singular forms mark the place from which a messenger fled or toward which David ran.

   1 Samuel 17:81 Samuel 17:211 Samuel 17:261 Samuel 17:481 Samuel 4:161 Samuel 23:3
2. Ordered arrangement of items or actions · occasional

   In Leviticus 24:6, the plural absolute accompanies the placement of items "in two rows, six per row" on the table. Singular absolute forms occur with the lampstand's lamps in Exodus 39:37 and with building an altar "in an orderly manner" in Judges 6:26; 1 Chronicles 12:39 places the singular in a setting where provisions had been prepared.

   Leviticus 24:6Exodus 39:37Judges 6:261 Chronicles 12:39

In the Anselm Project Bible: Across the military passages, the APB commonly uses "rank" or "ranks," and once uses "battle line." In the non-military passages it presents rows, lamps of the rank, and an "orderly manner"; these renderings reflect whole clauses rather than a word-by-word alignment.