Joab And Abishai Divide Forces Against Arameans And Ammonites

6When the sons of Ammon saw that they had become odious to David, the sons of Ammon sent and hired the Arameans of Beth-rehob and the Arameans of Zobah, twenty thousand foot soldiers, and the king of Maacah with one thousand men, and the men of Tob, twelve thousand men.

7When David heard, he sent Joab and all the army of the mighty men.

8Then the sons of Ammon came out and drew up for battle at the entrance of the gate, while Aram of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the field.

9When Joab saw that the battle line was set against him in front and in the rear, he chose from all the choice men of Israel and arrayed them to meet Aram.

10And the rest of the people he put under the command of Abishai his brother, and he drew them up to meet the sons of Ammon.

11He said, “If Aram is too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will go to help you.”

12Be strong, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God, and may Yahweh do what is good in his eyes.

13Then Joab and the people who were with him advanced to battle against Aram, and they fled before him.

14And when the sons of Ammon saw that Aram had fled, they fled before Abishai and entered the city. Then Joab returned from against the sons of Ammon and came to Jerusalem.