7
They hired 32,000 chariots, as well as the king of Ma'akhah with his people, who came and pitched their camp in front of Meidva. Then the people of 'Amon assembled themselves from their cities and went out to fight.
8
When David heard of it, he sent Yo'av with his entire army of trained soldiers.
9
The army of 'Amon came out and went into battle formation at the city gate, while the kings who had come were alone in the countryside.
10
When Yo'av saw that he would be fighting on two fronts, ahead and behind, he chose the best troops of Isra'el to deploy against Aram;
11
while the rest of the army he put under the command of Avishai his brother to deploy against the army of 'Amon.
12
He said, "If Aram is too strong for me, you help me; but if the army of 'Amon is too strong for you, then I will help you.
13
Take courage, and let's be strong for the sake of our people and the cities of our God. May ADONAI do what seems good to him."
14
So Yo'av and the people with him went to engage Aram in battle, and they fled before him.
15
When the people of 'Amon saw that Aram had fled, they likewise fled before Avishai his brother and retreated into the city. Then Yo'av went to Yerushalayim.
16
When Aram saw that Isra'el had gotten the better of them, they sent messengers and brought out the people of Aram who lived beyond the [Euphrates] River, with Shofakh the commander of Hadar'ezer's army at their head.
17
It was reported to David; so he gathered all Isra'el together and crossed the Yarden to engage them. David deployed his forces for battle against Aram; and after he had done so, fought them.