7
So they hired thirty-two thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people, who came and pitched camp before Medeba. And the sons of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities and came to battle.
8
And when David heard
of it, he sent Joab and all the host of the mighty men.
9
And the sons of Ammon came out and put the battle in order before the gate of the city, and the kings that had come
were by themselves in the field.
10
Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose out of all the choice of Israel and put
them in order against the Syrians.
11
And he put the rest of the people into the hand of Abishai, his brother, putting them in order against the sons of Ammon.
12
And he said, If the Syrians are too strong for me, then thou shalt save me; but if the sons of Ammon are too strong for thee, then I will save thee.
13
Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people and for the cities of our God; and let the LORD do
that which is good in his sight.
14
So Joab and the people that
were with him drew near before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him.
15
And when the sons of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab returned to Jerusalem.
16
And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they sent ambassadors and drew forth the Syrians that
were beyond the river, whose captain was Shophach, the prince of the host of Hadarezer.
17
And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel and passed over the Jordan and came upon them and ordered his host against them. And when David had put his troops in order against the Syrians, they fought with him.