2 Samuel 10:11

11 And Joab said, If (the) men of Syria have the mastery against me, thou shalt be to me into help; and if the sons of Ammon have the mastery against thee, I shall help thee;

2 Samuel 10:11 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 10:11

And he said, if the Syrians be too strong for me
Which he might perceive by Joab's forces giving way, or by some signal agreed on between them

then thou shall help me;
detach a part of his army to his support and assistance:

but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come
and help thee;
in the same manner.

2 Samuel 10:11 In-Context

9 Therefore Joab saw, that the battle was made ready against him, both even against him and behind his back; and he chose to himself of all the chosen men of Israel (and he chose for himself the best men out of all Israel), and ordained (the) battle array against (the) Syrians.

10 Forsooth he betook to Abishai, his brother, the tother part of the people, which dressed (the) battle array against the sons of Ammon.

11 And Joab said, If (the) men of Syria have the mastery against me, thou shalt be to me into help; and if the sons of Ammon have the mastery against thee, I shall help thee;

12 be thou a strong man (be thou of good courage), and fight we for our people, and for the city of our God; for the Lord shall do that, that is good in his sight.

13 Therefore Joab and the people that was with him, began battle against men of Syria, which fled anon from his face. (And so Joab, and the men who were with him, began to fight against the Syrians, who fled at once from before them.)