5
Then there went certain persons, and told David how the men were served. He sent to meet them; for the men were greatly ashamed. The king said, Stay at Yericho until your beards be grown, and then return.
6
When the children of `Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of `Ammon sent one thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Aram-Naharayim, and out of Arammaacah, and out of Tzovah.
7
So they hired them thirty-two thousand chariots, and the king of Ma`akhah and his people, who came and encamped before Medeva. The children of `Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.
8
When David heard of it, he sent Yo'av, and all the host of the mighty men.
9
The children of `Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the gate of the city: and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.
10
Now when Yo'av saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Yisra'el, and put them in array against the Aram.
11
The rest of the people he committed into the hand of Avishai his brother; and they put themselves in array against the children of `Ammon.
12
He said, If the Aram be too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the children of `Ammon be too strong for you, then I will help you.
13
Be of good courage, and let us play the man for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seems him good.
14
So Yo'av and the people who were with him drew near before the Aram to the battle; and they fled before him.
15
When the children of `Ammon saw that the Aram were fled, they likewise fled before Avishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Yo'av came to Yerushalayim.