2 Samuel 10:7-17

7 When David heard of this, he dispatched Joab with his strongest fighters in full force.

8 The Ammonites marched out and arranged themselves in battle formation at the city gate. The Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah took up a position out in the open fields.

9 When Joab saw that he had two fronts to fight, before and behind, he took his pick of the best of Israel and deployed them to confront the Arameans.

10 The rest of the army he put under the command of Abishai, his brother, and deployed them to confront the Ammonites.

11 Then he said, "If the Arameans are too much for me, you help me. And if the Ammonites prove too much for you, I'll come and help you.

12 Courage! We'll fight with might and main for our people and for the cities of our God. And God will do whatever he sees needs doing!"

13 But when Joab and his soldiers moved in to fight the Arameans, they ran off in full retreat.

14 Then the Ammonites, seeing the Arameans run for dear life, took to their heels from Abishai and went into the city. So Joab left off fighting the Ammonites and returned to Jerusalem.

15 When the Arameans saw how badly they'd been beaten by Israel, they picked up the pieces and regrouped.

16 Hadadezer sent for the Arameans who were across the River. They came to Helam. Shobach, commander of Hadadezer's army, led them.

17 All this was reported to David.

2 Samuel 10:7-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 10

This chapter gives an account of the ill treatment of David's messengers to the king of Ammon, who were sent to condole the death of his father, and were basely used by him, which David resented, 2Sa 10:1-5; which the Ammonites perceiving prepared for war, and got the Syrians to be confederates with them; of which David being informed, sent Joab and Abishai into their country, 2Sa 10:6-8; who divided the army between them, and attacked the Ammonites and Syrians with great courage, and routed them both, and returned to Jerusalem, 2Sa 10:9-14; after which the Syrians gathered together again to fight with David, who went out to meet them, and got an entire conquest over them, and made them servants to him, 2Sa 10:15-19.