6 When the people of Ammon saw that they ahad made themselves repulsive to David, the people of Ammon sent and hired bthe Syrians of cBeth Rehob and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand foot soldiers; and from the king of dMaacah one thousand men, and from eIsh-Tob twelve thousand men.
7 Now when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of athe mighty men.
8 Then the people of Ammon came out and put themselves in battle array at the entrance of the gate. And athe Syrians of Zoba, Beth Rehob, Ish-Tob, and Maacah were by themselves in the field.
9 When Joab saw that the battle line was against him before and behind, he chose some of Israel’s best and put them in battle array against the Syrians.
10 And the rest of the people he put under the command of aAbishai his brother, that he might set them in battle array against the people of Ammon.
11 Then he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the people of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come and help you.
12 aBe of good courage, and let us bbe strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may cthe Lord do what is good in His sight.”
13 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near for the battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him.
14 When the people of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fleeing, they also fled before Abishai, and entered the city. So Joab returned from the people of Ammon and went to aJerusalem.
15 When the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered together.
16 Then1 Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond2 the River, and they came to Helam. And Shobach the commander of Hadadezer’s army went before them.
New King James Version®, Copyright© 1982, Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Book Notes:
Barnes' Book Notes
Introduction to 2 Samuel
See the Introduction to Samuel in the notes on First Samuel
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