7. When David heard of it, he sent JOAB, and all the army of the mighty men.

8. The children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entrance of the gate. The Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.

9. Now when JOAB saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians.

10. The rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother; and he put them in array against the children of Ammon.

11. He said, "If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the children of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come and help you.

12. Be courageous, and let us be strong for our people, and for the cities of our God; and may the LORD do what seems good to him."

13. So JOAB and the people who were with him came near to the battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him.

14. When the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, and entered into the city. Then JOAB returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.

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 chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, out of Aram-maacah, and out of Zobah.

7. So they hired for themselves thirty-two thousand chariots, and the king of Maacah with his people, who came and encamped near Medeba. The children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.

8. When David heard of it, he sent JOAB with all the army 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 JOAB saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose some of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians.

11. The rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother; and they put themselves in array against the children of Ammon.

12. He said, "If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you are to help me; but if the children of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you.

13. Be courageous, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do that which seems good to him."

14. So JOAB and the people who were with him came near to the front of the Syrians to the battle; and they fled before him.

15. When the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then JOAB came to Jerusalem.