2 Samuel 10:6-14

6When the Ammonites realized they had become repulsive to David, they hired twenty thousand foot soldiers from the Arameans of Beth-rehob and Zobah, one thousand men from the king of Maacah, and twelve thousand men from Tob.

7David heard about it and sent Joab and all the elite troops.

8The Ammonites marched out and lined up in battle formation at the entrance to the city gate while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were in the field by themselves.

9When Joab saw that there was a battle line in front of him and another behind him, he chose some of Israel’s finest young men and lined up in formation to engage the Arameans.

10He placed the rest of the forces under the command of his brother Abishai. They lined up in formation to engage the Ammonites.

11“If the Arameans are too strong for me,” Joab said, “then you will be my help. However, if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I’ll come to help you.

12Be strong! Let’s prove ourselves strong for our people and for the cities of our God. May the Lord’s will be done.”

13Joab and his troops advanced to fight against the Arameans, and they fled before him.

14When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they too fled before Abishai and entered the city. So Joab withdrew from the attack against the Ammonites and went to Jerusalem.