6. When the Ammonites saw that they had become odious to David, the Ammonites sent and hired the Arameans of Beth Rehob and the Arameans of Zobah, twenty thousand foot soldiers, and from the king of Maakah, one thousand men, and from Tob, twelve thousand men.
7. When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army with the warriors.
8. The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle formation at the entrance of the gate. But the Arameans of Zobah, Rehob, Tob, and Maakah were by themselves in the open field.
9. When Joab saw that the battlefronts were both before and behind him, he selected some from the best men in Israel and lined them up opposite Aram.
10. The remainder of the people he placed under the charge of Abishai his brother, and lined them up opposite the Ammonites.
11. Then he said, “If Aram starts to prevail over me, you shall help me, but if the Ammonites begin to prevail over you, then I will come to help you.
12. Be strong and let us fight with resolve for the sake of our people and the cities of our God. May the Lord do what seems good to Him.”
13. Joab advanced the people that were with him to fight against Aram, and they retreated from before him.
14. When the Ammonites realized that Aram had fled, they retreated from before Abishai and entered the city. Then Joab turned away from fighting against the Ammonites, and he came to Jerusalem.