7. David heard about it. So he sent Joab out with the entire army of Israel's fighting men.
8. The Ammonites marched out. They took up their battle positions at the entrance of their city gate. The Arameans of Zobah and Rehob gathered their troops together in the open country. So did the men of Tob and Maacah.
9. Joab saw that there were lines of soldiers in front of him and behind him. So he chose some of the best troops in Israel. He sent them to march out against the Arameans.
10. He put the rest of the men under the command of his brother Abishai. Joab sent them to march out against the Ammonites.
11. He said, "Suppose the Arameans are too strong for me. Then you must come and help me. But suppose the Ammonites are too strong for you. Then I'll come and help you.
12. "Be strong. Let's be brave as we fight for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what he thinks is best."
13. Then Joab and the troops who were with him marched out to attack the Arameans. They ran away from him.
14. The Ammonites saw that the Arameans were running away. So they ran away from Abishai. They went inside the city. After Joab had fought against the Ammonites, he went back to Jerusalem.
15. The Arameans saw that they had been driven away by Israel. So they brought their troops together.
16. Hadadezer had some Arameans brought from east of the Euphrates River. They went to Helam under the command of Shobach. He was the commander of Hadadezer's army.
17. David was told about it. So he gathered the whole army of Israel together. They went across the Jordan River to Helam. The Arameans lined up their soldiers to go to war against David. They began to fight against him.
18. But then they ran away from Israel. David killed 700 of their chariot riders. He killed 40,000 of their soldiers who were on foot. He also struck down Shobach, the commander of their army. Shobach died there.