9. When Joab saw that there was a battle line in front of him and another behind him, he chose some men out of all the elite troops of Israel and lined up in battle formation to engage the Arameans.
10. He placed the rest of the forces under the command of his brother Abishai who lined up in battle 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.
12. Be strong! We must prove ourselves strong for our people and for the cities of our God. May the Lord’s will be done.”
13. Joab and his troops advanced to fight against the Arameans, and they fled before him.
14. When 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.
15. When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they regrouped.
16. Hadadezer sent messengers to bring the Arameans who were across the Euphrates River, and they came to Helam with Shobach, commander of Hadadezer’s army, leading them.
17. When this was reported to David, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, and went to Helam. Then the Arameans lined up in formation to engage David in battle and fought against him.