10:7 When David heard the news, he sent Joab and the entire army to meet them. 1 10:8 The Ammonites marched out and were deployed for battle at the entrance of the city gate, while the men from Aram Zobah, Rehob, Ish-tob, and Maacah were by themselves in the field.
10:9 When Joab saw that the battle would be fought on two fronts, he chose some of Israel’s best men and deployed them against the Arameans. 2 10:10 He put his brother Abishai in charge of the rest of the army 3 and they were deployed 4 against the Ammonites. 10:11 Joab 5 said, “If the Arameans start to overpower me, 6 you come to my rescue. If the Ammonites start to overpower you, 7 I will come to your rescue. 10:12 Be strong! Let’s fight bravely for the sake of our people and the cities of our God! The Lord will do what he decides is best!” 8
10:13 So Joab and his men 9 marched out to do battle with the Arameans, and they fled before him. 10:14 When the Ammonites saw the Arameans flee, they fled before his brother Abishai and went into the city. Joab withdrew from fighting the Ammonites and returned to 10 Jerusalem. 11
1 tn The words “the news” and “to meet them” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons and for clarification.
2 tn Heb “and Joab saw that the face of the battle was to him before and behind and he chose from all the best in Israel and arranged to meet Aram.”
3 tn Heb “people.”
4 tn Heb “he arranged.”
5 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Joab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
6 tn Heb “if Aram is stronger than me.”
7 tn Heb “if the sons of Ammon are stronger than you.”
8 tn Heb “and the
9 tn Heb “and the army which was with him.”
10 tn Heb “and Joab returned from against the sons of Ammon and entered.”
11 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.