David’s power steadily grew, for the Lord who commands armies was with him.

Phinehas son of Eleazar had been their leader in earlier times, and the Lord was with him.

David reigned over all Israel; he guaranteed justice for all his people.

So Joab and his men marched toward the Arameans to do battle, and they fled before him.

While Ornan was threshing wheat, he turned and saw the messenger, and he and his four sons hid themselves.

These were the leaders of David’s warriors who helped establish and stabilize his rule over all Israel, in accordance with the Lord’s word.

David realized that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that he had elevated his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

He gave him the blueprints of all he envisioned for the courts of the Lord’s temple, all the surrounding rooms, the storehouses of God’s temple, and the storehouses for the holy items.

They hired 32,000 chariots, along with the king of Maacah and his army, who came and camped in front of Medeba. The Ammonites also assembled from their cities and marched out to do battle.

When David was informed, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan River, and marched against them. David deployed his army against the Arameans for battle and they fought against him.

Joab replied, “May the Lord make his army a hundred times larger! My master, O king, do not all of them serve my master? Why does my master want to do this? Why bring judgment on Israel?”

He told them, “The Lord your God is with you! He has made you secure on every side, for he handed over to me the inhabitants of the region and the region is subdued before the Lord and his people.