<p class="bodytext">In the spring<n id="1" /> Ben Hadad mustered the Syrian army<n id="2" /> and marched to Aphek to fight Israel.<n id="3" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">In the spring of the year, at the time when kings<n id="1" /> normally conduct wars,<n id="2" /> David sent out Joab with his officers<n id="3" /> and the entire Israelite army.<n id="4" /> They defeated the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed behind in Jerusalem.<n id="5" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">The prophet<n id="1" /> visited the king of Israel and instructed him, &#8220;Go, fortify your defenses.<n id="2" /> Determine<n id="3" /> what you must do, for in the spring<n id="4" /> the king of Syria will attack<n id="5" /> you.&#8221;