7. David heard about this, so he sent Joab and the whole army of powerful men.
8. The Ammonites came out and got ready for the battle. They stood at the city gate. The Arameans from Zobah and Rehob and the men from Tob and Maacah did not stand together with the Ammonites in the field.
9. Joab saw that there were enemies in front of him and behind him. So he chose some of the best Israelite soldiers and lined them up for battle against the Arameans.
10. Then Joab gave the other men to his brother Abishai to lead against the Ammonites.
11. Joab said to Abishai, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, you will help me. If the Ammonites are too strong for you, I will come and help you.
12. Be strong, and let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. The Lord will do what he decides is right.”
13. Then Joab and his men attacked the Arameans. The Arameans ran away from Joab and his men.
14. The Ammonites saw that the Arameans were running away, so they ran away from Abishai and went back to their city. So Joab came back from the battle with the Ammonites and went back to Jerusalem.
15. When the Arameans saw that the Israelites had defeated them, they came together into one big army.
16. Hadadezer sent messengers to bring the Arameans who lived on the other side of the Euphrates River. These Arameans came to Helam. Their leader was Shobach, the captain of Hadadezer’s army.
17. When David heard about this, he gathered all the Israelites together. They crossed over the Jordan River and went to Helam. There the Arameans prepared for battle and attacked,
18. but David defeated them, and they ran from the Israelites. David killed 700 chariot drivers and 40,000 horse soldiers as well as Shobach, the captain of the Aramean army.