11And he said, If the Aramaeans are stronger and get the better of me, then you are to come to my help; but if the children of Ammon get the better of you, I will come to your help.
12Take heart, and let us be strong for our people and for the towns of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to him.
13Then Joab and the people with him went forward to the fight against the Aramaeans, and they went in flight before him.
14And when the children of Ammon saw the flight of the Aramaeans, they themselves went in flight from Abishai, and came into the town. So Joab went back from fighting the children of Ammon and came to Jerusalem.
15And when the Aramaeans saw that Israel had overcome them, they got themselves together.
16And Hadadezer sent for the Aramaeans who were on the other side of the River: and they came to Helam, with Shobach, the captain of Hadadezer's army, at their head.
17And word of this was given to David: and he got all Israel together and went over Jordan and came to Helam. And the Aramaeans put their forces in position against David, and made an attack on him.