6And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Syriamaachah, and out of Zobah.
7So they hired thirty and two thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people; who came and pitched before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.
8And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.
9And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array before the gate of the city: and the kings that were come were by themselves in the field.
10Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose out of all the choice of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians.
11And the rest of the people he delivered unto the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon.
12And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will help thee.
