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