⁹ When Joab perceived that he would be attacked both from the front and from the rear, he chose the best of the troops of Israel and arrayed them against the Arameans. ¹⁰ He put the rest of his forces in charge of his brother Abishai and arrayed them against the Ammonites.

¹¹ Then Joab said: “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you must come to my aid. However, if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to help you.