⁹ And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entrance of the city; and the kings that had come were by themselves on the field.

¹⁰ And Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind; and he chose out of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians;

¹¹ and the rest of the people he gave into the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon.

¹² And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me; and if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will help thee.