6 When it dawned on the Ammonites that as far as David was concerned they stunk to high heaven, they hired Aramean soldiers from Beth-Rehob and Zobah - twenty thousand infantry - and a thousand men from the king of Maacah, and twelve thousand men from Tob. 7 When David heard of this, he dispatched Joab with his strongest fighters in full force. 8 The Ammonites marched out and arranged themselves in battle formation at the city gate. The Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah took up a position out in the open fields. 9 When Joab saw that he had two fronts to fight, before and behind, he took his pick of the best of Israel and deployed them to confront the Arameans. 10 The rest of the army he put under the command of Abishai, his brother, and deployed them to confront the Ammonites. 11 Then he said, "If the Arameans are too much for me, you help me. And if the Ammonites prove too much for you, I'll come and help you. 12 Courage! We'll fight with might and main for our people and for the cities of our God. And God will do whatever he sees needs doing!" 13 But when Joab and his soldiers moved in to fight the Arameans, they ran off in full retreat. 14 Then the Ammonites, seeing the Arameans run for dear life, took to their heels from Abishai and went into the city. So Joab left off fighting the Ammonites and returned to Jerusalem.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Samuel 10:6-14
Commentary on 2 Samuel 10:6-14
(Read 2 Samuel 10:6-14)
They that are at war with the Son of David, not only give the provocation, but begin the war. God has forces to send against those that set his wrath at defiance, Isaiah 5:19, which will convince them that none ever hardened his heart against God, and prospered. Christ's soldiers should strengthen one another's hands in their spiritual warfare. Let nothing be wanting in us, whatever the success be. When we make conscience of doing our duty, we may, with satisfaction, leave the event with God, assuredly hoping for his salvation in his own way and time.