⁹ 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;

¹⁰ and the rest of the people he gave into the hand of Abishai his brother that he might array them against the children of Ammon.

¹¹ 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 come and help thee.