Medeba] In the territory of Reuben; Joshua xiii. 26. The country round is a table-land suited for the manœuvres of chariots. The place of the rendezvous of the allies is not mentioned in 2 Samuel x., some words having probably fallen out of the text.
⁸And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men. ⁹And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the gate of the city: and the kings that were come were by themselves in the field.
8. David ... sent Joab] Why in such a crisis did he not go himself? Perhaps because he could watch the gathering of the more serious storm described in verses 16–19 better from Jerusalem.
¹⁰Now when Joab saw that the battle[¹] was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put ¹¹them in array against the Syrians. And the rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai[²] his brother, and they put themselves in array against the children of Ammon. ¹²And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will help thee.
[¹] Hebrew the face of the battle was against.
[²] Hebrew Abshai.
10. he chose of all the choice men] The Syrians were the more formidable because of the chariots they had; Joab therefore opposed to them the flower of his army.
¹³Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the Lord do that which seemeth him good.
13. the cities of our God] The cities which our God has given us and in which He is worshipped. If these were captured by the enemy, false gods would be worshipped in them. Religious feeling often supplies the place of patriotism in the East.
¹⁴So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him.