14. drew nigh before the Syrians] Without fear for their own rear advanced against the Syrian front.
¹⁵And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.
15. Joab came to Jerusalem] Probably because he was wanted for the new danger gathering in the North.
16–19.
The End of the Aramean War.
Three stages are apparent in the war with Zobah as related in Chronicles, (a) that in which David secured a position on the Euphrates, xviii. 3–8, (b) the stage during which troops from Zobah acted as auxiliaries to the Ammonites, xix. 6–15, (c) the final stage which ended in the conclusion of a formal peace, xix. 16–19. The actual facts of David’s activities against the Arameans are by no means easy to ascertain, as may be seen in the commentaries on the more complex account which is given in Samuel.
¹⁶And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians that were beyond the River, with Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer at their head.
16. the Syrians that were beyond the River] i.e. the Syrians of “Mesopotamia”; compare verse 6, note. 2 Samuel x. 16 adds, and they came to Helam; the position of Helam however is unknown.
Shophach] In 2 Samuel x. 16 called “Shobach.” The whole allied army was united under one general.
¹⁷And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came upon them, and set the battle in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him.
17. came upon them] or possibly read, as 2 Samuel x. 17, came to Helam. According to 2 Samuel x. the Syrian army assembled at Helam, and was there attacked by David.