When the Ammonites saw that they had become odious to David, the Ammonites sent and hired the Arameans of Beth-rehob and the Arameans of Zobah, twenty thousand foot soldiers, as well as the king of Maacah, one thousand men, and the men of Tob, twelve thousand men. When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army with the warriors. The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the gate; but the Arameans of Zobah and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and Maacah, were by themselves in the open country.
When Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and in the rear, he chose some of the picked men of Israel, and arrayed them against the Arameans; the rest of his men he put in the charge of his brother Abishai, and he arrayed them against the Ammonites. He said, "If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. Be strong, and let us be courageous for the sake of our people, and for the cities of our God; and may the Lord do what seems good to him."
Who would we want to fight alongside?
The Ammonites, the aggressors, take the safest position, close to the gates of their own city.
They send the Arameans, paid soldiers, to stand on their own out in the field, well on the far side of the enemy. This move effectively surrounds the Israelites, but put the Arameans in a place where they can’t retreat to safety if things go badly. If Israel breaks out (and that would be the wise tactical move), it will be away from the city.
Israel stands its ground surrounded; the two brothers choose, as generals of their respective armies, to fight back to back. You have to admit, though, their position looks really bad.
Where would we want to be?
So Joab and the people who were with him moved forward into battle against the Arameans; and they fled before him. When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, and entered the city. Then Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites, and came to Jerusalem.
But when the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves together. Hadadezer sent and brought out the Arameans who were beyond the Euphrates; and they came to Helam, with Shobach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head. When it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and crossed the Jordan, and came to Helam. The Arameans arrayed themselves against David and fought with him. The Arameans fled before Israel; and David killed of the Arameans seven hundred chariot teams, and forty thousand horsemen, and wounded Shobach the commander of their army, so that he died there. When all the kings who were servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel, and became subject to them. So the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites any more.
2 Samuel 10:6-19 – NRSV
The outcomes of everyone’s choices are obvious now, aren’t they? Those who remain obsessed with their own safety are useless when things get tough, aren’t they? And the people who are only in it for the money, the mercenaries, aren’t much better; one solid push and they’re on the road again. They only come back to fight because they know that they’ve offended the Israelites, so they might as well return with overwhelming force. A little shock and awe from the Arameans. Except it doesn’t turn out like they expected, does it?
Where is the right place to be? I would want to be one of the people who knew that people I trusted were covering my back. I’d want to know that they felt like they had as much to lose as I did. I would want to believe that our relationship was a small but sure shield from the cruel flukes of misfortune and the vicious attacks of any enemy. Right next to the bigger shield that covers me every day.
Where do we want to be? I don't know about you, but I feel that I have chosen well.
Blessings,
Ron
