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The Ammonites strategy was to force David’s army between two enemy forces. The Israelites were stationed between the Aramean armies and the city of Rabbah. This meant that when the Ammonites attacked, there was no room to retreat because the Syrians were behind them. The Syrians were mercenaries and most likely not committed to the battle at hand. They were simply looking for an opportunity.
David’s military commander, Joab, comes up with a strategy to fight both forces. He splits up the mighty men among himself and his brother Abishai. Joab fights the Syrians while Abishai fights the Ammonites. They agree that if either is overwhelmed, they will help the other with their battle. Then Joab makes this statement…
“Be strong, and let us use our strength for our people and for the cities of our God, and may the LORD do what seems good to him.”
1 Chronicles 19:13 ESV
May the Lord do what seems good to him. This was not an admission of defeat, but a faithful statement that the battle is ultimately the Lord’s. Joab was putting forth maximum human effort while understanding that God will ultimately control the outcome. In the end, both enemies are defeated. The Syrians fled and left the Ammonites defenseless before the powerful Israelite army.
This battle was important for many reasons. The Syrians, who were paying tribute to Zobah (Syrian nation) began paying tribute to David and Israel. No longer would the Syrians be allied with the Ammonites or threats to Israel. Now that David had conquered everything from Aram Maachah to the Euphrates River, he controlled the boundaries of land promised by the Abrahamic convenant in Genesis 15.