The Ammonites came out and got ready for the battle. They stood at the city gate. The Arameans from Zobah and Rehob, and the men from Tob and Maacah did not stand together with the Ammonites in the field.
Ben Hadad was king of Aram. He gathered together all of his army. There were 32 kings with him. They had horses and chariots. [219] They attacked Samaria and fought against it.
Joab saw that there were two army groups ready to fight against him. One group was in front of him and the other group was behind him. So Joab chose some of the best soldiers of Israel. He sent them out to fight against the army of Aram.
Abijah’s army had 400,000 brave soldiers. Abijah led that army into battle. Jeroboam’s army had 800,000 brave soldiers. Jeroboam got ready to have a war with Abijah.
Their armies have bows and spears.\par The soldiers are cruel.\par They have no mercy.\par The soldiers come riding on their horses,\par and the sound is loud like the roaring sea.\par They stand in their places, ready for battle.\par They are ready to attack you,\par city of Babylon.\par
Listen to them.\par It is like the noise of chariots {\cf2\super [11]} \par riding over the mountains.\par It is like the noise of flames\par burning the chaff. {\cf2\super [12]} \par They are a powerful people.\par They are ready for war.\par
Saul and the Israelite soldiers also gathered together. Their camp was in the Valley of Elah. Saul’s soldiers were lined up and ready to fight the Philistines.