In the spring of the year, the time when the kings go out to battle, David sent out Joab and his officers, all of Israel with him. They brought to ruin the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah, but David remained in Jerusalem.
The prophet came to the king of Israel and said, “Go, strengthen yourself and prepare, and see what you do, for next year the king of Aram will come up against you.”
and assemble an army like the army that you lost, horse for horse and chariot for chariot, and we will fight them in the plain and will surely be stronger than they.” And he listened to their advice and followed it.
But the rest fled into the city of Aphek, where a wall fell on twenty-seven thousand of the men who were left. And Ben-hadad fled and came into the city into an inner chamber.
Then he said, “Open the east window.” So he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot.” So he shot. Then he said, “The arrow of the deliverance of the Lord, and the arrow of deliverance from Aram, for you must strike Aram in Aphek until you have destroyed them.”
And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. And Israel went out to battle against the Philistines and they made camp beside Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped in Aphek.