So these went out of the city, the servants of the governors of the districts, and the army which followed them.
The servants of the governors of the districts went out first. And Ben-hadad sent out scouts, and they reported to him, “Men are coming out from Samaria.”
He said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive.”
And each killed his man; the Syrians fled and Israel pursued them, but Ben-hadad king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen.
So Joab and the people who were with him drew near before the Syrians for battle; and they fled before him.