Now when the young men of the rulers of the provinces marched out of the city, with the army following them,
The young men of the rulers of the provinces marched out first. Ben-Hadad sent out scouts, who reported to him saying, “There are men coming out from Samaria.”
He said, “Whether they are coming out for peace, take them alive, or whether they are coming out for battle, take them alive.”
each man struck down his foe. Then the Arameans fled and Israel pursued them, but King Ben-Hadad of Aram escaped on a horse with horsemen.
So Joab and the people who were with him advanced to battle against the Arameans, and they fled before him.