דברי הימים א, פרק י״ט, פסוק י׳

Joab, the commander of the Israelite army, finds himself caught in a highly complex military trap, forced to manage a battle on two simultaneous fronts. The front line of the conflict is understood either as the general battlefront [ביאור שטיינזלץ] or, quite literally, as the faces of the enemy warriors standing directly opposite him [מצודת דוד]. The attack comes from both directions, with the Ammonite forces positioned directly ahead and the Aramean forces blocking him from behind [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Facing this severe double threat, Joab makes a bold tactical decision. He handpicks the most elite and capable warriors from the Israelite ranks, keeping them under his own direct command. He then leads this chosen strike force directly against the Arameans. This strategic choice is based on the assessment that the Aramean mercenaries are highly skilled fighters, and potentially greater in number, therefore requiring the absolute best military response the Israelites can offer [ביאור שטיינזלץ].