King David's reign was marked by intense and complex military campaigns fought simultaneously across multiple fronts. Against the backdrop of these fierce struggles with enemies both near and far, a song of thanks, praise, and remembrance was offered to God even before the battles had completely concluded [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. These conflicts were defined by bitter warfare, and in some interpretations, sheer destruction and ruin [אבן עזרא].
During a major campaign against Aram, a sudden strategic shift occurred on the battlefield. The nation of Edom mobilized to assist the Aramean forces. Another perspective suggests that the conflict with Edom erupted as a direct punishment for their earlier support of Ammon [רש״י]. Facing this new threat, the military commander Joab was forced to withdraw from the Aramean front. He pivoted his forces to confront Edom, aiming to prevent them from merging with the Aramean army [מצודת דוד]. A different view proposes that Joab's sudden return was prompted by David weakening in the heat of battle, causing Joab to rush back to his king's defense and strike down the enemy [אבן עזרא].
The historical records of these events present a complex picture, with varying accounts regarding the primary enemy, the leading commander, and the number of casualties. While one account highlights Joab striking down twelve thousand men from Edom, another record attributes the victory to King David fighting against Aram with eighteen thousand casualties. Yet a third account credits Abishai, son of Zeruiah, with the eighteen thousand defeated enemies. The primary approach among commentators is to weave these varying details into a single, comprehensive historical event. The battle in the Valley of Salt was fought against a united coalition of Aram and Edom. The overall victory is credited to David because, as king and supreme commander, the entire war effort was conducted under his authority and in his name.
On the battlefield itself, the command was shared among David's generals. Abishai initiated the campaign, striking down six thousand enemy soldiers, which is why certain historical records credit the beginning of the victory to him. Following this initial wave, Joab arrived to complete the campaign, defeating an additional twelve thousand men. Together, their combined efforts account for the total of eighteen thousand fallen enemies [רש״י, רד״ק, מאירי]. Alongside this unified historical explanation, an alternative approach suggests that these were not split commands within a single battle. Instead, they were two entirely separate wars fought in the same region at different times. In this view, Abishai led one distinct campaign, while Joab's defeat of the twelve thousand men was a separate, subsequent strike against Edom [אלשיך, מאירי].