One spring day, during the time of year when kings go off to war, David sent out Joab, along with his personal staff and all of Israel's army. They utterly destroyed the Ammonites and then attacked Rabbah while David remained in Jerusalem.

Meanwhile, Joab attacked the Ammonite city of Rabbah and captured its stronghold.

Then Joab sent messengers to David to tell him, "I just attacked Rabbah and captured its municipal water supply,

So David mustered his entire army and marched on Rabbah, attacked it, and captured it.

When David arrived at Mahanaim, Shobi (Nahash's son from the Ammonite town of Rabbah), Makir (Ammiel's son from Lo-debar), and Barzillai (from Rogelim in Gilead) were already there.