And when it was told David,.... What preparations the Syrians were making to fight him, and where they were:he gathered all Israel together; all the fighting men in the country:and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam: which, according to Bunting , was twenty miles from Jerusalem.
David seems to have gone himself in person to this war:and the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him; they formed themselves in a line of battle, and attacked him first, being eager to fight, and perhaps confident of victory, because of their numbers.
Travels, &c. p.