[7] Fragments containing parts of this chapter in Hebrew were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls including 4Q51 (4QSama; 100–50 BCE) with extant verses 4–7, 18–19.

[8][9][10][11] Extant ancient manuscripts of a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint (originally was made in the last few centuries BCE) include Codex Vaticanus (B;

[16] The section begins with a Hebrew clause "wayehî ’a-ḥă-rê-ḵên", "and-happened after this" ("after this" or "and it came to pass"),[17] indicating an indeterminate period of time since the events of the last chapter.

[18] Facing imminent retaliation from David for the humiliation of Israelite envoys, the Ammonites asked help from the Arameans (verse 6), which turned attention to four Aramean states: Zobah and Beth-rehob to the south, Maacah (Aram-Maacah in 1 Chronicles 19:6) north of Manasseh in Transjordan, and Tob, further south.

[23] Comparing with the narrative in 2 Samuel 8:3–5, the course of the Aramean conflict could be reconstructed as follows: Joab successfully fought battle in Rabbah on two fronts, but was not in a position to take more advantage, so he returned to Jerusalem (verse 14).