1 Chronicles 20:1-3

The Capture of Rabbah

1 ¹In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, Joab led out the army and ravaged the country of the Ammonites and came and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. And ²Joab struck down Rabbah and overthrew it.

2 ³And David took the crown of their king from his head. He found that it weighed a talent^[a] of gold, and in it was a precious stone. And it was placed on David’s head. And he brought out the spoil of the city, a very great amount.

3 And he brought out the people who were in it and set them to labor^{[b] 4}with saws and iron picks and axes. ^[c] And thus David did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

1 Chronicles 20:1-3 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 20

Agrees with various passages in the second book of Samuel; 1Ch 20:1 with 2Sa 11:1 and 1Ch 20:2,3 with 2Sa 12:30,31 and the rest, to the end of it, with 2Sa 21:15-22. What differences there are, are observed in the notes on those passages, which see. Also see 1Ch 21:1. 18886-950102-2025-1Ch20.2

Cross References

• 1. 20:1 2 Sam. 11:1
• 2. 20:1 2 Sam. 12:26
• 3. 20:2 For ver. 2, 3, see 2 Sam. 12:30, 31
• 4. 20:3 [2 Sam. 12:31]

Footnotes

• [a] 20:2 A 'talent' was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms
• [b] 20:3 Compare 2 Samuel 12:31; Hebrew 'he sawed'
• [c] 20:3 Compare 2 Samuel 12:31; Hebrew 'saws'