2 Samuel 12:26-31

Defeat of the Ammonites

26 Meanwhile, Joab fought the Ammonites at Rabbah and captured the royal city.

27 Joab then sent messengers to David, saying, "I have fought against Rabbah and captured the city's water supply.

28 So gather the rest of the troops, attack the city, and capture it. Otherwise, I will capture the city myself, and it will be named after me."

29 So David gathered all the troops, marched to Rabbah, fought against it, and captured it.

30 David took Milcom's crown off his head. It weighed one kikkar of gold and was set with a valuable stone. It was placed on David's head. The amount of loot David took from the city was huge.

31 He brought out the people who were in the city and put them to work making bricks. David demolished the city with saws, iron picks, and axes; he did this to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all the troops returned to Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 12:26-31 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 12

Nathan is sent to David to charge him with his sin, and convince him of it by a parable, 2Sa 12:1-6; which being accommodated and applied to David's case, brought him to a conviction and acknowledgment of it, and repentance for it, which was forgiven him, 2Sa 12:7-13; though he is told the child begotten in adultery should die, and it was quickly struck with sickness and died; and David's behaviour during its sickness and at its death is recorded, 2Sa 12:14-23; after which Solomon was born to him of the same woman, and had the name of Jedidiah given him by the Lord, which signifies the beloved of the Lord, and as a token of reconciliation, and a confirmation of his sin being forgiven him, 2Sa 12:24,25; and the chapter is concluded with the taking of the city of Rabbah, and the spoil in it, and the usage of the inhabitants of it, 2Sa 12:26-31.

Footnotes

• [a]. Heb uncertain
• [b]. LXX; MT their king’s crown
• [c]. Cf LXXL, OL, Tg, 1 Chron 20:3