1 Chronicles 20:1

1 Chronicles 20:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And it came to pass, that after the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led forth the power of the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and destroyed it.
• New International Version (NIV)In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, Joab led out the armed forces. He laid waste the land of the Ammonites and went to Rabbah and besieged it, but David remained in Jerusalem. Joab attacked Rabbah and left it in ruins.
• English Standard Version (ESV)In 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 Joab struck down Rabbah and overthrew it.
• New King James Version (NKJV)It happened in the spring of the year, at the time kings go out to battle, that Joab led out the armed forces and ravaged the country of the people of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. And Joab defeated Rabbah and overthrew it.

Context of 1 Chronicles 20:1

In the spring, at the time when kings normally conduct wars, Joab led the army into battle and devastated the land of the Ammonites. He went and besieged Rabbah, while David stayed in Jerusalem. Joab defeated Rabbah and tore it down. 2David took the crown from the head of their king and wore it (its weight was a talent of gold and it was set with precious stones). He took a large amount of plunder from the city. 3He removed the city’s residents and made them do hard labor with saws, iron picks, and axes. This was his policy with all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all the army returned to Jerusalem.

1 Chronicles 20:1 word by word

וַיְהִ֡י לְעֵת֩ תְּשׁוּבַ֨ת הַשָּׁנָ֜ה לְעֵ֣ת׀ צֵ֣את הַמְּלָכִ֗ים וַיִּנְהַ֣ג יוֹאָב֩ אֶת־חֵ֨יל הַצָּבָ֜א וַיַּשְׁחֵ֣ת׀ אֶת־אֶ֣רֶץ בְּנֵֽי־עַמּ֗וֹן וַיָּבֹא֙ וַיָּ֣צַר אֶת־רַבָּ֔ה וְדָוִ֖יד יֹשֵׁ֣ב בִּירֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וַיַּ֥ךְ יוֹאָ֛ב אֶת־רַבָּ֖ה וַיֶּֽהֶרְסֶֽהָ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And it came to pass, that afterעֵת‛êth · timeH6256
• the yearשָׁנָהshâneh shânâh · yearH8141
• was expiredתְּשׁוּבָהteshûbâh teshûbâh · turnH8666
• that kingsמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• go outיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
• Joabיוֹאָבyô'âb · JoabH3097
• led forthנָהַגnâhag · to leadH5090
• the powerחַ֫יִלchayil · armyH2428
• of the armyצָבָאtsâbâ' tsebâ'âh · army: warH6635
• and wastedשָׁחַתshâchath · to ruinH7843
• the countryאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• of the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• of Ammonעַמּוֹן‛ammôn · AmmonH5983
• and cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• and besiegedצוּרtsûr · to confineH6696
• Rabbahרַבָּהrabbâh · RabbahH7237
• But Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• tarriedיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• at Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlaim yerûshâlayim · JerusalemH3389
• smoteנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
• and destroyedהָרַסhâras · to overthrowH2040

Cross-references for 1 Chronicles 20:1

• 2 Samuel 11:1In the spring of the year, at the time when kings normally conduct wars, David sent out Joab with his officers and the entire Israelite army. They defeated the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed behind in Jerusalem.
• 1 Kings 20:22The prophet visited the king of Israel and instructed him, “Go, fortify your defenses. Determine what you must do, for in the spring the king of Syria will attack you.”
• 2 Kings 13:20Elisha died and was buried. Moabite raiding parties invaded the land at the beginning of the year.
• Isaiah 6:11I replied, “How long, sovereign master?” He said, “Until cities are in ruins and unpopulated, and houses are uninhabited, and the land is ruined and devastated,
• Isaiah 54:16Look, I create the craftsman, who fans the coals into a fire and forges a weapon. I create the destroyer so he might devastate.
• Deuteronomy 3:11Only King Og of Bashan was left of the remaining Rephaites. (It is noteworthy that his sarcophagus was made of iron. Does it not, indeed, still remain in Rabbath of the Ammonites? It is thirteen and a half feet long and six feet wide according to standard measure.)
• Amos 1:14So I will set fire to Rabbah’s city wall; fire will consume her fortresses. War cries will be heard on the day of battle; a strong gale will blow on the day of the windstorm.
• 2 Samuel 11:16So as Joab kept watch on the city, he stationed Uriah at the place where he knew the best enemy soldiers were.
• 2 Samuel 12:26So Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal city.

Commentaries on 1 Chronicles 20:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1After the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle - About the spring of the year; see the note on 2 Samuel 11:1. After this verse the parallel place in Samuel relates the whole story of David and Bath-sheba, and the murder of Uriah, which the compiler of these books passes over as he designedly does almost every thing prejudicial to the character of David. All he states is, but David tarried at Jerusalem; and, while he thus tarried, and…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1This chapter, containing such other warlike exploits belonging to David‘s reign as the writer of Chronicles thinks it important to put on record, is to be compared with the passages of Samuel noted in the marginal references.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1David's wars. --Though the Lord will severely correct the sins of his believing people, he will not leave them in the hands of their enemies. His assistance will overcome all advantages of number and strength of those that defy his Israel. All that trust in Christ, shall be made more than conquerors through him that loveth them.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-3This war against the Ammonites happened during David's sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:2–12:25), which the Chronicler does not mention.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-31Ch 20:1-3. Rabbah Besieged by Joab, Spoiled by David, and the People Tortured. 1. at the time when kings go out to battle--in spring, the usual season in ancient times for entering on a campaign; that is, a year subsequent to the Syrian war. Joab led forth the power of the army, and wasted the country ... of Ammon--The former campaign had been disastrous, owing chiefly to the hired auxiliaries of the Ammonites; and as it was necessary, as well as just…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Chronicles 20:1

• Ammonites
• Armies
• Joab
• Rabbah

In the dictionaries

• Ammon
• David
• Jerusalem
• Joab
• Rabbah
• Ammon; Ammonites
• Ammon, Ammonite
• Samuel, Books of
• Chronicles, Books of
• Genealogy

Commentaries on 1 Chronicles 20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary