New English Translation
2 Samuel 12:31
31He removed the people who were in it and made them do hard labor with saws, iron picks, and iron axes, putting them to work at the brick kiln. This was his policy with all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all the army returned to Jerusalem.
2 Samuel 12:31 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.
- New International Version (NIV)and brought out the people who were there, consigning them to labor with saws and with iron picks and axes, and he made them work at brickmaking. David did this to all the Ammonite towns. Then he and his entire army returned to Jerusalem.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And he brought out the people who were in it and set them to labor with saws and iron picks and iron axes and made them toil at the brick kilns. And thus he did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And he brought out the people who were in it, and put them to work with saws and iron picks and iron axes, and made them cross over to the brick works. So he did to all the cities of the people of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
Context of 2 Samuel 12:31
29So David assembled all the army and went to Rabbah and fought against it and captured it. 30He took the crown of their king from his head – it was gold, weighed about seventy-five pounds, and held a precious stone – and it was placed on David’s head. He also took from the city a great deal of plunder. He removed the people who were in it and made them do hard labor with saws, iron picks, and iron axes, putting them to work at the brick kiln. This was his policy with all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all the army returned to Jerusalem.
Read all of 2 Samuel 122 Samuel 12:31 word by word
וְאֶת־הָעָ֨ם אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֜הּ הוֹצִ֗יא וַיָּ֣שֶׂם בַּ֠מְּגֵרָה וּבַחֲרִצֵ֨י הַבַּרְזֶ֜ל וּֽבְמַגְזְרֹ֣ת הַבַּרְזֶ֗ל וְהֶעֱבִ֤יר אוֹתָם֙ בַּמַּלְבֵּ֔ן וְכֵ֣ן יַעֲשֶׂ֔ה לְכֹ֖ל עָרֵ֣י בְנֵֽי־עַמּ֑וֹן וַיָּ֧שָׁב דָּוִ֛ד וְכָל־הָעָ֖ם יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And he brought forthיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: sendH3318
- the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- therein, and putשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: makeH7760
- under sawsמְגֵרָהmegêrâh · sawH4050
- and under harrowsחָרִיץchârîyts chârits · incisionH2757
- of ironבַּרְזֶלbarzel · ironH1270
- and under axesמַגְזֵרָהmagzêrâh · axeH4037
- and made them passעָבַר‛âbar · to passH5674
- through the brickkilnמַלְבֵּןmalbên · brickH4404
- and thus didעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- he unto all the citiesעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
- of the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
- of Ammonעַמּוֹן‛ammôn · AmmonH5983
- So Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
- returnedשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
- unto Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlaim yerûshâlayim · JerusalemH3389
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 12:31
- 1 Chronicles 20:3He 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.
- 2 Samuel 8:2He defeated the Moabites. He made them lie on the ground and then used a rope to measure them off. He put two-thirds of them to death and spared the other third. The Moabites became David’s subjects and brought tribute.
- Psalms 21:8You prevail over all your enemies; your power is too great for those who hate you.
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 12:31
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 31He brought forth the people - And put them under saws. From this representation a great cry has been raised against "David's unparalleled, if not diabolic, cruelty." I believe this interpretation was chiefly taken from the parallel place, 1 Chronicles 20:3, where it is said, he cut them with saws, and with axes, etc. Instead of וישר vaiyasar, he sawed, we have here (in Samuel) וישם vaiyasem, he put them; and these two words differ from each other only in…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 31For the saw as an implement of torture compare Hebrews 11:37. Harrows of iron - Or rather thrashing-machines (Isaiah 28:27; Isaiah 41:15, etc.). Axes - The word so rendered occurs only here and in 1 Chronicles 20:3. It evidently means some cutting instrument. Made them pass through the brick-kiln - The phrase is that always used of the cruel process of making their children pass through the fire to Moloch, and it is likely that David punished this…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 26-31Verses 26-31 To be thus severe in putting the children of Ammon to slavery was a sign that David's heart was not yet made soft by repentance, at the time when this took place. We shall be most compassionate, kind, and forgiving to others, when we most feel our need of the Lord's forgiving love, and taste the sweetness of it in our own souls.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 31He also enslaved the people of Rabbah, forcing them to work. Enslaving defeated peoples followed the rules in Deuteronomy 20:11. Solomon later did the same with the Canaanites (1 Kings 9:20–22; see also Judges 1:30, 33). Another interpretation suggests the defeated Ammonites were tortured (compare textual note on 1 Chronicles 20:3).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3131. he brought forth the people ... and put them under saws, &c.--This excessive severity and employment of tortures, which the Hebrews on no other occasion are recorded to have practised, was an act of retributive justice on a people who were infamous for their cruelties (1Sa 11:2; Am 1:13).Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 12:31
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 12
- 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
- EGW Writings
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