1 Chronicles20
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1And it came to pass, at the time of the return of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that Joab led forth 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 overthrew it.
2And David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it; and it was set upon David’s head: and he brought forth the spoil of the city, exceeding much.
3And he brought forth the people that were therein, and cut them with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes. And thus did David unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
4And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines: then Sibbecai the Hushathite slew Sippai, of the sons of the giant; and they were subdued.
5And there was again war with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
6And there was again war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were four and twenty, six on each hand, and six on each foot; and he also was born unto the giant.
7And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David’s brother slew him.
8These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Chronicles 20.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: David's wars. (1-8).
vv1-8
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.
Key Words
שָׁנֶה: a year (as a revolution of time)
עֵת: time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc.
מֶלֶךְ: a king
יָצָא: to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.
יוֹאָב: Joab, the name of three Israelites
נָהַג: to drive forth (a person, an animal or chariot), i.e. lead, carry away; reflexively, to proceed (i.e. impel or guide oneself); also (from the panting induced by effort), to sigh
שָׁחַת: to decay, i.e. (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively)
אֶרֶץ: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
צוּר: to cramp, i.e. confine (in many applications, literally and figuratively, formative or hostile)
Cross References
1 Chronicles 20Parallel account of the campaign against Rabbah during the time kings go out to battle.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel text detailing the treatment or labor of the conquered Ammonite citizens.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel record of the battles with the Philistine giants at Gezer/Gob.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel description of the massive weight of the crown taken from the Ammonite king.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel text with textual variation regarding Elhanan and Lahmi, the brother of Goliath.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Helps reconcile David tarrying in Jerusalem with his subsequent arrival to capture Rabbah.
Supported by JFB
Parallel description of the multi-toed and multi-fingered giant of Gath.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel summary statement of the giants falling by the hand of David's servants.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Thematic connection to God setting a crown of pure gold upon David's head.
Identical verbal description of a giant's massive spear-staff being like a weaver's beam.
Parallels the giant defying Israel and the theological response to such defiance.
Identifies Shimea (Shammah) as David's brother, establishing the lineage of the slayer Jonathan.