1 Chronicles20
New American Standard
1Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that Joab led out the army and ravaged the land of the sons of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed in Jerusalem. And Joab struck Rabbah and overthrew it.
2David took the crown of their king from his head, and he found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there was a precious stone in it; and it was placed on David’s head. And he brought out the spoils of the city, a very great amount.
3He brought out the people who were in it, and put them to work at saws, iron picks, and axes. And David did the same to all the cities of the sons of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
4Now it came about after this, that war broke out at Gezer with the Philistines; then Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, one of the descendants of the giants, and they were subdued.
5And there was war with the Philistines again, and Elhanan the son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
6Again there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature who had twenty-four fingers and toes, six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot; and he also was descended from the giants.
7When he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him.
8These were descended from the giants 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.