1 Chronicles20
New International Version
1In 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.
2David took the crown from the head of their king—its weight was found to be a talent of gold, and it was set with precious stones—and it was placed on David’s head. He took a great quantity of plunder from the city
3and brought out the people who were there, consigning them to labor with saws and with iron picks and axes. David did this to all the Ammonite towns. Then David and his entire army returned to Jerusalem.
4In the course of time, war broke out with the Philistines, at Gezer. At that time Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Sippai, one of the descendants of the Rephaites, and the Philistines were subjugated.
5In another battle with the Philistines, Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver’s rod.
6In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha.
7When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him.
8These were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men.
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.