1 Chronicles20
New King James Version
1It 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.
2Then David took their king’s crown from his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it. And it was set on David’s head. Also he brought out the spoil of the city in great abundance.
3And he brought out the people who were in it, and put them to work with saws, with iron picks, and with axes. So David did to all the cities of the people of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
4Now it happened afterward that war broke out at Gezer with the Philistines, at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite killed Sippai, who was one of the sons of the giant. And they were subdued.
5Again there was war with the Philistines, 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.
6Yet again there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, with twenty-four fingers and toes, six on each hand and six on each foot; and he also was born to the giant.
7So when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him.
8These were born to 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.