I Chronicles 20
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
After the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle - About the spring of the year; see the note on Sa2 11:1. After this verse the parallel place in Samuel relates the whole story of David and Bath-sheba, and the murder of Uriah, which the compiler of these books passes over as he designedly does almost every thing prejudicial to the character of David. All he states is, but David tarried at Jerusalem; and, while he thus tarried, and Joab conducted the war against the Ammonites, the awful transactions above referred to took place.
Open source ↗RABBAH BESIEGED BY JOAB, SPOILED BY DAVID, AND THE PEOPLE TORTURED. (Ch1 20:1-3) at the time when kings go out to battle--in spring, the usual season in ancient times for entering on a campaign; that is, a year subsequent to the Syrian war. Joab led forth the power of the army, and wasted the country . . . of Ammon--The former campaign had been disastrous, owing chiefly to the hired auxiliaries of the Ammonites; and as it was necessary, as well as just, that they should be severely chastised for their wanton outrage on the Hebrew ambassadors, Joab ravaged their country and invested their capital, Rabbah. After a protracted siege, Joab took one part of it, the lower town or "city of waters," insulated by the winding course of the Jabbok. Knowing that the fort called "the royal city" would soon fall, he invited the king to come in person, and have the honor of storming it. The knowledge of this fact (mentioned in Sa2 12:26) enables us to reconcile the two statements--"David tarried at Jerusalem" (Ch1 20:1), and "David and all the people returned to Jerusalem" (Ch1 20:3).
Open source ↗See Gill on Ch1 20:1, Sa2 11:1, Ch1 20:2, Sa2 12:30, Sa2 21:15, and Ch1 21:1. Next: 1 Chronicles Chapter 21
Open source ↗See Gill on Ch1 20:1, Sa2 11:1, Ch1 20:2, Sa2 12:30, Sa2 21:15, and Ch1 21:1. Next: 1 Chronicles Chapter 21
Open source ↗How the army of the Ammonites and their allies was routed in the field we read in the foregoing chapters. Here we have the destruction of Rabbah, the metropolis of their kingdom (Ch1 20:1), the putting of their king's crown upon David's head (Ch1 20:2), and the great severity that was used towards the people, Ch1 20:3. Of this we had a more full account in 2 Sa. 11, 12, and cannot but remember it by this sad token, that while Joab was besieging Rabbah David fell into that great sin in the matter of Uriah. But it is observable that, though the rest of the story is repeated, that is not: a hint only is given of it, in those words which lie here in a parenthesis - But David tarried at Jerusalem. If he had been abroad with his army, he would have been out of the way of that temptation; but, indulging his ease, he fell into uncleanness. Now, as the relating of the sin David fell into is an instance of the impartiality and fidelity of the sacred writers, so the avoiding of the repetition of it here, when there was a fair occasion given to speak of it again, is designed to teach us that, though there may be a just occasion to speak of the faults and miscarriages of others, yet we should not take delight in the repetition of them. That should always be looked upon as an unpleasing subject which, though sometimes one cannot help falling upon, yet one would not choose to dwell upon, any more than we should love to rake in a dunghill. The persons, or actions, we can say no good of, we had best say nothing of.
Open source ↗20:1-3 This war against the Ammonites was the context of David’s sin with Bathsheba (2 Sam 11:2–12:25), which the Chronicler omits.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
עֵת (ʻêth, H6256) — time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc. שָׁנֶה (shâneh, H8141) — a year (as a revolution of time) תְּשׁוּבָה (tᵉshûwbâh, H8666) — a recurrence (of time or place); a reply (as returned) מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… יוֹאָב (Yôwʼâb, H3097) — Joab, the name of three Israelites נָהַג (nâhag, H5090) — to drive forth (a person, an animal or chariot), i.e. lead, carry away; reflexively, to… חַיִל (chayil, H2428) — probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue,… צָבָא (tsâbâʼ, H6635) — a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army);… שָׁחַת (shâchath, H7843) — to decay, i.e. (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… עַמּוֹן (ʻAmmôwn, H5983) — Ammon, a son of Lot; also his posterity and their country בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
Open source ↗דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) עֲטָרָה (ʻăṭârâh, H5850) — a crown מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king רֹאשׁ (rôʼsh, H7218) — the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of… מָצָא (mâtsâʼ, H4672) — properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or… מִשְׁקָל (mishqâl, H4948) — weight (numerically estimated); hence, weighing (the act) כִּכָּר (kikkâr, H3603) — a circle, i.e. (by implication) a circumjacent tract or region, especially the Ghor or… זָהָב (zâhâb, H2091) — gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky יָקָר (yâqâr, H3368) — valuable (objectively or subjectively) אֶבֶן (ʼeben, H68) — a stone יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… מְאֹד (mᵉʼôd, H3966) — properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication,… רָבָה (râbâh, H7235) — to increase (in whatever respect)
Open source ↗יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… שׂוּר (sûwr, H7787) — to saw מְגֵרָה (mᵉgêrâh, H4050) — a saw חָרִיץ (chârîyts, H2757) — properly, incisure or (passively) incised; hence, a threshing-sledge (with sharp teeth);… בַּרְזֶל (barzel, H1270) — iron (as cutting); by extension, an iron implement עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… עַמּוֹן (ʻAmmôwn, H5983) — Ammon, a son of Lot; also his posterity and their country שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not… יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine
Open source ↗אַחַר (ʼachar, H310) — properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various… עָמַד (ʻâmad, H5975) — to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive) מִלְחָמָה (milchâmâh, H4421) — a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare) גֶּזֶר (Gezer, H1507) — Gezer, a place in Palestine פְּלִשְׁתִּי (Pᵉlishtîy, H6430) — a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth אָז (ʼâz, H227) — at that time or place; also as a conjunction, therefore סִבְּכַי (Çibbᵉkay, H5444) — Sibbecai, an Israelite חֻשָׁתִי (Chushâthîy, H2843) — a Chushathite or descendant of Chushah נָכָה (nâkâh, H5221) — to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively) סִפַּי (Çippay, H5598) — Sippai, a Philistine יָלִיד (yâlîyd, H3211) — born רָפָא (râphâʼ, H7497) — a giant כָּנַע (kânaʻ, H3665) — properly, to bend the knee; hence, to humiliate, vanquish
Open source ↗מִלְחָמָה (milchâmâh, H4421) — a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare) פְּלִשְׁתִּי (Pᵉlishtîy, H6430) — a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth אֶלְחָנָן (ʼElchânân, H445) — Elchanan, an Israelite בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יָעוּר (Yâʻûwr, H3265) — Jaur, an Israelite נָכָה (nâkâh, H5221) — to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively) לַחְמִי (Lachmîy, H3902) — Lachmi, an Israelite; or rather probably a brief form אָח (ʼâch, H251) — a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or… גׇּלְיַת (Golyath, H1555) — Goljath, a Philistine גִּתִּי (Gittîy, H1663) — a Gittite or inhabitant of Gath חֲנִית (chănîyth, H2595) — a lance (for thrusting, like pitching a tent) עֵץ (ʻêts, H6086) — a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks) אָרַג (ʼârag, H707) — to plait or weave מָנוֹר (mânôwr, H4500) — a yoke (properly, for plowing), i.e. the frame of aloom
Open source ↗מִלְחָמָה (milchâmâh, H4421) — a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare) גַּת (Gath, H1661) — Gath, a Philistine city אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… מִדָּה (middâh, H4060) — properly, extension, i.e. height or breadth; also a measure (including its standard);… אֶצְבַּע (ʼetsbaʻ, H676) — something to sieze with, i.e. a finger; by analogy, a toe אַרְבַּע (ʼarbaʻ, H702) — four עֶשְׂרִים (ʻesrîym, H6242) — twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth שֵׁשׁ (shêsh, H8337) — six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ord. sixth יָלַד (yâlad, H3205) — to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show… רָפָא (râphâʼ, H7497) — a giant
Open source ↗חָרַף (châraph, H2778) — to pull off, i.e. (by implication) to expose (as by stripping); specifically, to betroth… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity יְהוֹנָתָן (Yᵉhôwnâthân, H3083) — Jehonathan, the name of four Israelites בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… שִׁמְעָא (Shimʻâʼ, H8092) — Shima, the name of four Israelites דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse אָח (ʼâch, H251) — a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or… נָכָה (nâkâh, H5221) — to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
Open source ↗אֵל (ʼêl, H411) — these or those יָלַד (yâlad, H3205) — to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show… רָפָא (râphâʼ, H7497) — a giant גַּת (Gath, H1661) — Gath, a Philistine city נָפַל (nâphal, H5307) — to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or… יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse עֶבֶד (ʻebed, H5650) — a servant
Open source ↗Cross-references
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In the spring, at the time when kings march out to war, David sent out Joab and his servants with the whole army of Israel. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah, but David remained in Jerusalem.
(For only Og king of Bashan had remained of the remnant of the Rephaim. His bed of iron, nine cubits long and four cubits wide, is still in Rabbah of the Ammonites.)
So I will kindle a fire in the walls of Rabbah to consume its citadels amid war cries on the day of battle and a violent wind on the day of tempest.
In the spring, Ben-hadad mobilized the Arameans and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel.
Afterward, the prophet approached the king of Israel and said, “Go and strengthen your position, and take note what you must do, for in the spring the king of Aram will come up against you.”
Then I asked: “How long, O Lord?” And He replied: “Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until the houses are left unoccupied and the land is desolate and ravaged,
When David came to Mahanaim, he was met by Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, Machir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim.
I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels, and Ammon a resting place for sheep. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’
Mark out one road for the sword to come against Rabbah of the Ammonites, and another against Judah into fortified Jerusalem.
Behold, I have created the craftsman who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its task; and I have created the destroyer to wreak havoc.