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Rabbah (of Ammon)

Ammon

City in Ammon · today Amman, Jordan

Meaning: “Great (city)

The royal city of the Ammonites, besieged by David — and the place of Uriah’s death.

Location

Overview

Rabbah (Rabbath-Ammon) was the capital of the Ammonites, east of the Jordan. Its siege is forever linked to David's gravest sin.

The siege and Uriah's death

While Joab besieged Rabbah, David stayed in Jerusalem, took Bathsheba, and then arranged for her husband Uriah to be abandoned at the wall of Rabbah, "and he died" (2 Samuel 11:1, 17).

The crown of Rabbah

When the city was about to fall, Joab summoned David to take it, and David captured Rabbah and took its king's crown — "a talent of gold with the precious stones" — and great spoil (2 Samuel 12:26–30).

Under prophetic judgment

Rabbah's "iron bedstead" recalled the giant Og (Deuteronomy 3:11), and the prophets pronounced doom upon it as the Ammonite stronghold (Jeremiah 49:2–3; Ezekiel 25:5; Amos 1:14).

Events Here

995 BC

Uriah dies at the siege of Rabbah; David later takes the city

2 Samuel 12:29

Scripture References

14 verses
Deuteronomy1 verse

Deuteronomy 3:11

For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.

Joshua2 verses

Joshua 13:25

And their coast was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the children of Ammon, unto Aroer that is before Rabbah;

Joshua 15:60

Kirjathbaal, which is Kirjathjearim, and Rabbah; two cities with their villages:

2 Samuel5 verses

2 Samuel 11:1

And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. after: Heb. at the return of the year

2 Samuel 12:26

And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.

2 Samuel 12:27

And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.

2 Samuel 12:29

And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.

2 Samuel 17:27

And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,

1 Chronicles1 verse

1 Chronicles 20:1

And it came to pass, that after the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led forth the power of 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 destroyed it. after: Heb. at the return of the year

Jeremiah2 verses

Jeremiah 49:2

Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard in Rabbah of the Ammonites; and it shall be a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burned with fire: then shall Israel be heir unto them that were his heirs, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 49:3

Howl, O Heshbon, for Ai is spoiled: cry, ye daughters of Rabbah, gird you with sackcloth; lament, and run to and fro by the hedges; for their king shall go into captivity, and his priests and his princes together. their king: or, Melcom

Ezekiel2 verses

Ezekiel 21:20

Appoint a way, that the sword may come to Rabbath of the Ammonites, and to Judah in Jerusalem the defenced.

Ezekiel 25:5

And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels, and the Ammonites a couchingplace for flocks: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

Amos1 verse

Amos 1:14

But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind:

Archaeology & History

Rabbah of Ammon is modern Amman, the capital of Jordan; its ancient citadel still crowns the hill above the city. As the chief city of the Ammonites it controlled the highlands east of the Jordan and the desert trade routes.

People who appear here

David5×
Joab4×
Og1×

Frequently asked about Rabbah (of Ammon)

Where is Rabbah (of Ammon) today?

Today, Rabbah (of Ammon) corresponds to Amman, Jordan.

What does the name Rabbah (of Ammon) mean?

The name Rabbah (of Ammon) means “Great (city)”.

What happened at Rabbah (of Ammon) in the Bible?

Key biblical events at Rabbah (of Ammon) include uriah dies at the siege of rabbah; david later takes the city.

Where is Rabbah (of Ammon) first mentioned in the Bible?

Rabbah (of Ammon) is first mentioned in Deuteronomy 3:11.

How often is Rabbah (of Ammon) mentioned in the Bible?

Rabbah (of Ammon) is mentioned in 14 verses across 7 books: Deuteronomy, Joshua, 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos.

What happened at Rabbah?

David’s army besieged the Ammonite capital; during the siege Uriah the Hittite was deliberately exposed and killed there. David later captured the city and took its king’s golden crown.

What is Rabbah today?

It is Amman, the capital of Jordan, whose ancient citadel marks the old Ammonite royal city.