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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.

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At the time of the return of the year, at the time when kings go out, Joab led out the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. Joab struck Rabbah, and overthrew it.

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.

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.

And it came to pass, at the time of the return of the year, at the time when kings go outto battle, that Joab led forth 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 overthrew it.

20:2 And David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it; and it was set upon David’s head: and he brought also exceeding much spoil out of the city.

What does 1 Chronicles 20:1 mean?

1 Chronicles 20:1 is a verse in the book of 1 Chronicles, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include עֵת (ʻêth), שָׁנֶה (shâneh), תְּשׁוּבָה (tᵉshûwbâh). It connects to 20 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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And
it
came
to
pass,
that
afterעֵתʻêth/ayth/H6256time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc.
the
yearשָׁנֶהshâneh/shaw-neh'/H8141a year (as a revolution of time)
was
expired,תְּשׁוּבָהtᵉshûwbâh/tesh-oo-baw'/H8666a recurrence (of time or place); a reply (as returned)
at
the
timeעֵתʻêth/ayth/H6256time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc.
that
kingsמֶלֶךְmelek/meh'-lek/H4428a king
go
outיָצָאyâtsâʼ/yaw-tsaw'/H3318to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.
to
battle,
JoabיוֹאָבYôwʼâb/yo-awb'/H3097Joab, the name of three Israelites
led
forthנָהַגnâhag/naw-hag'/H5090to 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
the
powerחַיִלchayil/khah'-yil/H2428probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength
of
the
army,צָבָאtsâbâʼ/tsaw-baw'/H6635a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (specifically, hardship, worship)
and
wastedשָׁחַתshâchath/shaw-khath'/H7843to decay, i.e. (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively)
the
countryאֶרֶץʼerets/eh'-rets/H776the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
of
the
childrenבֵּןbên/bane/H1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
of
Ammon,עַמּוֹןʻAmmôwn/am-mone'/H5983Ammon, a son of Lot; also his posterity and their country
and
cameבּוֹאbôwʼ/bo/H935to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
and
besiegedצוּרtsûwr/tsoor/H6696to cramp, i.e. confine (in many applications, literally and figuratively, formative or hostile)
Rabbah.רַבָּהRabbâh/rab-baw'/H7237Rabbah, the name of two places in Palestine, East and West
But
DavidדָּוִדDâvid/daw-veed'/H1732David, the youngest son of Jesse
tarriedיָשַׁבyâshab/yaw-shab'/H3427properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
at
Jerusalem.יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִםYᵉrûwshâlaim/yer-oo-shaw-lah'-im/H3389Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine
And
JoabיוֹאָבYôwʼâb/yo-awb'/H3097Joab, the name of three Israelites
smoteנָכָהnâkâh/naw-kaw'/H5221to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
Rabbah,רַבָּהRabbâh/rab-baw'/H7237Rabbah, the name of two places in Palestine, East and West
and
destroyedהָרַסhâraç/haw-ras'/H2040to pull down or in pieces, break, destroy
it.
after:
Heb.
at
the
return
of
the
year

Commentary on 1 Chronicles 20:1

CLARKE · whole chapter
own of its king upon his own head, and treats the people of the city with great rigour, 1Chr 20:1-3. First battle with the Philistines, 1Chr 20:4. Second battle with the Philistines, 1Chr 20:5. Third battle with the Philistines, 1Chr 20:6, 1Chr 20:7. In these battles three giants are slain, 1Chr 20:8. Verse 1 After the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle - About the spring of the year; see the note on 2Sam 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. Verse 2 David took the crown of their king - off his head - See 2Sam 12:30. Precious stones in it - The Targum says, "And there was set in it a precious stone, worth a talent of gold; this was that magnetic stone that supported the woven gold in the air." What does he mean? Verse 3 He brought out the people - See this transaction particularly explained in the notes on the parallel places, 2Sam 12:30-31 (note). Verse 5 Elhanan the son of Jair - See the note on 2Sam 21:19. The Targum says, "David, the son of Jesse, a pious man, who rose at midnight to sing praises to God, slew Lachmi, the brother of Goliath, the same day on which he slew Goliath the Gittite, whose spear-staff was like a weaver's beam." Verse 6 Fingers and toes were four and twenty - See the note on 2Sam 21:20. Verse 8 These were born unto the giant in Gath - "These were born להרפא leharapha, to that Rapha in Gath, or to Arapha." So the Vulgate, Septuagint, and Chaldee. The compiler of these books passes by also the incest of Amnon with his sister Tamar, and the rebellion of Absalom, and the awful consequences of all these. These should have preceded the fourth verse. These facts could not be unknown to him, for they were notorious to all; but he saw that they were already amply detailed in books which were accredited among the people, and the relations were such as no friend to piety and humanity could delight to repeat. On these grounds the reader will give him credit for the omission. See on 1Chr 20:1 (note). Introduction
HENRY_FULL · 1 Chronicles 20:1–3
The Defeat of the Ammonites. ( b. c. 1306.) 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. 2 And David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it; and it was set upon David's head: and he brought also exceeding much spoil out of the city. 3 And he brought out the people that were in it, and cut them with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes. Even so dealt David with all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem. 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 ( v. 1 ), the putting of their king's crown upon David's head ( v. 2 ), and the great severity that was used towards the people, v. 3 . Of this we had a more full account in 2 Sam. xi., xii. , 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.

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Genesis 49:8

Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee.

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.

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.

2 Samuel 11:16

And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.

2 Samuel 12:26

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

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 Lo–debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,

1 Kings 8:61

Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.

1 Kings 11:4

For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.

1 Kings 20:22

And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.

1 Kings 20:26

And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Ben–hadad numbered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.

2 Kings 13:20

And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.

2 Kings 20:3

I beseech thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.

2 Chronicles 30:12

Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the Lord.

Isaiah 6:11

Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate,

Isaiah 54:16

Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.

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.

Ezekiel 11:19

And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:

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.

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:

Topics

Ammonites

People & places in this verse

People

Places

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with 1 Chronicles 20:1.

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.

2 Samuel 11:16

And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.

Deuteronomy 3:18

And I commanded you at that time, saying, The Lord your God hath given you this land to possess it: ye shall pass over armed before your brethren the children of Israel, all that are meet for the war.

Genesis 14:17

And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale.

Genesis 14:18

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

Genesis 14:8

And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;

Genesis 17:6

And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

Genesis 24:11

And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.

Frequently asked questions

What does 1 Chronicles 20:1 say?

1 Chronicles 20:1 (King James Version) reads: "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."

Is 1 Chronicles 20:1 in the Old or New Testament?

1 Chronicles 20:1 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of 1 Chronicles.

Reflect

As you read 1 Chronicles 20:1, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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