1 Chronicles 20:1
1 Chronicles 20:1 in Multiple Translations
In the spring, at the time when kings march out to war, Joab led out the army and ravaged the land of the Ammonites. He came to Rabbah and besieged it, but David remained in Jerusalem. And Joab attacked Rabbah and demolished 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 out to 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.
Now in the spring, at the time when kings go out to war, Joab went out at the head of the armed forces and made waste all the land of the Ammonites and put his men in position before Rabbah, shutting it in. But David was still at Jerusalem. And Joab took Rabbah and made it waste.
In spring, at the time of year when kings go out to make war, Joab led the Israelite army in attacks against the country of the Ammonites, also besieging Rabbah. However, David remained behind in Jerusalem. Joab attacked Rabbah and destroyed it.
And when the yere was expired, in the time that Kings goe out a warfare, Ioab caryed out the strength of the armie, and destroyed the countrey of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah (but Dauid taryed at Ierusalem) and Ioab smote Rabbah and destroyed it.
And it cometh to pass, at the time of the turn of the year — at the time of the going out of the messengers — that Joab leadeth out the force of the host, and destroyeth the land of the sons of Ammon, and cometh in and beseigeth Rabbah — David is abiding in Jerusalem — and Joab smiteth Rabbah, and breaketh it down.
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 had 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 after the course of a year, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab gathered together an army and the strength of the troops, and wasted the land of the children of Ammon: and went and besieged Rabba. But David stayed at Jerusalem, when Joab smote Rabba, and destroyed it.
In that region, kings usually went with their armies to fight their enemies ◄in the springtime/when the cold season ended►. But that year, David did not do that. Instead, he stayed in Jerusalem, and he sent his commander Joab to lead the army. Joab took his troops. They crossed the Jordan River and ruined the land of the Ammon people-group. Then they went to Rabbah, the capital city, and surrounded it. David stayed in Jerusalem for a while. But later he took more troops and went to help Joab. Their armies attacked Rabbah and destroyed it.
Berean Amplified Bible — 1 Chronicles 20:1
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Hebrew Word Reference — 1 Chronicles 20:1
Study Notes — 1 Chronicles 20:1
- Context
- Cross References
- 1 Chronicles 20:1 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Chronicles 20:1
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Chronicles 20:1
- Trapp's Commentary on 1 Chronicles 20:1
- Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Chronicles 20:1
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Chronicles 20:1
- Cambridge Bible on 1 Chronicles 20:1
- Barnes' Notes on 1 Chronicles 20:1
- Sermons on 1 Chronicles 20:1
Context — The Capture of Rabbah
1In the spring, at the time when kings march out to war, Joab led out the army and ravaged the land of the Ammonites. He came to Rabbah and besieged it, but David remained in Jerusalem. And Joab attacked Rabbah and demolished it.
2Then David took the crown from the head of their king. It was found to weigh a talent of gold and was set with precious stones, and it was placed on David’s head. And David took a great amount of plunder from the city. 3David brought out the people who were there and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes. And he did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 Samuel 11:1 | 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. |
| 2 | 2 Samuel 12:26–31 | Meanwhile, Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal fortress. Then Joab sent messengers to David to say, “I have fought against Rabbah and have captured the water supply of the city. Now, therefore, assemble the rest of the troops, lay siege to the city, and capture it. Otherwise I will capture the city, and it will be named after me.” So David assembled all the troops and went to Rabbah; and he fought against it and captured it. Then he took the crown from the head of their king. It weighed a talent of gold and was set with precious stones, and it was placed on David’s head. And David took a great amount of plunder from the city. David brought out the people who were there and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes, and he made them work at the brick kilns. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his troops returned to Jerusalem. |
| 3 | Amos 1:14 | 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. |
| 4 | Deuteronomy 3:11 | (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.) |
| 5 | 2 Kings 13:20 | And Elisha died and was buried. Now the Moabite raiders used to come into the land every spring. |
| 6 | 1 Kings 20:26 | In the spring, Ben-hadad mobilized the Arameans and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel. |
| 7 | 1 Kings 20:22 | 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.” |
| 8 | Ezekiel 25:5 | I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels, and Ammon a resting place for sheep. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’ |
| 9 | Ezekiel 21:20 | Mark out one road for the sword to come against Rabbah of the Ammonites, and another against Judah into fortified Jerusalem. |
| 10 | Isaiah 6:11 | 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, |
1 Chronicles 20:1 Summary
[This verse tells us that Joab, David's army commander, led the army to war against the Ammonites in the spring, and David stayed in Jerusalem. This shows that David trusted God and Joab to take care of the war, just like we can trust God to take care of us, as seen in Psalm 23:4. David's trust in God is an example for us to follow, and we can learn from his leadership and faith. We can also see that God is our rock and refuge, as mentioned in Psalm 91:2, and we can trust Him to give us the strength and courage we need to face any challenge.]
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Joab lead the army to war in the spring?
The spring was a common time for kings to go to war, as seen in 1 Chronicles 20:1, likely due to the favorable weather conditions and the completion of the harvest season, as mentioned in 2 Samuel 11:1.
What was David's role in the war against the Ammonites?
According to 1 Chronicles 20:1, David remained in Jerusalem while Joab led the army to war, but later took the crown from the head of the Ammonite king, as seen in 1 Chronicles 20:2, demonstrating his authority and leadership.
Why did Joab besiege and demolish Rabbah?
The Bible does not provide a direct reason for Joab's actions, but it can be inferred that Rabbah was a key city in the Ammonite kingdom, and its destruction would have been a significant blow to the Ammonites, as part of God's judgment on them, as seen in Deuteronomy 2:19 and other passages.
What can we learn from David's decision to stay in Jerusalem?
David's decision to stay in Jerusalem may have been a test of his trust in God and his leadership, as seen in Psalm 20:7, where trust in God is emphasized, and also a demonstration of his confidence in Joab's military abilities, as seen in 1 Chronicles 20:1.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I need to trust God's sovereignty and leadership, just as David did when he stayed in Jerusalem?
- How can I, like Joab, be obedient to God's will and carry out my responsibilities with faithfulness and courage?
- What are some 'strongholds' in my life that need to be 'demolished', just like Rabbah, and how can I trust God to give me the victory?
- In what ways can I, like David, demonstrate my trust in God's power and provision, even in the midst of challenging circumstances?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Chronicles 20:1
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Chronicles 20:1
Trapp's Commentary on 1 Chronicles 20:1
Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Chronicles 20:1
Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Chronicles 20:1
Cambridge Bible on 1 Chronicles 20:1
Barnes' Notes on 1 Chronicles 20:1
Sermons on 1 Chronicles 20:1
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Reading Between the Lines by Tim Dilena | This sermon delves into the story of David and Bathsheba, highlighting the dangers of sin and the importance of responding to conviction before facing consequences. It emphasizes t |
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For Our People and for the Cities of God by John Piper | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on a passage from the Bible where Joab speaks to his brother about teamwork in battle. The speaker identifies six principles for successful tea |
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Dating: God's Way by Joshua Harris | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the importance of living differently in order to avoid negative consequences in relationships. He shares a story about a young boy who cheats |
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David's Cry for Mercy by Art Katz | In this sermon, the preacher begins by expressing gratitude for the trust and welcome of the congregation. He emphasizes the importance of risking everything for God, even if it me |
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Ancestors by Jim Cymbala | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the need for guidance and nourishment in our spiritual lives. He compares humans to sheep, highlighting their dependence on a shepherd to lea |
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(2 Samuel) a Not-So-Sudden Fall by David Guzik | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the tragic events described in Second Samuel chapter 11. He emphasizes the importance of learning from God's word rather than from bitter ex |
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Crisis by George Verwer | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of understanding the Christian life as a life of grace, not driven by the law or false guilt. He encourages believers to rest |







