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.

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.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
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.
KJV
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.
WEB
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.
ASV
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.
DARBY
And it came to pass at the time of the return of the year, at the time when kings go forth, that Joab led forth the power of the army, and laid waste the land of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David abode at Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and overthrew it.
BLB
And it happened, at the time of the return of the year, at the time of the going out of the kings, that Joab led out the force of the host and destroyed the land of the sons of Ammon, and he came in and besieged Rabbah. And David stayed at Jerusalem. And Joab defeated Rabbah and overthrew it.
ÅB
Året etter, ved den tid da kongene pleier å dra ut i krig, tok Joab ut med krigshæren og herjet Ammons barns land, og da han kom til Rabba, kringsatte han det; men David ble i Jerusalem; og Joab tok Rabba og ødela byen.
OTB
Da våren kom, i den tiden da konger vanligvis drar i krig,
ledet Joab hæren og ødela landet til Ammons barn,
og rykket frem for å beleire Rabba.
I mellomtiden ble David i Jerusalem.
Joab angrep Rabba og erobret det.
B1930
Året efter, ved den tid da kongene pleier å dra ut i krig, tok Joab ut med krigshæren og herjet Ammons barns land, og da han kom til Rabba, kringsatte han det; men David blev i Jerusalem; og Joab tok Rabba og ødela byen.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 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.

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  • 2 Samuel 12:26–31

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

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 49:2–3

    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.

    Read in context
  • 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:

    Read in context
  • 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.

    Read in context
  • 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.

    Read in context
  • 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.

    Read in context
  • 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,

    Read in context