1 Chronicles20

1 Chronicles 20 details two primary military campaigns of Israel. First, Joab led the army to besiege and destroy Rabbah of the Ammonites, with David taking the king's crown and much spoil, and treating the inhabitants with severity. Following this, several wars arose with the Philistines, during which notable giants were slain by David's servants, including Sibbechai, Elhanan, and Jonathan.
Listen to this chapter
0:00 0:00

David Captures Rabbah and Conquers Ammon

1
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. ​
2
Then 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. ​
3
David 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. ​

Battles Against the Philistine Giants

4
Some time later, war broke out with the Philistines at Gezer. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, a descendant of the Rephaim, and the Philistines were subdued. ​
5
Once again there was a battle with the Philistines, and Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. ​
6
And there was still another battle at Gath, where there was a man of great stature with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He too was descended from Rapha, ​
7
and when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of David’s brother Shimei killed him.
8
So these descendants of Rapha in Gath fell at the hands of David and his servants. ​

Study Notes for 1 Chronicles 20

Verse 1

This account is a highly condensed version of events found in 2 Samuel 11–12. The Chronicler focuses solely on the successful military campaign led by Joab, omitting David’s sin with Bathsheba, consistent with his goal of presenting David as an idealized king.

Verse 2

The crown’s immense weight (a talent of gold, approximately 75 pounds) suggests it was likely a ceremonial object or perhaps melted down to create a new royal crown, symbolizing the transfer of sovereignty to David.

Verse 3

The description of treating the Ammonites harshly (saws, iron harrows) is typical of ancient Near Eastern warfare. Some scholars interpret the Hebrew verb as forcing the people into heavy manual labor (e.g., quarry work) rather than literal execution, though the cruelty remains evident.

Verse 4

This section, drawn from 2 Samuel 21:18–22, shifts the focus to David’s ongoing subjugation of the Philistines. The ‘children of the giant’ (Heb. *Rephaim*) were a lineage of formidable warriors whom Israel had to defeat to secure the land.

Verse 5

This verse clarifies an ambiguity found in 2 Samuel 21:19, where Elhanan is credited with killing Goliath. The Chronicler explicitly states that Elhanan killed Lahmi, the *brother* of Goliath the Gittite, ensuring David alone receives credit for killing the famous giant.

Verse 6

This description of a giant with 24 digits (polydactyly) emphasizes his unusual and fearsome nature. The Chronicler includes these specific details to underscore the magnitude of the victories achieved by David's men.

Verse 8

The final verse summarizes the complete defeat of the Rephaim, underscoring that the giants, who had been a perennial threat to Israel, were finally eliminated through David and his loyal forces.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options