1 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.
And it came to pass as Joab watched the city, that he assigned Urijah to a place where he knew that the valiant men were. And the men of the city went out and fought with Joab; and there fell some of the people, of the servants of David; and Urijah the Hittite died also. Then Joab sent and told David all the matters of the war; and charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast ended telling the matters of the war to the king, and if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say to thee, Why did ye go so near to the city to fight? did ye not know that they would shoot from the wall? Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast the upper stone of a handmill from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why did ye go near the wall? -- then say thou, Thy servant Urijah the Hittite is dead also. And the messenger went; and he came and told David all that Joab had sent him for. And the messenger said to David, The men prevailed against us, and came out against us into the field, and we were upon them as far as the entrance of the gate. And the shooters shot from upon the wall against thy servants; and some of the king's servants are dead, and thy servant Urijah the Hittite is dead also. Then David said to the messenger, Thus shalt thou say to Joab: Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devours one as well as another: make thy battle strong against the city, and overthrow it; -- and encourage him.
And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city. And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters. And now gather the rest of the people, and encamp against the city and take it: lest I take the city and it be called by my name. And David gathered all the people, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it and took it. And he took the crown of their king from off his head, the weight of which was a talent of gold with [the] precious stones; and it was [set] on David's head; and he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance. And he brought out the people that were in it, and put them under the saw, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkilns. And so did he to all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
Therefore behold, days come, saith Jehovah, that I will cause the clamour of war to be heard in Rabbah of the children of Ammon; and it shall be a desolate heap; and her towns shall be burned with fire; and Israel shall possess them that possessed him, saith Jehovah. Howl, Heshbon! for Ai is laid waste; cry, daughters of Rabbah, gird you with sackcloth, lament and run to and fro within the enclosures: for Malcam shall go into captivity, his priests and his princes together.
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Commentary on 1 Chronicles 20 John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 20
Agrees with various passages in the second book of Samuel; 1 Chronicles 20:1 with 2 Samuel 11:1 and 1 Chronicles 20:2 with 2 Samuel 12:30 and the rest, to the end of it, with 2 Samuel 21:15. What differences there are, are observed in the notes on those passages, which see. Also see 1 Chronicles 21:1.
See Gill on 1 Chronicles 20:1, 2 Samuel 11:1, 1 Chronicles 20:2, 2 Samuel 12:30, 2 Samuel 21:15, and 1 Chronicles 21:1.