1 Chronicles 20

King James Version

Full text for 1 Chronicles Chapter 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.

2And 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.

3And 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.

4¶ And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines; at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Sippai, [that was] of the children of the giant: and they were subdued.

5And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff [was] like a weaver's beam.

6And yet again there was war at Gath, where was a man of [great] stature, whose fingers and toes [were] four and twenty, six [on each hand], and six [on each foot]: and he also was the son of the giant.

7But when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David's brother slew him.

8These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

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.

Medium Summary

After the year expired, Joab led the Israelite army against the Ammonites, besieging and ultimately destroying their capital, Rabbah, while David remained in Jerusalem. David subsequently took the heavy gold crown of the Ammonite king, adorned with precious stones, and brought back vast spoils from the city. The inhabitants of Rabbah and other Ammonite cities were subjected to harsh treatment. Following these events, Israel engaged in further conflicts with the Philistines. During these wars, several formidable giants were defeated: Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Sippai at Gezer, and Elhanan the son of Jair killed Lahmi, the brother of Goliath. Finally, Jonathan, the son of David's brother Shimea, slew another giant at Gath who had defied Israel, thus subduing these formidable adversaries.

Long Summary

Chapter 20 of 1 Chronicles details significant military campaigns undertaken by Israel. It begins with Joab leading the army to war against the Ammonites after the year had expired, a customary time for kings to go forth to battle. Joab devastated the Ammonite country and laid siege to their capital, Rabbah, while King David remained in Jerusalem. Joab successfully smote Rabbah and destroyed it. Subsequently, David personally took the crown of the Ammonite king, which was found to weigh a talent of gold and contained precious stones, placing it upon his own head. An exceeding amount of spoil was also brought out of the city. The chapter records that David brought out the people of Rabbah and other Ammonite cities, subjecting them to severe methods of execution, including saws, iron harrows, and axes, before returning to Jerusalem. The narrative then shifts to a series of wars with the Philistines. The first occurred at Gezer, where Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Sippai, who was identified as a descendant of the giant, leading to the Philistines' subjugation. A second conflict saw Elhanan the son of Jair slay Lahmi, the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff was remarkably large, like a weaver's beam. Finally, another war erupted at Gath, where a man of immense stature, possessing six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot (twenty-four in total), a son of the giant, defied Israel. This giant was ultimately slain by Jonathan, the son of Shimea, David's brother. These formidable giants, born in Gath, were all defeated by David or his valiant servants.

Core Concepts

  • Conquest of RabbahJoab's successful siege and destruction of Rabbah, the Ammonite capital, marking a significant victory for Israel.
  • David's Spoil and CrownDavid's acquisition of the Ammonite king's heavy gold crown and vast spoils from Rabbah, symbolizing the fruits of victory.
  • Treatment of AmmonitesThe severe and harsh methods employed by David against the inhabitants of Rabbah and other Ammonite cities, including the use of saws and iron harrows.
  • Philistine WarsA series of subsequent military engagements between Israel and the Philistines, occurring after the Ammonite campaign.
  • Slaying of GiantsThe defeat of several formidable Philistine giants by David's mighty men, including Sippai, Lahmi (Goliath's brother), and another unnamed giant from Gath.
  • David's Servants/HeroesThe valorous actions of specific individuals like Sibbechai, Elhanan, and Jonathan, who were instrumental in subduing the Philistine giants.