1 Chronicles Chapter 20 — Victories Over Ammon and the Giants
Joab leads Israel to victory over the Ammonites at Rabbah, and David's warriors defeat several Philistine giants in battle.
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Notable Verses
1 Chronicles 20:1
“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.”
This verse sets the stage for the military campaigns and highlights Joab's leadership in the field.
1 Chronicles 20:8
“These were born to the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.”
It serves as a concluding summary of the defeat of the Philistine giants by Israel's forces.
Chapter Summary
This chapter chronicles Israel's significant military successes against two major enemies: the Ammonites and the Philistines. While David remains in Jerusalem, Joab leads the army to besiege and overthrow the city of Rabbah. David later joins the forces to claim the king’s crown, which weighed a talent of gold, and take significant plunder from the city. The narrative then shifts to three specific battles against the Philistines. In these encounters, David’s warriors face formidable giants. Sibbecai kills Sippai, Elhanan kills Lahmi (the brother of Goliath), and Jonathan, David’s nephew, defeats a man of great stature with twenty-four fingers and toes. These accounts emphasize the strength and bravery of David's men as they systematically eliminate the remaining descendants of the giants in Gath. The chapter concludes by noting that these giants fell by the hand of David and his servants, securing Israel's borders and demonstrating the nation's military dominance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The city of Rabbah, the capital of the Ammonites, was besieged and overthrown by Joab. David eventually took the king's crown and brought back a large amount of plunder to Jerusalem.
Lahmi was the brother of Goliath the Gittite. He was killed by Elhanan the son of Jair during one of the wars with the Philistines.
Jonathan, the son of Shimea and David’s nephew, killed this giant at Gath after the man had defied Israel. The text describes him as a man of great stature who was also born to the giant.
Study Note
This chapter omits the personal narrative of David and Bathsheba found in 2 Samuel, focusing instead on the broader military triumphs of the nation of Israel.
Related Chapters
2 Samuel 11
2 Samuel 11 provides the parallel account of the siege of Rabbah, which includes the narrative of David and Bathsheba.
1 Samuel 17
This chapter provides the background for the conflict with the giants, specifically David's famous battle with Goliath.
1 Chronicles 19
The previous chapter explains the initial provocation that led to the war with the Ammonites.
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