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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comJamieson Fausset Brown Commentary - 1 Chronicles 20:1 - 20:1
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1Ch 20:1-3. Rabbah besieged by Joab, spoiled by David, and the people tortured.
at the time when kings go out to battle - in spring, the usual season in ancient times for entering on a campaign; that is, a year subsequent to the Syrian war.
Joab led forth the power of the army, and wasted the country ... of Ammon - The former campaign had been disastrous, owing chiefly to the hired auxiliaries of the Ammonites; and as it was necessary, as well as just, that they should be severely chastised for their wanton outrage on the Hebrew ambassadors, Joab ravaged their country and invested their capital, Rabbah. After a protracted siege, Joab took one part of it, the lower town or “city of waters,” insulated by the winding course of the Jabbok. Knowing that the fort called “the royal city” would soon fall, he invited the king to come in person, and have the honor of storming it. The knowledge of this fact (mentioned in 2Sa 12:26) enables us to reconcile the two statements - “David tarried at Jerusalem” (1Ch 20:1), and “David and all the people returned to Jerusalem” (1Ch 20:3).