Paul Kretzmann Commentary - 1 Chronicles 20:1 - 20:3

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Paul Kretzmann Commentary - 1 Chronicles 20:1 - 20:3


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The City of Rabbah Taken

v. 1. And it came to pass that after the year was expired, at the season when warlike operations were usually resumed, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led forth the power of the army, the flower of his veteran troops, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, thus chastising the Ammonites for their willful outrage on the Hebrew ambassadors, and came and besieged Rabbah, the most powerful fortress in the country. But David tarried at Jerusalem, coming over only after Joab had taken the lower town, and himself directing the storming of the citadel, 2Sa_12:26. And Joab smote Rabbah and destroyed it, David being present only in the last part of the campaign.

v. 2. And David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold
(roughly, equal to one hundred and twenty-five pounds); and there were precious stones in it; and it was set upon David's head. not permanently, but only to signify the subjection of the Ammonites. And he brought also exceeding much spoil out of the city.

v. 3. And he brought out the people that were in it, and cut them with saws and with harrows of iron,
threshing carts, and with axes, probably scythelike cutting instruments. The method of dealing with vanquished foes seems barbarous at this time, but was undoubtedly well deserved. Even so dealt David with all the cities of the children of Ammon, his purpose being a complete overthrow of these ancient enemies of Israel. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem. What the Ammonites experienced has happened time and again in the course of history, namely, that people brought only misfortune upon themselves, especially in attempting to battle against the Lord and His Church.