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1 Chronicles 20

The account records David’s conquests through the fall of Rabbah and his servants’ victories over formidable Philistine warriors.

Joab leads Israel’s army against Ammon and besieges Rabbah while David stays in Jerusalem. After the city falls, David takes its king’s crown and carries away plunder. The account also describes harsh treatment of the conquered people before David returns to Jerusalem. Three brief reports then recount battles against Philistine warriors descended from the giant at Gath. Sibbecai, Elhanan, and David’s nephew Jonathan each kill an opponent, securing victories credited to David and his servants.

sermon or Bible study notesinjustice and anger
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1At 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. But David stayed at Jerusalem. Joab struck Rabbah, and overthrew it.
2David 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. It was set on David’s head, and he brought very much plunder out of the city.
3He brought out the people who were in it, and had them cut with saws, with iron picks, and with axes. David did so to all the cities of the children of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
4After this, war arose at Gezer with the Philistines. Then Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, of the sons of the giant; and they were subdued.
5Again there was war with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
7When he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him.
8These were born to the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.
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Key verses
1 Chronicles 20:1Joab’s capture of Rabbah establishes the conquest that follows, while the account draws attention to David’s remaining in Jerusalem.
1 Chronicles 20:2The captured crown and abundant plunder mark Rabbah’s defeat and David’s royal triumph over Ammon.
1 Chronicles 20:4Sibbecai’s victory begins the sequence of battles in which David’s servants defeat warriors descended from the giant.
Where this chapter reaches

2 Samuel recounts the same capture of Rabbah, the taking of its crown, and battles against giant warriors, sharing events and people with this account. 1 Samuel supplies the earlier account of Goliath, whose name identifies Lahmi here as his brother.

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After reading the whole chapter

What questions does the treatment of Rabbah’s people raise as you read this account of victory?

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How does the naming of David’s servants shape your understanding of who accomplished these victories?

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Questions people ask about 1 Chronicles 20

Did David torture the Ammonites in 1 Chronicles 20:3?

The supplied translation describes David having the conquered people cut with tools, which reads as severe violence. The Hebrew wording is difficult, and translations differ over whether it describes killing or forced labor. The verse does not explain David’s motives or state that God commanded this treatment.

Did Elhanan kill Goliath in 1 Chronicles 20?

Verse 5 identifies Elhanan’s opponent as Lahmi, the brother of Goliath the Gittite. It does not say that Elhanan killed Goliath. The description of Lahmi’s spear underscores his formidable size, and his defeat forms part of the chapter’s record of victories over warriors associated with Gath.

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What the Bible says about anger →

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).