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1 Chronicles 20

BSB·8 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1Inלְעֵת֩lə·‘êṯ — Time, season, or appointed momentH6256 — Full Word Study → the springתְּשׁוּבַ֨תtə·šū·ḇaṯ — Return, answer, turning backH8666 — Full Word Study →, at the time whenלְעֵ֣ת׀lə·‘êṯ — Time, season, or appointed momentH6256 — Full Word Study → kingsהַמְּלָכִ֗יםham·mə·lā·ḵîm — A male ruler or sovereign who governs a nation or kingdomH4428 — Full Word Study → march out to warצֵ֣אתṣêṯ — To go out, come forth, exitH3318 — Full Word Study →, Joabיוֹאָב֩yō·w·’āḇ — Yahweh is FatherH3097 — Full Word Study → led outוַיִּנְהַ֣גway·yin·haḡ — to lead, drive, guideH5090 — Full Word Study → the armyחֵ֨ילḥêl — Army, force, or wealthH2428 — Full Word Study → and ravagedוַיַּשְׁחֵ֣ת׀way·yaš·ḥêṯ — to destroy, ruin, or corruptH7843 — Full Word Study → the landאֶ֣רֶץ’e·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study → of the Ammonitesבְּנֵֽי־bə·nê- — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study →. He cameוַיָּבֹא֙way·yā·ḇō — to come, go, enter, arriveH935 — Full Word Study → to Rabbahרַבָּ֔הrab·bāh — The Great CityH7237 — Full Word Study → and besieged itוַיָּ֣צַרway·yā·ṣar — to besiege, confine, or press inH6696 — Full Word Study →, but Davidוְדָוִ֖ידwə·ḏā·wîḏ — BelovedH1732 — Full Word Study → remainedיֹשֵׁ֣בyō·šêḇ — to dwell, inhabit, settle, remainH3427 — Full Word Study → in Jerusalemבִּירֽוּשָׁלִָ֑םbî·rū·šā·lim — City of peaceH3389 — Full Word Study →. And Joabיוֹאָ֛בyō·w·’āḇ — Yahweh is FatherH3097 — Full Word Study → attackedוַיַּ֥ךְway·yaḵ — To strike, smite, or defeat with forceH5221 — Full Word Study → Rabbahרַבָּ֖הrab·bāh — The Great CityH7237 — Full Word Study → and demolished itוַיֶּֽהֶרְסֶֽהָ׃way·ye·her·se·hā — To destroy, tear down, or overthrow completelyH2040 — Full Word Study →. 2Then Davidדָּוִ֣ידdā·wîḏ — BelovedH1732 — Full Word Study → tookוַיִּקַּ֣חway·yiq·qaḥ — to take, seize, or receiveH3947 — Full Word Study → the crownעֲטֶֽרֶת־‘ă·ṭe·reṯ- — Crown; royal headpiece or honorH5850 — Full Word Study → fromמֵעַ֨לmê·‘al — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → the headרֹאשׁ֜וֹrō·šōw — Head; chief; beginning; topH7218 — Full Word Study → of their kingמַלְכָּם֩mal·kām — A male ruler or sovereign who governs a nation or kingdomH4428 — Full Word Study →. It was foundוַֽיִּמְצָאָ֣הּ׀way·yim·ṣā·’āh — to find, discover, obtainH4672 — Full Word Study → to weighמִשְׁקַ֣לmiš·qal — weight, heaviness, or burdenH4948 — Full Word Study → a talentכִּכַּר־kik·kar- — circular loaf; disk-shaped object; plainH3603 — Full Word Study → of goldזָהָ֗בzā·hāḇ — Gold; precious metal; wealth and valueH2091 — Full Word Study → and was set with preciousיְקָרָ֔הyə·qā·rāh — precious, valuable, honoredH3368 — Full Word Study → stonesאֶ֣בֶן’e·ḇen — Stone; rock; precious stoneH68 — Full Word Study →, and it wasוַתְּהִ֖יwat·tə·hî — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → placed onעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → David’sדָּוִ֑ידdā·wîḏ — BelovedH1732 — Full Word Study → headרֹ֣אשׁrōš — Head; chief; beginning; topH7218 — Full Word Study →. And David tookהוֹצִ֖יאhō·w·ṣî — To go out, come forth, exitH3318 — Full Word Study → a great amountהַרְבֵּ֥הhar·bêh — To increase, multiply, grow abundantH7235 — Full Word Study → of plunderוּשְׁלַ֥לū·šə·lal — Plunder, spoils of war; prey taken in battleH7998 — Full Word Study → from the cityהָעִ֛ירhā·‘îr — City; fortified settlement or townH5892 — Full Word Study →. 3David brought out the peopleהָעָ֨םhā·‘ām — a people; nation; communityH5971 — Full Word Study → who were there and put them to work with sawsבַּמְּגֵרָ֜הbam·mə·ḡê·rāh — saw (cutting tool)H4050 — Full Word Study →, ironהַבַּרְזֶל֙hab·bar·zel — Iron; a metal used for tools and weaponsH1270 — Full Word Study → picksוּבַחֲרִיצֵ֤יū·ḇa·ḥă·rî·ṣê — Incision, furrow, or carved channelsH2757 — Full Word Study →, and axesוּבַמְּגֵר֔וֹתū·ḇam·mə·ḡê·rō·wṯ — saw (cutting tool)H4050 — Full Word Study →. And he didיַעֲשֶׂ֣הya·‘ă·śeh — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → the sameוְכֵן֙wə·ḵên — so, thus, rightly, thereforeH3651 — Full Word Study → to allלְכֹ֖לlə·ḵōl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → the Ammoniteבְנֵי־ḇə·nê- — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → citiesעָרֵ֣י‘ā·rê — City; fortified settlement or townH5892 — Full Word Study →. Then David and allוְכָל־wə·ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → his troopsהָעָ֖םhā·‘ām — a people; nation; communityH5971 — Full Word Study → returnedוַיָּ֧שָׁבway·yā·šāḇ — to turn back, return, restoreH7725 — Full Word Study → to Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃פyə·rū·šā·lim — City of peaceH3389 — Full Word Study →. 4Some time laterוַיְהִי֙way·hî — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study →, warמִלְחָמָ֛הmil·ḥā·māh — Battle, warfare, combat, military conflictH4421 — Full Word Study → broke outוַתַּעֲמֹ֧דwat·ta·‘ă·mōḏ — to stand, take a stand, be establishedH5975 — Full Word Study → withעִם־‘im- — with, together with, amongH5973 — Full Word Study → the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑יםpə·liš·tîm — PhilistineH6430 — Full Word Study → at Gezerבְּגֶ֖זֶרbə·ḡe·zer — A fortified city in CanaanH1507 — Full Word Study →. At that timeאָ֣ז’āz — Then; at that time; thereforeH227 — Full Word Study → Sibbecaiסִבְּכַ֣יsib·bə·ḵay — Sibbecai the HushathiteH5444 — Full Word Study → the Hushathiteהַחֻֽשָׁתִ֗יha·ḥu·šā·ṯî — Inhabitant of HushahH2843 — Full Word Study → killedהִכָּ֞הhik·kāh — To strike, smite, or defeat with forceH5221 — Full Word Study → Sippaiסִפַּ֛יsip·pay — A Philistine giantH5598 — Full Word Study →, a descendantמִילִדֵ֥יmî·li·ḏê — One born; offspring; native-born personH3211 — Full Word Study → of the Rephaimהָרְפָאִ֖יםhā·rə·p̄ā·’îm — Giant; member of the Rephaim raceH7497 — Full Word Study →, and the Philistines were subduedוַיִּכָּנֵֽעוּ׃way·yik·kā·nê·‘ū — To subdue, humble, or bring into subjectionH3665 — Full Word Study →. 5Once againע֥וֹד‘ō·wḏ — still, yet, again, continuing or additional occurrenceH5750 — Full Word Study → there wasוַתְּהִי־wat·tə·hî- — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → a battleמִלְחָמָ֖הmil·ḥā·māh — Battle, warfare, combat, military conflictH4421 — Full Word Study → withאֶת־’eṯ- — with, together with, againstH854 — Full Word Study → the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑יםpə·liš·tîm — PhilistineH6430 — Full Word Study →, and Elhananאֶלְחָנָ֣ן’el·ḥā·nān — God is graciousH445 — Full Word Study → sonבֶּן־ben- — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → of Jairיָעוּרyå̄·ʿūr — He will awakenH3265 — Full Word Study → killedוַיַּ֞ךְway·yaḵ — To strike, smite, or defeat with forceH5221 — Full Word Study → Lahmiלַחְמִי֙laḥ·mî — My breadH3902 — Full Word Study → the brotherאֲחִי֙’ă·ḥî — Male sibling; brother; kinsmanH251 — Full Word Study → of Goliathגָּלְיָ֣תgā·lə·yāṯ — The Philistine giantH1555 — Full Word Study → the Gittiteהַגִּתִּ֔יhag·git·tî — Person from GathH1663 — Full Word Study →, the shaftוְעֵ֣ץwə·‘êṣ — Tree; wood; timberH6086 — Full Word Study → of whose spearחֲנִית֔וֹḥă·nî·ṯōw — Spear; a long-shafted weaponH2595 — Full Word Study → was like a weaver’sאֹרְגִֽים׃’ō·rə·ḡîm — To weave; to make cloth by interlacing threadsH707 — Full Word Study → beamכִּמְנ֖וֹרkim·nō·wr — Loom beam or weaver's shaftH4500 — Full Word Study →. 6And there wasוַתְּהִי־wat·tə·hî- — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → still another battle at Gathבְּגַ֑תbə·ḡaṯ — A Philistine cityH1661 — Full Word Study →, where there wasוַיְהִ֣י׀way·hî — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → a manאִ֣ישׁ’îš — man, male person, husbandH376 — Full Word Study → of great stature with sixשֵׁשׁ־šêš- — The number six; sixth in orderH8337 — Full Word Study → fingers on each handוְאֶצְבְּעֹתָ֤יוwə·’eṣ·bə·‘ō·ṯāw — Finger or toeH676 — Full Word Study → and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in allעֶשְׂרִ֣ים‘eś·rîm — The number twenty; a complete group or scoreH6242 — Full Word Study →. Heה֖וּאhū — He, she, it; the third person pronounH1931 — Full Word Study → tooוְגַם־wə·ḡam- — also, even, moreover, both...andH1571 — Full Word Study → was descendedנוֹלַ֥דnō·w·laḏ — to give birth, beget, or bear a childH3205 — Full Word Study → from Raphaלְהָרָפָֽא׃lə·hā·rā·p̄ā — Giant; member of the Rephaim raceH7497 — Full Word Study →, 7and when he tauntedוַיְחָרֵ֖ףway·ḥā·rêp̄ — to reproach, defy, or insult; to blasphemeH2778 — Full Word Study → Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לyiś·rā·’êl — God prevailsH3478 — Full Word Study →, Jonathanיְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ןyə·hō·w·nā·ṯān — Yahweh has givenH3083 — Full Word Study → the sonבֶּן־ben- — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → of David’sדָוִֽיד׃ḏā·wîḏ — BelovedH1732 — Full Word Study → brotherאֲחִ֥י’ă·ḥî — Male sibling; brother; kinsmanH251 — Full Word Study → Shimeiשִׁמְעָ֖אšim·‘ā — The LORD hearsH8092 — Full Word Study → killed himוַיַּכֵּ֙הוּ֙way·yak·kê·hū — To strike, smite, or defeat with forceH5221 — Full Word Study →. 8So theseאֵ֛ל’êl — these, those (demonstrative pronoun)H411 — Full Word Study → descendantsנוּלְּד֥וּnūl·lə·ḏū — to give birth, beget, or bear a childH3205 — Full Word Study → of Raphaלְהָרָפָ֖אlə·hā·rā·p̄ā — Giant; member of the Rephaim raceH7497 — Full Word Study → in Gathבְּגַ֑תbə·ḡaṯ — A Philistine cityH1661 — Full Word Study → fellוַיִּפְּל֥וּway·yip·pə·lū — to fall; collapse; perishH5307 — Full Word Study → at the handsבְיַד־ḇə·yaḏ- — hand; power, strength, controlH3027 — Full Word Study → of Davidדָּוִ֖ידdā·wîḏ — BelovedH1732 — Full Word Study → and his servantsעֲבָדָֽיו׃פ‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw — Servant; slave; one in bondage or serviceH5650 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — 1 Chronicles 20
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

1 Chronicles 20 records a pivotal season of military victories under King David's reign, focusing particularly on the conquest of Rabbah (the Ammonite capital) and subsequent wars against the Philistines. While David himself remains in Jerusalem during the Ammonite campaign, his commander Joab leads the assault and achieves decisive victory. The chapter then shifts attention to a series of conflicts with the Philistines, in which David's mighty men—warriors of legendary strength and skill—systematically defeat giant warriors who threaten Israel. Throughout these accounts, we witness God's faithful protection of His covenant people and the validation of David's kingship through military success.

Verses 1-3: The Conquest of Rabbah

The chapter opens with the siege of Rabbah, the capital city of the Ammonites. Verse 1 notes that David remained in Jerusalem while Joab led the military campaign—a detail that becomes significant when read alongside 2 Samuel 11, where David's idleness at home leads to his sin with Bathsheba. Here, the chronicler simply records the military facts without that moral commentary, but we should recognize that a king's duty includes active leadership. Joab's successful siege demonstrates the strength of Israel's military under David's established command structure. Verse 2 records an impressive detail: the Ammonite king's crown weighed a talent of gold (approximately 75 pounds)—a symbol of Rabbah's wealth and the completeness of David's victory. The precious stones adorning it further emphasize the city's opulence, now transferred to Israel's treasury and David's authority. Verse 3 describes David's treatment of the conquered cities using harsh language—cutting people with saws and implements. This reflects the severity of ancient Near Eastern warfare and divine judgment upon the Ammonites, though modern readers should understand this within its historical and covenantal context, not as a model for contemporary conduct.

Verses 4-7: Wars Against the Philistines and Giants

The narrative shifts to a series of Philistine conflicts, each highlighting David's warriors rather than David himself. Verse 4 introduces Sibbechai the Hushathite, who defeats Sippai, a giant. Verse 5 records Elhanan's victory over Lahmi, the brother of Goliath—reminding us that the giant threat was not eliminated by David's famous slingshot encounter alone; multiple generations faced these formidable foes. The description of Lahmi's spear staff "like a weaver's beam" emphasizes the superhuman scale of these warriors. Verses 6-7 describe another giant at Gath with the extraordinary feature of six fingers and six toes on each hand and foot—a genetic abnormality that, while unusual, demonstrates that physical size and strength were genuine characteristics of these bloodlines. Jonathan, David's brother, defeats this giant when he blasphemes Israel's God. Each victory shows that Israel's strength ultimately rests not in military prowess alone, but in covenant relationship with the Lord.

Verse 8: Summary and Theological Significance

The closing verse summarizes these accounts: these giants "fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants." Although David himself is not always the direct instrument of victory, the text attributes success to him as king—his leadership, his God-given authority, and his trained warriors work in concert. This reflects the biblical principle that a leader bears responsibility for his kingdom's victories and defeats.

Application for Today

These accounts remind us that spiritual victory often comes through faithful obedience and God's empowerment, not through human strength alone. Like David's mighty men facing literal giants, believers face spiritual opposition that seems overwhelming. Yet Christ has already won the victory (1 John 5:4), and He equips us through His Spirit to overcome every obstacle. We are called to courageous faith, trusting that God's purposes will prevail through our faithful service.

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