Siege and Capture of Rabbah

20 In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, Joab led out the army, ravaged the country of the Ammonites, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. Joab attacked Rabbah and overthrew it.^(A)

David Commits Adultery with Bathsheba

11 In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel with him; they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.^(A)

The Ammonites Crushed

²⁶ Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and took the royal city.^{(A) 27} Joab sent messengers to David and said, “I have fought against Rabbah; moreover, I have taken the water city. ²⁸ Now, then, gather the rest of the people together, encamp against the city, and take it, lest I myself take the city and it is called by my name.” ²⁹ So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah and fought against it and took it. ³⁰ He took the crown of Milcom^[a] from his head; the weight of it was a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone, and it was placed on David’s head. He also brought forth the spoil of the city, a very great amount.^{(B) 31} He brought out the people who were in it and set them to work with saws and iron picks and iron axes or sent them to the brickworks. Thus he did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

¹¹ (Now only King Og of Bashan was left of the remnant of the Rephaim. In fact, his bed, an iron bed, can still be seen in Rabbah of the Ammonites. By the common cubit it is nine cubits long and four cubits wide.)^(A)

⁵ I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels and Ammon a fold for flocks. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.^(A)

²⁰ mark out the road for the sword to come to Rabbah of the Ammonites or to Judah and to^[a] Jerusalem the fortified.^(A)