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20 When springtime arrived, the time when kings go out to war, Joab led out the army, ravaged the land of the Ammonites, and besieged Rabbah. David remained in Jerusalem. Joab attacked Rabbah and pulled it down.

David took the gold crown of their king[a] from his head. It weighed seventy-five pounds[b] and had a precious stone in it. It was placed on[c] David’s head. He brought out large amounts of plunder from the city. He brought out the people who were in the city. He put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes.[d] David did the same to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the troops returned to Jerusalem.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 20:2 Or their god, Milcom
  2. 1 Chronicles 20:2 Or a talent (estimates for a talent vary from 68 to 130 pounds)
  3. 1 Chronicles 20:2 Or over. The weight of the crown seems too heavy for a person to wear, at least for any length of time.
  4. 1 Chronicles 20:3 The reading of the main Hebrew text is he sawed with a saw, with iron picks and with saws. This could mean that he cut up the city or the people. This verse is translated in harmony with the parallel text in 2 Samuel 12:31.

The Capture of Rabbah

20 And it happened that in the spring time of year,[a] the time when kings go out to battle, Joab led the troops of the army and destroyed the land of the Ammonites.[b] And he came and besieged Rabbah, but David remained in Jerusalem. And Joab struck Rabbah and destroyed it. And David took the crown of their king from his head and found it to weigh a talent of gold. And in it was a precious stone. Then it was placed upon the head of David. And he brought out the booty of the city, a large amount. And the people who were in it he brought out, and he set them to work with saws and iron implements and axes.[c] Thus David did to all the cities of the Ammonites.[d] Then David returned, and all the nation went with him.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 20:1 Literally “at the time of the returning of the year”
  2. 1 Chronicles 20:1 Literally “sons of Ammon”
  3. 1 Chronicles 20:3 The translation comes from 2 Samuel 12:31 since the Hebrew text here is uncertain
  4. 1 Chronicles 20:3 Literally “sons of Ammon”