The Capture of Rabbah

20 (A)In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, Joab led out the army and ravaged the country of the Ammonites and came and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. And (B)Joab struck down Rabbah and overthrew it. (C)And David took the crown of their king from his head. He found that it weighed a talent[a] of gold, and in it was a precious stone. And it was placed on David's head. And he brought out the spoil of the city, a very great amount. And he brought out the people who were in it and set them to labor[b] (D)with saws and iron picks and axes.[c] And thus David did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 20:2 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms
  2. 1 Chronicles 20:3 Compare 2 Samuel 12:31; Hebrew he sawed
  3. 1 Chronicles 20:3 Compare 2 Samuel 12:31; Hebrew saws

Capture of the City of Rabbah

20 In the spring[a] when kings march out to war,(A) Joab led the army and destroyed the Ammonites’ land. He came to Rabbah and besieged it, but David remained in Jerusalem.(B) Joab attacked Rabbah and demolished it. Then David took the crown from the head of their king,[b][c](C) and it was placed on David’s head. He found that the crown weighed 75 pounds[d] of gold, and there was a precious stone in it. In addition, David took away a large quantity of plunder from the city. He brought out the people who were in it and put them to work with saws,[e] iron picks, and axes.[f](D) David did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then he and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 20:1 Lit At the time of the return of the year
  2. 1 Chronicles 20:2 LXX, Vg read of Milcom
  3. 1 Chronicles 20:2 = Molech; 1Kg 11:5,7
  4. 1 Chronicles 20:2 Lit a talent
  5. 1 Chronicles 20:3 Text emended; MT reads and sawed them with the saw; 2Sm 12:31
  6. 1 Chronicles 20:3 Text emended; MT reads saws; 2Sm 12:31