20:1David’s adultery occurred at this time while he remained in Jerusalem instead of going to battle (2 Samuel 11-12). This story may have been excluded from 1 Chronicles because the book was written to focus on God’s long-term interest in Israel and on the Temple as a symbol of God’s presence among them. The story of David and Bathsheba did not fit this purpose. The story of Absa- {om’s rebellion, which occurred between this chapter and the next, was probably omitted for the same reason (2 Samuel 15-18).
Life Application Study Bible1 ChroniclesChapter 20
1 Chronicles 20
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original page: 650
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
201 Chronicles 20
1siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem. 2When David arrived at Rabbah, he removed the crown from the king’s head,* and it was placed on his own head. The crown was made of gold and set with gems, and he found thatit weighed seventy-five pounds.* David took a vast amount of plunder from the city. 3He also made slaves of the people of Rabbah and forced them to labor with* saws, iron picks, and iron axes.* That is how David dealt with the people of all the Ammonite towns. Then David and all the army returned to Jerusalem.
Battles against Philistine Giants
44After this, war broke out with the Philistines at Gezer. As they fought, Sibbecai from Hushah killed Saph,* a descendant of the giants,* and so the Philistines were subdued. SDuring another battle with the Philistines, Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi, the brother of Goliath of Gath. The handle of Lahmi’s spear was as thick as a weaver’s beam! 6In another battle with the Philistines at Gath, they encountered a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in all, who was also a descendant of the giants. 7But when he defied and taunted Israel, he was killed by Jonathan, the son of David's brother Shimea. 8These Philistines were descendants of the giants of Gath, but David and his warriors killed them.
Textual footnotes
- 20:1 Hebrew At the turn of the year. The first day of the year in the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred in March
- 20:2a Or from the head of Milcom (as in Greek version and Latin Vuigate). Milcom, also called Molech,
- 20:2b Hebrew 7 talent [34 kilograms].
- 20:3a Or He also brought out the people of
- 20:3b As in parailel text at 2 Sam 12:31; Hebrew reads and saws.
- 20:4a As in parallel
- 20:4b Hebrew descendant of the Rephaites; also in 20:6, 8.
Life Application Notes 3 notes
20:1Kings went out to battle following the spring harvest. At this time, farm work eased off, and the armies could live off the land. During the winter, they plotted and planned future conquests. Then, when fair weather permitted, their armies went to war. But David ignored this opportunity. He stayed home and sent Joab out to lead the army.!t was during this time of inactivity that he sinned with Bathsheba. Look for the “springs” in your life, the times when God wants you to respond, take the initiative, and move out to do his will. itis during these critical times that we may be most sensitive to temptation. Resolve to take the action God has prescribed. Don't give temptation a foothold in your inactivity.
20:1Rabbah was the capital of the Ammonites and is the site of modern Amman in Jordan.