1 chronicles 20:1 - At the time of the return of the year, at the time when kings go out, Joab led out the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. Joab struck Rabbah, and overthrew it.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "1 chronicles 20:1" mean?
This verse from 1 Chronicles 20:1 describes a specific military campaign against the Ammonites, with a particular focus on the division of labor and the timing of events:
"At the time of the return of the year, at the time when kings go out...": This indicates that the campaign was launched in the spring. Historically, warfare often took place in the spring after the harvest and before planting. Kings would lead their armies out to campaign during this more favorable weather period.
"...Joab led out the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon...": Joab, David's military commander, was the one leading the army in this particular campaign against the Ammonites. "Wasted the country" likely means he ravaged or devastated the land, perhaps destroying crops, towns, or other resources as part of their military strategy.
"...and came and besieged Rabbah.": Rabbah was the capital city of the Ammonites. A siege means the army surrounded the city to cut off its supplies and force it to surrender.
"But David stayed at Jerusalem.": This is the key point for the context of the larger narrative. While his army and commander are actively engaged in war, David remained in Jerusalem. This sets the stage for the events that follow in 2 Samuel 11, where David's temptation with Bathsheba occurs while the army is away at war.
"Joab struck Rabbah, and overthrew it.": This confirms that Joab was successful in conquering Rabbah. It underscores his military prowess and the success of the campaign against the Ammonites. The overthrow of Rabbah effectively marked the end of Ammonite resistance in that campaign.
In summary, the verse highlights:
The typical time of year for military campaigns.
The leadership role of Joab in this specific military action.
The absence of David from the battlefield, which is a significant detail considering the events that follow in the broader narrative of David's reign.
The success of the campaign, with the siege and capture of the Ammonite capital.
The verse functions as a transition, setting the stage for a significant moral failing on David's part, while also acknowledging the continued success of his military operations. It's a stark contrast: David's kingdom is expanding, but his personal life is about to be deeply compromised.
1 chronicles 20:1 - At the time of the return of the year, at the time when kings go out, Joab led out the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. Joab struck Rabbah, and overthrew it.
What does "1 chronicles 20:1" mean?
This verse from 1 Chronicles 20:1 describes a specific military campaign against the Ammonites, with a particular focus on the division of labor and the timing of events:
"At the time of the return of the year, at the time when kings go out...": This indicates that the campaign was launched in the spring. Historically, warfare often took place in the spring after the harvest and before planting. Kings would lead their armies out to campaign during this more favorable weather period.
"...Joab led out the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon...": Joab, David's military commander, was the one leading the army in this particular campaign against the Ammonites. "Wasted the country" likely means he ravaged or devastated the land, perhaps destroying crops, towns, or other resources as part of their military strategy.
"...and came and besieged Rabbah.": Rabbah was the capital city of the Ammonites. A siege means the army surrounded the city to cut off its supplies and force it to surrender.
"But David stayed at Jerusalem.": This is the key point for the context of the larger narrative. While his army and commander are actively engaged in war, David remained in Jerusalem. This sets the stage for the events that follow in 2 Samuel 11, where David's temptation with Bathsheba occurs while the army is away at war.
"Joab struck Rabbah, and overthrew it.": This confirms that Joab was successful in conquering Rabbah. It underscores his military prowess and the success of the campaign against the Ammonites. The overthrow of Rabbah effectively marked the end of Ammonite resistance in that campaign.
In summary, the verse highlights:
The typical time of year for military campaigns.
The leadership role of Joab in this specific military action.
The absence of David from the battlefield, which is a significant detail considering the events that follow in the broader narrative of David's reign.
The success of the campaign, with the siege and capture of the Ammonite capital.
The verse functions as a transition, setting the stage for a significant moral failing on David's part, while also acknowledging the continued success of his military operations. It's a stark contrast: David's kingdom is expanding, but his personal life is about to be deeply compromised.