New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
1 Chronicles 20
1
In the spring, Joab led Israel's army out. It was the time when kings go off to war. Joab destroyed the land of Ammon. He went to the city of Rabbah. He surrounded it and got ready to attack it. But David remained in Jerusalem. Later, Joab attacked Rabbah and completely destroyed it.
Reference
2
David took the gold crown off the head of the king of Ammon. The crown weighed 75 pounds. It had jewels in it. It was placed on David's head. He took a huge amount of goods from the city.
3
He brought out the people who were there. He made them work with saws and iron picks and axes. David did that to all of the towns in Ammon. Then he and his entire army returned to Jerusalem.
4
War broke out at Gezer against the Philistines. At that time Sibbecai killed Sippai. So the Philistines were brought under Israel's control. Sibbecai was a Hushathite. Sippai was from the family line of Rapha.
5
In another battle against the Philistines, Elhanan killed Lahmi. Elhanan was the son of Jair. Lahmi was the brother of Goliath. Goliath was from the city of Gath. Lahmi's spear was as big as a weaver's rod.
Reference
People
Parallel theme
2 Samuel 21:19
6
There was still another battle. It took place at Gath. A huge man lived there. He had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. So the total number of his toes and fingers was 24. He was also from the family line of Rapha.
7
He made fun of Israel. So Jonathan killed him. Jonathan was the son of David's brother Shimea.
Reference
8
Those Philistine men lived in Gath. They were from the family line of Rapha. David and his men killed them.
Summary of 1 Chronicles 20
This chapter describes several important military victories during David's reign. The chapter begins with the continuation of the war against the Ammonites. At the beginning of the year, when kings normally went out to battle, Joab leads the Israelite army against the Ammonite territory. He attacks the surrounding land and lays siege to Rabbah, the capital city of the Ammonites. David initially remains in Jerusalem, but later comes to Rabbah after the city has been defeated.
David takes the crown of the Ammonite king and places it on his own head. The crown is described as extremely valuable, demonstrating the wealth and importance of the defeated kingdom. David also takes large quantities of valuable material from the city. The people of Rabbah and other Ammonite cities are placed under forced labor. This brings the major conflict with Ammon to an end and demonstrates the extent of David's victory.
The chapter then moves from the eastern frontier to the western frontier, where Israel again fights the Philistines. At Gezer, Sibbecai the Hushathite defeats Sippai, a powerful warrior described as belonging to the descendants of the giants. Another battle results in Elhanan killing Lahmi, who is identified as the brother of Goliath the Gittite. The description of Lahmi's enormous spear emphasizes the exceptional strength of these Philistine warriors.
A third battle occurs at Gath. Israel encounters another unusually large warrior who has six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. Despite his extraordinary appearance and strength, Jonathan, a member of David's family, kills him. The chapter concludes by explaining that these warriors belonged to the giant warrior tradition associated with Gath and that David and his servants defeated them.
Overall, Chapter 20 presents David's kingdom as militarily dominant on several fronts. The Ammonites are defeated in the east, while the Philistines are repeatedly defeated in the west. The chapter also emphasizes that Israel's warriors can overcome powerful enemies who appear physically superior. The victories continue the broader theme of David's reign: God enables David and his servants to defeat the major military threats surrounding Israel and establish the kingdom as a strong regional power.
David takes the crown of the Ammonite king and places it on his own head. The crown is described as extremely valuable, demonstrating the wealth and importance of the defeated kingdom. David also takes large quantities of valuable material from the city. The people of Rabbah and other Ammonite cities are placed under forced labor. This brings the major conflict with Ammon to an end and demonstrates the extent of David's victory.
The chapter then moves from the eastern frontier to the western frontier, where Israel again fights the Philistines. At Gezer, Sibbecai the Hushathite defeats Sippai, a powerful warrior described as belonging to the descendants of the giants. Another battle results in Elhanan killing Lahmi, who is identified as the brother of Goliath the Gittite. The description of Lahmi's enormous spear emphasizes the exceptional strength of these Philistine warriors.
A third battle occurs at Gath. Israel encounters another unusually large warrior who has six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. Despite his extraordinary appearance and strength, Jonathan, a member of David's family, kills him. The chapter concludes by explaining that these warriors belonged to the giant warrior tradition associated with Gath and that David and his servants defeated them.
Overall, Chapter 20 presents David's kingdom as militarily dominant on several fronts. The Ammonites are defeated in the east, while the Philistines are repeatedly defeated in the west. The chapter also emphasizes that Israel's warriors can overcome powerful enemies who appear physically superior. The victories continue the broader theme of David's reign: God enables David and his servants to defeat the major military threats surrounding Israel and establish the kingdom as a strong regional power.