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Texts -- 1 Chronicles 20:1-8 (NET)

Context
20:1 In the spring , at the time when kings normally conduct wars, Joab led the army into battle and devastated the land of the Ammonites . He went and besieged Rabbah , while David stayed in Jerusalem . Joab defeated Rabbah and tore it down . 20:2 David took the crown from the head of their king and wore it (its weight was a talent of gold and it was set with precious stones ). He took a large amount of plunder from the city . 20:3 He removed the city’s residents and made them do hard labor with saws , iron picks , and axes . This was his policy with all the Ammonite cities . Then David and all the army returned to Jerusalem .
Battles with the Philistines
20:4 Later there was a battle with the Philistines in Gezer . At that time Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Sippai , one of the descendants of the Rephaim , and the Philistines were subdued . 20:5 There was another battle with the Philistines in which Elhanan son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite , whose spear had a shaft as big as the crossbeam of a weaver’s loom. 20:6 In a battle in Gath there was a large man who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot– twenty-four in all! He too was a descendant of Rapha . 20:7 When he taunted Israel , Jonathan son of Shimea , David’s brother , killed him. 20:8 These were the descendants of Rapha who lived in Gath ; they were killed by the hand of David and his soldiers .

Pericope

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Bible Dictionary

  • Samuel, Books of

    [ebd] The LXX. translators regarded the books of Samuel and of Kings as forming one continuous history, which they divided into four books, which they called "Books of the Kingdom." The Vulgate version followed this division, but ...

  • Rapha

    [ebd] tall. (1.) A Benjamite, the son of Binea (1 Chr. 8:2, 37), a descendant of Saul. (2.) Margin of 1 Chr. 20:4, 6, where "giant" is given in the text.
    [nave] RAPHA 1. Son of Benjamin, 1 Chr. 8:2. 2. Called also Rephaiah. A descendant of Jonathan, 1 Chr. 8:37; 9:43. 3. An ancestor of certain Philistine warriors, 2 Sam. 21:16, 20, 22; 1 Chr. 20:4, 6, 8.

  • Rabbah

    [isbe] RABBAH - rab'-a: (1) (rabbah; Rhabba, Rhabbath, Rhabban. The full name is rabbath bene `ammon; he akra ton huion Ammon, Rhabbath huion Ammon, "Rabbah of the children of Ammon"): This alone of the cities of the Ammonites is m...
    [smith] (great). A very strong place on the east of the Jordan, and the chief city of the Ammonites. In five passages -- (3:11; 2 Samuel 12:26; 17:27; Jeremiah 49:2; Ezekiel 21:20) --it is styled at length Rabbath of the Ammonite...
    [nave] RABBAH 1. Called also Rabbath. A city E. of the Jordan, originally belonging to the Ammonites, Josh. 13:25. Bedstead of the giant Og kept at, Deut. 3:11. Taken by David, 2 Sam. 11:1; 12:26-31; 1 Chr. 20:1-3. Possessed aga...

  • RAPHA, RAPHAH

    [isbe] RAPHA, RAPHAH - ra'-fa (rapha'): (1) In the Revised Version margin these names are substituted for "the giant" in 1 Ch 20:4,6,8 and in 2 Sam 21:16,18,20,22. The latter passage states that certain champions of the Philistines...

  • Joab

    [nave] JOAB 1. Son of David's sister, 1 Chr. 2:16. Commander of David's army, 2 Sam. 8:16; 20:23; 1 Chr. 11:6; 18:15; 27:34. Dedicated spoils of his battles, 1 Chr. 26:28. Defeated the Jebusites, 1 Chr. 11:6. Defeats and slays ...

  • JAARE-OREGIM

    [ebd] forests of the weavers, a Bethlehemite (2 Sam. 21:19), and the father of Elhanan, who slew Goliath. In 1 Chr. 20:5 called JAIR.
    [isbe] JAARE-OREGIM - ja'-a-re-or'-e-jim, -or'e-gim (ya`are'oreghim): In 2 Sam 21:19, given as the name of a Bethlehemite, father of Elhanan, who is said to have slain Goliath the Gittite (compare 1 Sam 17). The name is not likely ...

  • HEREDITY

    [isbe] HEREDITY - he-red'-i-ti: 1. Physiological Heredity: Heredity, in modern language, is the law by which living beings tend to repeat their characteristics, physiological and psychical, in their offspring, a law familiar in som...

  • Goliath

    [ebd] great. (1.) A famous giant of Gath, who for forty days openly defied the armies of Israel, but was at length slain by David with a stone from a sling (1 Sam. 17:4). He was probably descended from the Rephaim who found refuge...
    [isbe] GOLIATH - go-li'-ath (golyath; Goliath): (1) The giant of Gath, and champion of the Philistine army (1 Sam 17:4-23; 21:9; 22:10; 2 Sam 21:19; 1 Ch 20:5 ff). He defied the armies of Israel, challenging anyone to meet him in s...
    [nave] GOLIATH, a giant champion of Gath. Defied armies of Israel and is slain by David, 1 Sam. 17; 21:9; 22:10. His sons, 2 Sam. 21:15-22; 1 Chr. 20:4-8.

  • Gath

    [nave] GATH One of the five chief cities of the Philistines, Josh. 13:3; 1 Sam. 6:17; Amos 6:2; Mic. 1:10. Anakim, a race of giants, inhabitants of, Josh. 11:22. Goliath dwelt in, 1 Sam. 17:4; 1 Chr. 20:5-8. Obed-edom belonged t...

  • GOB

    [ebd] a pit, a place mentioned in 2 Sam. 21:18, 19; called also Gezer, in 1 Chr. 20:4.
    [isbe] GOB - gob (gobh): A place mentioned in 2 Sam 21:18 f as the scene of two of David's battles with the Philistines. The name appears here only. In the parallel passage, 1 Ch 20:4, it is called Gezer (compare Ant, VII, xii, 2)....
    [smith] (cistern), a place mentioned only in (2 Samuel 21:18,19) as the scene of two encounters between David?s warriors and the Philistines. In the parallel account in (1 Chronicles 20:4) the name is given as GEZER.

  • GIANTS

    [ebd] (1.) Heb. nephilim, meaning "violent" or "causing to fall" (Gen. 6:4). These were the violent tyrants of those days, those who fell upon others. The word may also be derived from a root signifying "wonder," and hence "monste...
    [isbe] GIANTS - ji'-ants The word appears in the King James Version as the translation of the Hebrew words nephilim (Gen 6:4; Nu 13:33); repha'im (Dt 2:11,20; 3:11,13; Josh 12:4, etc.); rapha' (1 Ch 20:4,6,8), or raphah (2 Sam 21:1...

  • GENEALOGY, 8 part 2

    [isbe] GENEALOGY, 8 part 2 - I. Primeval Genealogies (1 Chronicals 1:1-54). To show Israel's place among the nations; follows Genesis closely, omitting only the Cainites; boldly, skillfully compressed, as if the omitted facts were ...

  • David

    [isbe] DAVID - da'-vid (dawidh, or dawidh, "beloved"; Daueid, also in New Testament, Dauid, Dabid; see Thayer's Lexicon): I. NAME AND GENEALOGY II. EARLY YEARS 1. Shepherd 2. Slinger 3. Harpist 4. Poet 5. Psalmist 6. Tribesman III....
    [nave] DAVID 1. King of Israel. Genealogy of, Ruth 4:18-22; 1 Sam. 16:11; 17:12; 1 Chr. 2:3-15; Matt. 1:1-6; Luke 3:31-38. A shepherd, 1 Sam. 16:11. Kills a lion and a bear, 1 Sam. 17:34-36. Anointed king, while a youth, by the ...

  • Crown

    [isbe] CROWN - kroun: The word crown in the Old Testament is a translation of five different Hebrew words, and in the New Testament of two Greek words. These express the several meanings, and must be examined to ascertain the same....
    [nave] CROWN Prescribed for priests, Ex. 29:6; 39:30; Lev. 8:9. Worn by kings, 2 Sam. 1:10; 12:30; 2 Kin. 11:12; Esth. 6:8; Song 3:11; Rev. 6:2; by queens, Esth. 1:11; 2:17; 8:15. Made of gold, Psa. 21:3; Zech. 6:11. Of victory,...

  • Chronicles, Books of

    [ebd] The two books were originally one. They bore the title in the Massoretic Hebrew Dibre hayyamim, i.e., "Acts of the Days." This title was rendered by Jerome in his Latin version "Chronicon," and hence "Chronicles." In the Sep...

  • Captive

    [ebd] one taken in war. Captives were often treated with great cruelty and indignity (1 Kings 20:32; Josh. 10:24; Judg. 1:7; 2 Sam. 4:12; Judg. 8:7; 2 Sam. 12:31; 1 Chr. 20:3). When a city was taken by assault, all the men were sl...
    [nave] CAPTIVE Prisoner of war, Gen. 14:12; 1 Sam. 30:1, 2. Cruelty to: Putting to death, Num. 31:9-20; Deut. 20:13; 21:10; Josh. 8:29; 10:15-40; 11:11; Judg. 7:25; 8:21; 21:11; 1 Sam. 15:32, 33; 2 Sam. 8:2; 2 Kin. 8:12; Jer. 39:6...

  • Benjamin

    [ebd] son of my right hand. (1.) The younger son of Jacob by Rachel (Gen. 35:18). His birth took place at Ephrath, on the road between Bethel and Bethlehem, at a short distance from the latter place. His mother died in giving him ...

  • BEAM

    [isbe] BEAM - bem: The word is used to translate various Old Testament terms: (1) gebh (1 Ki 6:9), tsela`, "a rib" (1 Ki 7:3), qurah (2 Ch 3:7; 34:11; Song 1:17), all refer to constructional beams used in buildings for roofing and ...

  • Ammonites

    [nave] AMMONITES Descendants of Ben-ammi, one of the sons of Lot, Gen. 19:38. Character of, Judg. 10:6; 2 Kin. 23:13; 2 Chr. 20:25; Jer. 27:3, 9; Ezek. 25:3, 6; Amos 1:13; Zeph. 2:10. Territory of, Num. 21:24; Deut. 2:19; Josh. 1...

  • AX (AXE); AX-HEAD

    [isbe] AX (AXE); AX-HEAD - aks; aks'hed: Nine different Hebrew words have been rendered "ax": (1) garzen. This unquestionably was one of the larger chopping instruments, as the uses to which it was put would imply (Dt 19:5; 20:19; ...

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Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • The Book of Samuel covers the period of Israel's history bracketed by Samuel's conception and the end of David's reign. David turned the kingdom over to Solomon in 971 B.C.3David reigned for 40 and one-half years (2 Sam. 2:11...
  • These chapters form a sub-section within the Court History portion of 2 Samuel.157The phrase "Now it happened"or "Now it was"(10:1; 13:1) always opens a new section.158Descriptions of Israel's victories over the Ammonites (10...
  • In spite of David's rebellion God granted his army victory over the Ammonites. David's military leaders evidently executed the defeated warriors (1 Chron. 20:3) and forced many of the people to do labor of various kinds to su...
  • This record emphasizes the supernatural character of the victories David was able to enjoy because God fought for him by using various men in his army."The lists of heroes and heroic exploits that frame the poetic centre-piec...
  • The central subject of 1 and 2 Chronicles is the temple of God. Someone evidently wrote these books at the end of the Babylonian exile to encourage the Israelites to reestablish Israel's national life in the Promised Land. In...
  • I. Israel's historical roots chs. 1-9A. The lineage of David chs. 1-3B. The house of Israel chs. 4-71. The family of Judah 4:1-232. The family of Simeon 4:24-433. The families of Transjordan ch. 54. The family of Levi ch. 65....
  • "Having established the remnant's genealogical link with the Davidic and priestly lines, he [the writer] focused on the groundwork of the Davidic promises. His design was to show how the kingly and priestly concerns came toge...
  • "In the Chronicler's eyes David's reign consisted of two great religious phases, his movement of the ark to Jerusalem (chs. 13-16) and his preparations for the building of the temple (chs. 17-19 or at least 17-22, 28, 29). Th...
  • The dominating theme in 1 Chronicles is the Davidic Covenant, the receiving of which was the most important event in David's life. God promised to give him an eternal kingdom, and He formalized that promise by making a covena...
  • In some particulars the promises God gave David related to himself personally. However other promises pertained to his descendants and, in particular, to one descendant who would do for Israel much more than David could do. I...
  • These chapters record the fulfillment of God's promised victory over David's enemies as part of the Davidic Covenant (17:8). David was successful because God helped him (18:6, 13; cf. 19:19).63Human kings only defeat themselv...
  • Chapter 21 records the fulfillment of God's second personal promise to David, namely, that He would appoint a place where Israel could dwell securely (17:9). This was a promise of peace for Israel, but as the verses following...
  • The Chronicler's main interest in David's reign, as we have seen, focused on the Davidic Covenant with its promises to David and his descendants. In recounting the events of Solomon's reign he proceeded to emphasize the templ...
  • This section of the text is similar to 1 Chronicles 18-21. Those chapters showed how God did keep His promises to David that the Chronicler recorded in 1 Chronicles 17:8-12. These chapters (8-9) show how God kept His promise ...
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