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Texts -- 1 Chronicles 20:1-5 (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.

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Bible Dictionary

  • 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 ...

  • 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...

  • 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 ...

  • 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...

  • 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 ...

  • Saph

    [ebd] extension, the son of the giant whom Sibbechai slew (2 Sam. 21:18); called also Sippai (1 Chr. 20:4).
    [isbe] SAPH - saf (caph; Codex Vaticanus Saph; Codex Alexandrinus Sephe): A Philistine, one of the four champions of the race of Rapha ("giant") who was slain by Sibbecai, one of David's heroes (2 Sam 21:18; 1 Ch 20:4). It is suppo...
    [smith] (tall), one of the sons of the giant slain by Sibbechai the Hushathite. (2 Samuel 21:18) In (1 Chronicles 20:4) he is called SIPPAI. (B.C. about 1050.)
    [nave] SAPH, called also Sippai. A Philistine giant, 2 Sam. 21:18; 1 Chr. 20:4.

  • Elhanan

    [ebd] whom God has graciously bestowed. (1.) A warrior of the time of David famed for his exploits. In the Authorized Version (2 Sam. 21:19) it is recorded that "Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of...
    [isbe] ELHANAN - el-ha'-nan ('elchanan, "whom God gave"): (1) A great warrior in the army of David who slew a Philistine giant. There is a discrepancy between 2 Sam 21:19 and 1 Ch 20:5. In the former passage we read, "And there was...
    [smith] (the grace of God). A distinguished warrior in the time of King David, who performed a memorable exploit against the Philistines. (2 Samuel 21:19; 1 Chronicles 20:5) (B.C. about 1020.) One of "the thirty" of David?s gu...
    [nave] ELHANAN 1. A distinguished warrior in the time of David, who killed Lahmi, the brother of Goliath, the Gittite, 2 Sam. 21:19. Compare 1 Chr. 20:5. 2. Son of Dodo, one of David's heroes, 2 Sam. 23:24; 1 Chr. 11:26.

  • 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.

  • Hushathite

    [isbe] HUSHATHITE - hu'-shath-it, (chushathi, "a dweller in Hushah"?): The patronymic given in two forms, but probably of the same man, Sibbeccai, one of David's thirty heroes (2 Sam 21:18; 1 Ch 11:29; 20:4; 27:11), or Mebunnai as ...
    [smith] (inhabitant of Hushah), The, the designation of two of the heroes of David?s guard. SIBBECHAI. (2 Samuel 21:18; 1 Chronicles 11:29; 20:4; 27:11) Josephus, however, called him a Hittite. MEBUNNAI, (2 Samuel 23:27) a ...
    [nave] HUSHATHITE 2 Sam. 21:18; 23:27; 1 Chr. 11:29; 20:4; 27:11

  • 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...

  • Lahmi

    [isbe] LAHMI - la'-mi (lachmi): According to 1 Ch 20:5, the brother of Goliath of Gath. See ELHANAN.
    [smith] (warrior), the brother of Goliath the Gittite, slain by Elhanan the son of Zair or Zaor. (1 Chronicles 20:5) (B.C. 1020.)
    [nave] LAHMI Brother of Goliath. Slain by Elhanan, 2 Sam. 21:19; 1 Chr. 20:5.

  • 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.

  • Jair

    [ebd] enlightener. (1.) The son of Segub. He was brought up with his mother in Gilead, where he had possessions (1 Chr. 2:22). He distinguished himself in an expedition against Bashan, and settled in the part of Argob on the borde...
    [isbe] JAIR - ja'-er: (1) Jair (ya'ir, "he enlightens" or "one giving light"): (a) Son, i.e. descendant of Manasseh (Nu 32:41; Dt 3:14; Josh 13:30; 1 Ki 4:13:1 Ch 2:22 f). According to 1 Ch 2:21 f he was the son of ScRub, son of He...
    [nave] JAIR 1. Son of Manasseh. Founder of twenty-three cities in Gilead, Num. 32:41; Deut. 3:14; Josh. 13:30; 1 Kin. 4:13; 1 Chr. 2:22, 23. 2. A judge of Israel, Judg. 10:3-5. 3. A Benjamite, Esth. 2:5. 4. Father of Elhanan, 1 ...

  • Harrow

    [ebd] (Heb. harits), a tribulum or sharp threshing sledge; a frame armed on the under side with rollers or sharp spikes (2 Sam. 12:31; 1 Chr. 20:3). Heb. verb sadad, to harrow a field, break its clods (Job 39:10; Isa. 28:4; Hos. 1...
    [smith] The word so rendered, (2 Samuel 12:31; 1 Chronicles 20:3) is probably a threshing-machine. The verb rendered "to harrow," (Job 39:10; Isaiah 28:24; Hosea 10:11) expresses apparently the breaking of the clods, and is so ...
    [nave] HARROW, an agricultural implement used as an instrument of torture, 2 Sam. 12:31; 1 Chr. 20:3.

  • 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...

  • MEBUNNAI

    [isbe] MEBUNNAI - me-bun'-i, me-bun'-a-i (mebhunnay, "well-built"): One of David's "braves" (2 Sam 23:27). In 2 Sam 21:18 he is named "Sibbechai" (the Revised Version (British and American) "Sibbecai"), and is there mentioned as th...
    [smith] (building of Jehovah). In this form appears, In one passage only --2Sam 23:27 --The name of one of David?s guard, who is elsewhere called SIBBECHAI, (2 Samuel 21:18; 1 Chronicles 20:4) or SIBBECAI, (1 Chronicles 11:2...

  • Sippai

    [smith] (threshold), Saph, one of the sons of Rephaim, or "the giants," slain by Sibbechai at Gezer. (1 Chronicles 20:4) (B.C. about 1050.)
    [nave] SIPPAI A Philistine giant, 1 Chr. 20:4. Called Saph, 2 Sam. 21:18.

  • 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...

  • 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 ...

  • 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.
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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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