1 Chronicles 20:2 Komentář

Here is a repetition of the story of David's wars, I. With the Ammonites, and the taking of Rabbah (Ch1 20:1-3). II. With the giants of the Philistines (Ch1 20:4-8).

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 20 Agrees with various passages in the second book of Samuel; Ch1 20:1 with Sa2 11:1 and Ch1 20:2 with Sa2 12:30 and the rest, to the end of it, with Sa2 21:15. What differences there are, are observed in the notes on those passages, which see. Also see Ch1 21:1.

Joab smites the city of Rabbah; and David puts the crown of its king upon his own head, and treats the people of the city with great rigour, Ch1 20:1-3. First battle with the Philistines, Ch1 20:4. Second battle with the Philistines, Ch1 20:5. Third battle with the Philistines, Ch1 20:6, Ch1 20:7. In these battles three giants are slain, Ch1 20:8.

David took the crown of their king - off his head - See Sa2 12:30. Precious stones in it - The Targum says, "And there was set in it a precious stone, worth a talent of gold; this was that magnetic stone that supported the woven gold in the air." What does he mean?

RABBAH BESIEGED BY JOAB, SPOILED BY DAVID, AND THE PEOPLE TORTURED. (Ch1 20:1-3) at the time when kings go out to battle--in spring, the usual season in ancient times for entering on a campaign; that is, a year subsequent to the Syrian war. Joab led forth the power of the army, and wasted the country . . . of Ammon--The former campaign had been disastrous, owing chiefly to the hired auxiliaries of the Ammonites; and as it was necessary, as well as just, that they should be severely chastised for their wanton outrage on the Hebrew ambassadors, Joab ravaged their country and invested their capital, Rabbah. After a protracted siege, Joab took one part of it, the lower town or "city of waters," insulated by the winding course of the Jabbok. Knowing that the fort called "the royal city" would soon fall, he invited the king to come in person, and have the honor of storming it. The knowledge of this fact (mentioned in Sa2 12:26) enables us to reconcile the two statements--"David tarried at Jerusalem" (Ch1 20:1), and "David and all the people returned to Jerusalem" (Ch1 20:3).

David took the crown of their king . . ., and found it to weigh a talent of gold--equal to one hundred twenty-five pounds. Some think that Malcom, rendered in our version "their king," should be taken as a proper name, Milcom or Molech, the Ammonite idol, which, of course, might bear a heavy weight. But, like many other state crowns of Eastern kings, the crown got at Rabbah was not worn on the head, but suspended by chains of gold above the throne. precious stones--Hebrew, a "stone," or cluster of precious stones, which was set on David's head.

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 20 Agrees with various passages in the second book of Samuel; Ch1 20:1 with Sa2 11:1 and Ch1 20:2 with Sa2 12:30 and the rest, to the end of it, with Sa2 21:15. What differences there are, are observed in the notes on those passages, which see. Also see Ch1 21:1.