Bible Chapter Summary
1 Chronicles 20 Summary
Final Victory over Ammon and the Giants
At the year's end when kings go to battle, Joab leads forth the army and wastes the country of the Ammonites, comes and besieges Rabbah while David remains at Jerusalem, and Joab smites Rabbah and destroys it. David takes the crown from the king's head—a talent of gold set with precious stones—places it upon his own head, and brings forth great spoil from the city. He brings out the people and cuts them with saws, harrows, and axes, then deals thus with all the cities of the Ammonites. After this war arises at Gezer with the Philistines, where Sibbechai slays Sippai of the giant's children; then Elhanan slays Lahmi the brother of Goliath; and again at Gath a giant with twenty-four fingers and toes is slain by Jonathan. These giants born at Gath fall by David's hand and his servants.
Key themes
Key verses
1 Chronicles 20:1-2
“And it came to pass, that after the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led forth the power of the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and destroyed it. And David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it; and it was set upon David's head: and he brought also exceeding much spoil out of the city.”
1 Chronicles 20:4-5
“And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines; at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Sippai, that was of the children of the giant: and they were subdued. And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff was like a weaver's beam.”
1 Chronicles 20:7-8
“But when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David's brother slew him. These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.”
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