1 Chronicles 20

A.M. 2969. — B.C. 1035. A repetition of David’s wars with the Ammonites, and the taking of Rabbah, 1 Chronicles 20:1-3; with the giants of the Philistines, 1 Chronicles 20:4-8. NOTES ON CHAPTER 20. 1 Chronicles 20:1 . Joab led forth the army, and wasted, &c. — For this verse, see note on 2 Samuel 11:1 ; for 1 Chronicles 20:2-3 , on 2 Samuel 12:30-31 ; and for the rest of the chapter, on 2 Samuel 21:15 , &c. And came and besieged Rabbah — It was at this time, while Joab was besieging Rabbah, that David fell into that great sin in the matter of Uriah. And it is observable, that though the rest of the story be repeated here, that is not. The sacred writer, however, seems to have intended to give a hint of it, when he says, But David tarried at Jerusalem — This gave occasion to his sin. If he had been abroad with his army, he would have been out of the way of that temptation; but indulging his ease he fell into sin, and involved himself in many and great calamities, brought upon him and his house by a just and holy God. Now as the recording of his fall, and the circumstances of it in the former history, is an instance of the impartiality and fidelity of the sacred writers; so the avoiding the repetition of it here, when there was a fair occasion to speak of it again, is designed to teach us, that though there may be a just occasion to speak of the faults and miscarriages of others, yet we should not take delight in the repetition of them.

Of those persons or actions of which we can say no good, we had best say nothing. 1 Chronicles 20:7 . When he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea slew him — None are more visibly marked for ruin than those that reproach God and his Israel. God will do great things rather than suffer the enemy to behave themselves proudly, Deuteronomy 32:27 . 1 Chronicles 20:8 . They fell by the hand of David, and of his servants — The servants of David were quite too hard for the giants of Gath in every encounter, because they had God on their side, who takes pleasure in abasing the lofty looks, and humbling the pride and haughtiness of the giants of the earth. Never let the church’s friends be disheartened by the power and pride of the church’s enemies. We need not fear great men against us, while we have the great God for us. But let it be observed that, as David’s victories, so those of the Son of David, are gradual. We do not yet see all things put under him; but we shall see this shortly, and death itself, the last enemy, like these giants, shall be subdued and triumphed over.

Verse 2. - Found it to weigh a talent of gold . Two difficulties present themselves in this verse, viz. the reported weight of this crown, and the uncertainty as to what head it was from which David took it. Whatever was its weight, if David's head was able to sustain it for a minute or two, the head of the King of the Ammonites might also occasionally have borne it. Yet it would scarcely be likely that the King of the Ammonites would have so ponderous a crown (calculated at a weight of a hundred and fourteen pounds Troy, or a little more or less than one hundredweight) as one of ordinary wear, or that he would have one of extraordinary wear on his head precisely at such a juncture. Both of these difficulties will remove if we suppose that the Hebrew מַלְכָּם , instead of meaning their king , is the name of the Ammonitish and Moabitish idol ( i.q. Moloch), and which we find (Authorized Version) in Zephaniah 1:5 , and probably (though not Authorized Version) in Jeremiah 49:1, 3 , and Amos 1:15 . The Septuagint treats the word thus. The point, however, cannot be considered settled. 1 Chronicles 20:2

Verse 3. - Cut them with saws (so Hebrews 11:37 ). We have here the very doubtful (so far as regards its real signification) Hebrew word וַיָּשַׂר (and he cut) instead of וַיָּשֶׂם (he put). Probably it is nowhere else used in the sense of "cutting," if it is here. Its ordinary sense is to rule or put into subjection. The parallel place ( 2 Samuel 12:31 ) corrects, in the word (Authorized Version) axes , our Hebrew text, which repeats the word for saw, though putting it in the plural, and which thereby shows וּבַמְּגֵרות , instead of וּבְמַגְזְרות . This last word means "Axes" or "scythes," and is from the root גָזַרַ , to cut ( 2 Kings 6:4 ). It is found only in 2 Samuel 12:31 , though it should appear here also. There is a fourth severity of punishment mentioned in the parallel place, that the people were "made to pass through the brick-kilns," a form of torture possibly suggested by the own familiar cruelty of the Ammonites in "making their children to pass through the fire to Moloch." However, in harmony with what is above said respecting the doubtfulness of the just signification of the verb וַיָּשַׂר , much uncertainty hangs over the interpretation of this verse. Instead of severity and needless cruelty on the part of David, it may rather set forth that he subjected them to hard tasks in connection with the cultivation of the soil and with the making of bricks.

2 . of their king ] So A.V. (rightly). R.V. mg. of Malcam (cp. Zephaniah 1:5 ), i.e. Milcom, the national god of the Ammonites ( 1 Kings 11:5 ). LXX. has a double translation of the one Heb. word: Molchol ( Molchom ) their king . The name of the god, whether the right form be Molech ( 1 Kings 11:7 ) or Milcom or Malcam , means either “king” or, less probably, “counsellor.” In the former case his image would in all probability wear a crown. it was set upon David’s head ] A symbolic action implying that David completely annexed the Ammonite territory; other conquered nations retained a partial independence on condition of the payment of tribute. he brought also exceeding much spoil out of the city ] R.V. he brought forth the spoil of the city, exceeding much . A kind of triumphal procession of captives and spoil such as an Assyrian relief in the British Museum represents as passing before Sennacherib at the capture of Lachish.