1 Chronicles 20: Group Study Handout

How to use: read 1 Chronicles 20 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

Joab led the army against the children of Ammon at the time when kings went out to war. He besieged Rabbah and overthrew it, while David remained in Jerusalem. After the victory, David took the crown of their king, which weighed a talent of gold and had precious stones.

Key verse

“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. It was set on David’s head, and he brought very much plunder out of the city.”
1 Chronicles 20:2 (WEB)

Outline

1 Chronicles 20:1 Joab Leads the Campaign Against Ammon
1 Chronicles 20:2 David Takes the Crown
1 Chronicles 20:3 David's Treatment of Captives
1 Chronicles 20:4–8 Battles with the Philistines

Discussion questions

In v1, what does Joab do when he leads the army against the children of Ammon?
What does David do with the crown in v2 after taking it from the king of Ammon?
In v3, why does David have the people cut with saws and axes?
In v7, what does Jonathan's act of killing the giant suggest about his character?
When has a victory led you to face an unexpected challenge, as seen in v6?

Go deeper

Passages that echo 1 Chronicles 20: 2 Samuel 21, 2 Samuel 12, 2 Samuel 11.

Before next time: read 1 Chronicles 21.