Skip to content
ScriptureDepth

1 Chronicles 20

ScriptureDepth's study of 1 Chronicles 20

“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

David takes the crown from the Ammonite king, marking a significant victory and the transfer of power as he returns to Jerusalem with plunder.

What 1 Chronicles 20 is about

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. He placed it on his head and brought back a significant amount of plunder from the city. David also treated the captives harshly, having them cut with saws, iron picks, and axes (v. 3). Following this, war arose with the Philistines at Gezer. Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, one of the sons of the giant. Elhanan, son of Jair, killed Lahmi, Goliath’s brother, in another encounter. Lastly, a giant from Gath with twenty-four fingers and toes defied Israel, but Jonathan, David’s brother, killed him. David and his servants defeated these giants.

The chapter leaves the reader with the account of David's military victories and the defeat of Israel's enemies.

Read the full chapter text ↓

1 Chronicles 20 at a glance

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

Key verse: 1 Chronicles 20:2

One thing to notice

In v. 3, David orders that captives be treated harshly, as he has them cut with saws. This action contrasts with more merciful approaches seen in other accounts of warfare, depicting a specific military tactic employed in handling conquered peoples.

Summary and study helps: AI-drafted (September 2026), checked by automated Scripture gates. Spotted an error? Report it. Fixes are listed on the corrections page.

Chapter text

Read 1 Chronicles 20 (WEB)

Joab Leads the Campaign Against Ammon 1 Chronicles 20:1

Verse 1. At the time of the return of the year, at the time when kings go out, Joab led out the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. Joab struck Rabbah, and overthrew it.

David Takes the Crown 1 Chronicles 20:2

Verse 2. 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.

David's Treatment of Captives 1 Chronicles 20:3

Verse 3. He brought out the people who were in it, and had them cut with saws, with iron picks, and with axes. David did so to all the cities of the children of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

Battles with the Philistines 1 Chronicles 20:4–8

Verse 4. After this, war arose at Gezer with the Philistines. Then Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, of the sons of the giant; and they were subdued. Verse 5. Again there was war with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. Verse 6. There was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had twenty-four fingers and toes, six on each hand, and six on each foot; and he also was born to the giant. Verse 7. When he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David’s brother killed him.

Verse 8. These were born to the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

World English Bible (public domain)

Back to the summary ↑

Go deeper

Ask the AI about 1 Chronicles 20

Bring your question about the chapter, the key verse, or how this passage fits the rest of Scripture. Ask unlimited questions and keep study notes on every chapter. 7 days free, no card.

Ask the AI about 1 Chronicles 20Start your free week

Main themes in 1 Chronicles 20

Divine Sovereignty

In 1 Chronicles 20, David's victory over the Ammonites and the Philistines shows God's control over the outcomes of battles. Joab leads the army against the Ammonites in v. 1, and David takes the crown from their king in v. 2, indicating God's favor on Israel. The passage illustrates that victory comes from God’s support and direction throughout these conflicts.

Victory over Adversaries

The chapter recounts the triumph of Israel over their enemies, particularly the Ammonites and Philistines. In v. 1, Joab besieges Rabbah, leading to a successful conquest. The narrative continues with multiple victories against Philistine giants in vv. 4-7, showing that the Israelites, under David's leadership, overcome formidable foes and establish dominance in the region.

Leadership and Unity

David's leadership is evident in 1 Chronicles 20 as he takes responsibility for the Israelite people. Joab commands the army in verse 1, while David's actions in verse 2, where he takes the crown, signify his central role. The victories over the Philistines noted in verses 4-7 further illustrate the unity of David’s forces as they cooperate effectively against their adversaries.

Faithfulness in Warfare

David's actions in 1 Chronicles 20 demonstrate his commitment to warfare as directed by God. In verse 3, his treatment of the captives indicates adherence to ethical decisions made during conflict. The battles recounted in verses 4-8, especially the defeat of Goliath's relatives, show David's determination to protect Israel and fulfill the promises made to the nation.

Chapter outline

How 1 Chronicles 20 unfolds

  1. 1 Chronicles 20:1 Joab Leads the Campaign Against Ammon

    Joab leads the army against the children of Ammon, besieging Rabbah while David remains in Jerusalem. Joab successfully 'overthrew' the city (v. 1).

  2. 1 Chronicles 20:2 David Takes the Crown

    David takes the crown from the defeated king of Ammon, which weighs a talent of gold and contains precious stones. The crown is placed on David’s head as he brings back significant plunder (v. 2).

  3. 1 Chronicles 20:3 David's Treatment of Captives

    David's treatment of the captives involves harsh labor; he has them cut with saws, iron picks, and axes. This practice is applied to all cities of the children of Ammon (v. 3).

  4. 1 Chronicles 20:4–8 Battles with the Philistines

    Battles arise with the Philistines, where Sibbecai kills Sippai and later Elhanan kills Lahmi, Goliath's brother. Jonathan, David's nephew, also kills a giant from Gath, showcasing ongoing conflict (vv. 4-7).

Key verses

  • 1 Chronicles 20:2David takes the crown from the Ammonite king, marking a significant victory and the transfer of power as he returns to Jerusalem with plunder.

Get a short devotional by email, one passage and one question a day.

One short email each morning, with the free study guide. Unsubscribe anytime. By subscribing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. We use your address only to send this email.

Study questions

Questions for studying 1 Chronicles 20

SummarizeObserveInterpretApply

Uses your daily Ask questions.

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

For Bible groups

Study 1 Chronicles 20 with your group

A free one-page handout with the overview, key verse, outline and discussion questions, ready to print for everyone at the table.

Print the group handout

Cross-references

Passages that echo 1 Chronicles 20

Related chapters

Chapters that connect with 1 Chronicles 20

Elsewhere on ScriptureDepth

Where to go from here

1 Chronicles 20: frequently asked questions

What is 1 Chronicles 20 about?+
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.
What is the key verse in 1 Chronicles 20?+
1 Chronicles 20:2: “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.”
What are the main themes of 1 Chronicles 20?+
The main themes of 1 Chronicles 20 are Divine Sovereignty, Victory over Adversaries, Leadership and Unity, Faithfulness in Warfare.

Studying 1 Chronicles with a print Bible beside you? See our study Bible guides.

Study Notes