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Christian Standard Bible

1 Chronicles 20

1 In the spring when kings march out to war, Joab led the army and destroyed the Ammonites' land. He came to Rabbah and besieged it, but David remained in Jerusalem. Joab attacked Rabbah and demolished it.
2 Then David took the crown from the head of their king, and it was placed on David's head. He found that the crown weighed seventy-five pounds of gold, and there was a precious stone in it. In addition, David took away a large quantity of plunder from the city.
3 He brought out the people who were in it and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes. David did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then he and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.
4 After this, a war broke out with the Philistines at Gezer. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, a descendant of the Rephaim, and the Philistines were subdued.
5 Once again there was a battle with the Philistines, and Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath of Gath. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam.
6 There was still another battle at Gath where there was a man of extraordinary stature with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot — twenty-four in all. He, too, was descended from the giant.
7 When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of David's brother Shimei killed him.
8 These were the descendants of the giant in Gath killed by David and his soldiers.

Chapter Summary

Joab captures Rabbah of the Ammonites, and David's men strike down Philistine giants in later battles.

Book Summary

First Chronicles retells Israel's history from Adam through David's reign, with extensive genealogies and a focus on temple worship. Written for the post-exilic community, it highlights David's preparations for the temple and God's covenant promises.