Old Testament · History

1 Chronicles 20

Wars Concluded

Final battles with the Philistines. Giants fall. The military chapters close — and David turns his attention to something greater.

King James Version BSB KJV

1And 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.

2And 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.

3And he brought out the people that were in it, and cut them with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes. Even so dealt David with all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

4And 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.

5And 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.

6And yet again there was war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were four and twenty, six on each hand, and six on each foot: and he also was the son of the giant.

7But when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David’s brother slew him.

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

Understand This

1 Chronicles 20, explained

What 1 Chronicles 20 is saying

Joab captures Rabbah, the Ammonite capital, and David takes the crown. The Chronicler then records victories over Philistine giants at Gezer, including warriors descended from the Rephaim. Notably, the Chronicler omits the entire Bathsheba-Uriah episode that occupies 2 Samuel 11-12.

The background behind it

The omission of the Bathsheba narrative is the Chronicler's most conspicuous editorial choice, reflecting his focus on David as temple-preparer rather than as a flawed individual. The Philistine giant stories parallel 2 Samuel 21:15-22.

Themes running underneath

The Chronicler's selective retelling shapes David's portrait for the post-exilic community's purposes: inspiring faithful worship and temple devotion. The giant-slaying accounts continue to demonstrate God's power through David's warriors against seemingly invincible foes.

Why it still matters

The battles against giants remind us that the challenges that seem most formidable are often overcome not by the most famous leader but by faithful individuals within the community.

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Scripture text: King James Version — public domain.