Verse 1
DAVID'S BARBAROUS TREATMENT OF THE AMMONITES;
MORE WAR WITH THE PHILISTINES;
MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THE GIANTS OF GATH;
TRAGIC END OF THE SIEGE OF RABBAH
"And it came to pass at the time of the return of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that Joab led forth 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 overthrew it. And David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found in it the weight of a talent of gold; and there were precious stones in it; and it was set upon David's head: and he brought forth the spoil of the city, exceeding much. And he brought forth the people that were therein, and cut them with saws and harrows of iron, and with axes. And thus did David to all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem."
These verses are parallel with 2Sam. 11:1,2 Samuel 12:26,30-31; and our comments on what is written here are on pages 135,163-166. We might add here that this chapter marks a terrible turning point in David's life. Not only is there the matter of his torturing the Ammonites, but his adultery with Bathsheba, and his heartless murder of Uriah the Hittite and seventeen of his fellow-soldiers in a vain effort to hide his sin - all took place in connection with this siege of Rabbah. The bad days of David's life began right here.
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