📖 1 Chronicles — Chapter 20 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
1 Chronicles 20:1 RAnd it came to pass, that Tafter 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.
1 Chronicles 20:2 And David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it Tto weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it; and it was set upon David’s head: Rand he brought also exceeding much spoil out of the city.
1 Chronicles 20:3 RAnd 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.
1 Chronicles 20:4 And it came to pass after this, that Rthere Tarose war at TGezer with the Philistines; at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite slew TSippai, that was of the children of Tthe giant: and they were subdued.
1 Chronicles 20:5 And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of RTJair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff was like a weaver’s beam.
1 Chronicles 20:6 And yet again there was war at Gath, where was a man Rof Tgreat stature, whose fingers and toes were four and twenty, six on each hand, and six on each foot and he also was Tthe son of the giant.
1 Chronicles 20:7 But when he RTdefied Israel, Jonathan the son of TShimea David’s brother slew him.
1 Chronicles 20:8 These were born unto the giant in Gath; and Rthey fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
1 Chronicles 20:1–3 — Rabbah conquered
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Joab captures Rabbah while David remains in Jerusalem. David takes the crown and spoil, and the KJV describes severe treatment of the conquered people. These are accounts of ancient warfare, including its brutality, rather than a model for how readers should treat others. Read the words carefully without celebrating suffering.
Key Truth: Read accounts of power with moral seriousness.
Check What You Remember
1. Who led the army against Rabbah? (1 Chronicles 20:1)
Find it in 1 Chronicles 20:1 (KJV).
2. Where did David remain? (1 Chronicles 20:1)
Find it in 1 Chronicles 20:1 (KJV).
3. What precious metal was the captured crown made of? (1 Chronicles 20:2)
Find it in 1 Chronicles 20:2 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
1 Chronicles 20:4–5 — Battles with the Philistines
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The record remembers Sibbechai's defeat of Sippai and Elhanan's defeat of Lahmi, Goliath's brother. It names both the warriors and the formidable opponents. These brief accounts continue the history of conflict around David's kingdom and recognize the contributions of servants rather than attributing every victory personally to the king.
Key Truth: Remember the contributions of others accurately.
Check What You Remember
1. Where did the first battle in this section occur? (1 Chronicles 20:4)
Find it in 1 Chronicles 20:4 (KJV).
2. Who slew Sippai? (1 Chronicles 20:4)
Find it in 1 Chronicles 20:4 (KJV).
3. Whose brother was Lahmi? (1 Chronicles 20:5)
Find it in 1 Chronicles 20:5 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
1 Chronicles 20:6–8 — A formidable opponent defeated
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
At Gath a man of great stature defies Israel, and Jonathan, David's nephew, defeats him. The chapter closes by attributing these victories to David and his servants together. The physical descriptions emphasize the opponents' intimidating strength while preserving the names of those who met them.
Key Truth: Visible strength does not tell the whole story.
Check What You Remember
1. How many fingers and toes did the man have altogether? (1 Chronicles 20:6)
Find it in 1 Chronicles 20:6 (KJV).
2. Who slew him? (1 Chronicles 20:7)
Find it in 1 Chronicles 20:7 (KJV).
3. Who was Jonathan's father? (1 Chronicles 20:7)
Find it in 1 Chronicles 20:7 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
1 Samuel 17:47 — David's earlier words locate deliverance beyond weapons and visible strength.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
How can you read accounts of conflict without losing concern for human suffering?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. How are Joab’s campaign and David’s location distinguished?
2. What combination describes the captured crown’s value?
3. How does the chapter show that the Philistine wars were successive encounters?
4. How do weapon and bodily details distinguish two opponents?
5. How does the final sentence unite the separate victories?
Notes
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