1 Chronicles 20:1

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

In the spring, at the time when kings go out to war, Joab led the army and ravaged the land of the Ammonites. He went to besiege Rabbah, but David stayed in Jerusalem. Joab attacked Rabbah and destroyed it.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיְהִ֡י לְעֵת֩ תְּשׁוּבַ֨ת הַשָּׁנָ֜ה לְעֵ֣ת ׀ צֵ֣את הַמְּלָכִ֗ים וַיִּנְהַ֣ג יוֹאָב֩ אֶת־חֵ֨יל הַצָּבָ֜א וַיַּשְׁחֵ֣ת ׀ אֶת־אֶ֣רֶץ בְּנֵֽי־עַמּ֗וֹן וַיָּבֹא֙ וַיָּ֣צַר אֶת־רַבָּ֔ה וְדָוִ֖יד יֹשֵׁ֣ב בִּירֽוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וַיַּ֥ךְ יוֹאָ֛ב אֶת־רַבָּ֖ה וַיֶּֽהֶרְסֶֽהָ׃

Transliteration

And wayəhî at ʿēt təšûbat the šānâ at ʿēt ṣēʾt the məlākîm, and wayinhag yôʾāb ʾet-ḥêl the ṣābāʾ and wayyašḥēt ʾet-ʾereṣ bənê-ʿammôn and wayyāḇōʾ and wayyāṣar ʾet-rabbâ, and dāwîd yōšēḇ in-yərûšālāim. And wayyak yôʾāb ʾet-rabbâ and wayyehersehā.

Grammar Details

• *wayəhî*: consecutive imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and it came to pass/happened
• *ʿēt*: feminine singular construct - time of
• *təšûbat*: construct noun, feminine singular - return of
• *šānâ*: noun, feminine singular with definite article - the year
• *ṣēʾt*: infinitive construct - going out of
• *məlākîm*: masculine plural with definite article - the kings
• *wayinhag*: consecutive imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he led
• *yôʾāb*: proper noun - Joab
• *ʾet*: direct object marker
• *ḥêl*: construct noun, masculine singular - force/army of
• *ṣābāʾ*: noun, masculine singular with definite article - the host/army
• *wayyašḥēt*: consecutive imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he destroyed/ravaged
• *ʾereṣ*: noun, feminine singular - land of
• *bənê*: construct noun, masculine plural - sons of
• *ʿammôn*: proper noun - Ammon
• *wayyāḇōʾ*: consecutive imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he came
• *wayyāṣar*: consecutive imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he besieged
• *rabbâ*: proper noun - Rabbah
• *dāwîd*: proper noun - David
• *yōšēḇ*: participle, masculine singular - sitting/dwelling
• *yərûšālāim*: proper noun - Jerusalem
• *wayyak*: consecutive imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he struck/defeated
• *wayyehersehā*: consecutive imperfect, 3rd masculine singular with 3rd feminine singular suffix - and he destroyed it

Word Meanings

• *wayəhî*: and it happened/came to pass/was
• *təšûbat*: return/turning of
• *šānâ*: year/annual cycle
• *ṣēʾt*: going out/marching out/expedition
• *məlākîm*: kings/rulers
• *wayinhag*: and he led/directed/drove
• *wayyašḥēt*: and he destroyed/ravaged/ruined
• *wayyāṣar*: and he besieged/encircled/pressed
• *yōšēḇ*: sitting/dwelling/remaining/staying
• *wayyak*: and he struck/defeated/attacked
• *wayyehersehā*: and he destroyed/overthrew/demolished it

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And 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.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  It came to pass, after the year had ended, at the time when kings go out to battle, Joab led the power of the army and devastated the land of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. Joab struck Rabbah and destroyed it.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And 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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And it came to pass, at the time{H6256} of the return{H8666} of the year,{H8141} at the time{H6256} when kings{H4428} go out{H3318} [to battle], that Joab{H3097} led forth{H5090} the{H2428} army,{H6635} and wasted{H7843} the country{H776} of the children{H1121} of Ammon,{H5983} and came{H935} and besieged{H6696} Rabbah.{H7237} But David{H1732} tarried{H3427} at Jerusalem.{H3389} And Joab{H3097} smote{H5221} Rabbah,{H7237} and overthrew{H2040} it.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And it came to pass, that after{H6256} the year{H8141} was expired{H8666}, at the time{H6256} that kings{H4428} go out{H3318}{(H8800)} to battle, Joab{H3097} led forth{H5090}{(H8799)} the power{H2428} of the army{H6635}, and wasted{H7843}{(H8686)} the country{H776} of the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983}, and came{H935}{(H8799)} and besieged{H6696}{(H8799)} Rabbah{H7237}. But David{H1732} tarried{H3427}{(H8802)} at Jerusalem{H3389}. And Joab{H3097} smote{H5221}{(H8686)} Rabbah{H7237}, and destroyed{H2040}{(H8799)} it.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And whan ye yeare came aboute, what tyme as ye kynges vse to go forth, Ioab broughte the power of the hoost, & destroyed the londe of the children of Ammon, and came and layed sege vnto Rabba. But Dauid abode at Ierusalem. And Ioab smote Rabba, and brake it downe.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And when the yere was expired, in the time that Kings goe out a warfare, Ioab caryed out the strength of the armie, and destroyed the countrey of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah (but Dauid taryed at Ierusalem) & Ioab smote Rabbah & destroyed it.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And it came to passe, that after the yere was expired( about ye time that kinges go out a warrefare) Ioab caryed out the armie of the hoast, and destroyed the countrey of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabba, and destroyed it: But Dauid taried at Hierusalem whyle Ioab smote Rabba and destroyed it.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ And 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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  It happened, 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 stayed at Jerusalem. Joab struck Rabbah, and overthrew it.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And it cometh to pass, at the time of the turn of the year -- at the time of the going out of the messengers -- that Joab leadeth out the force of the host, and destroyeth the land of the sons of Ammon, and cometh in and beseigeth Rabbah -- David is abiding in Jerusalem -- and Joab smiteth Rabbah, and breaketh it down.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Now in the spring, at the time when kings go out to war, Joab went out at the head of the armed forces and made waste all the land of the Ammonites and put his men in position before Rabbah, shutting it in. But David was still at Jerusalem. And Joab took Rabbah and made it waste.

• World English Bible (2000)

  It happened, 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 stayed at Jerusalem. Joab struck Rabbah, and overthrew it.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  In the spring, at the time when kings normally conduct wars, Joab led the army into battle and devastated the land of the Ammonites. He went and besieged Rabbah, while David stayed in Jerusalem. Joab defeated Rabbah and tore it down.

Referenced Verses

• 2 Sam 11:1 : 1 In the spring, at the time when kings go out to war, David sent Joab along with his servants and all of Israel. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah, but David stayed in Jerusalem.
• Deut 3:11 : 11 For only Og, king of Bashan, remained from the remnant of the Rephaim. Look, his bed was made of iron and is still in Rabbah of the Ammonites. It is nine cubits long and four cubits wide, according to the standard cubit.
• Amos 1:14 : 14 So I will set fire to the wall of Rabbah, and it will consume her palaces amid shouting on the day of battle, with a tempest on the day of the whirlwind.
• 2 Sam 11:16-25 : 16 As Joab kept watch over the city, he positioned Uriah at a place where he knew the strongest defenders were. 17 When the men of the city came out and fought against Joab, some of David’s men fell in battle, and Uriah the Hittite also died. 18 Joab sent David a full report of the battle. 19 He instructed the messenger, 'When you finish delivering the report of the battle to the king, 20 if the king becomes angry and asks, "Why did you go so near the city to fight? Didn’t you know they would shoot arrows from the wall? 21 Who killed Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth? Didn’t a woman drop a millstone on him from the wall so that he died in Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?" then say to him, "Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead."' 22 The messenger set out, and when he arrived, he reported to David everything Joab had sent him to say. 23 The messenger said to David, 'The men overpowered us and came out against us in the open field, but we drove them back to the entrance of the city gate.' 24 Then the archers shot arrows at your servants from the wall, and some of the king’s men died. Moreover, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead. 25 David said to the messenger, 'Say this to Joab: Don’t let this thing upset you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Press your attack against the city and destroy it. Encourage him.'
• 2 Sam 12:26-31 : 26 Meanwhile, Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal city. 27 Joab sent messengers to David, saying, 'I have fought against Rabbah and taken its water supply. 28 Now gather the rest of the troops and besiege the city and capture it. Otherwise, I will take the city, and it will be named after me.' 29 So David gathered all the troops, went to Rabbah, fought against it, and captured it. 30 David took the crown from the head of their king; its weight was a talent of gold, set with precious stones, and it was placed on David’s head. He also took a great amount of plunder from the city. 31 He brought out the people who were there, consigning them to labor with saws, iron picks, and axes, and made them work at brickmaking. David did this to all the Ammonite towns. Then he and his entire army returned to Jerusalem.
• 2 Sam 17:27 : 27 When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, Machir son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim brought supplies to him.
• 1 Kgs 20:22 : 22 Afterward, the prophet came to the king of Israel and said, 'Strengthen your position and see what you must do, because next spring the king of Aram will come up against you again.'
• 1 Kgs 20:26 : 26 At the turn of the year, Ben-Hadad mustered the Arameans and went to Aphek to fight against Israel.
• 2 Kgs 13:20 : 20 Elisha died and was buried. Now bands of Moabite raiders used to enter the land every spring.
• Isa 6:11 : 11 Then I said, "For how long, Lord?" And He replied, "Until cities lie ruined without inhabitants, houses are unoccupied, and the land is desolate and devastated.
• Isa 54:16 : 16 Behold, I have created the smith who blows the coals in the fire and produces a weapon fit for its purpose; and I have also created the destroyer to ruin.
• Jer 49:2-3 : 2 Therefore, behold, days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will sound the battle cry against Rabbah of the Ammonites. It will become a desolate heap, and its villages will be burned with fire. Then Israel will take possession of those who dispossessed him, declares the LORD. 3 Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai has been destroyed! Cry out, O daughters of Rabbah! Put on sackcloth and mourn. Wander around by the fences, for their king will go into exile, along with his priests and officials together.
• Ezek 21:20 : 20 So that hearts melt, and many stumble at all their gates, I have placed a glittering sword. It is made to flash like lightning and is prepared for slaughter.
• Ezek 25:5 : 5 I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels and the land of the Ammonites a resting place for flocks. Then you will know that I am the LORD.