Verse 1

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 David Commits Adultery with Bathsheba In the spring of the year, at the time when kings normally conduct wars, David sent out Joab with his officers and the entire Israelite army. They defeated the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed behind in Jerusalem.
  • Deut 3:11 : 11 Only King Og of Bashan was left of the remaining Rephaites.(It is noteworthy that his sarcophagus was made of iron. Does it not, indeed, still remain in Rabbath of the Ammonites? It is thirteen and a half feet long and six feet wide according to standard measure.)
  • Amos 1:14 : 14 So I will set fire to Rabbah’s city wall; fire will consume her fortresses. War cries will be heard on the day of battle; a strong gale will blow on the day of the windstorm.
  • 2 Sam 11:16-25 : 16 So as Joab kept watch on the city, he stationed Uriah at the place where he knew the best enemy soldiers were. 17 When the men of the city came out and fought with Joab, some of David’s soldiers fell in battle. Uriah the Hittite also died. 18 Then Joab sent a full battle report to David. 19 He instructed the messenger as follows:“When you finish giving the battle report to the king, 20 if the king becomes angry and asks you,‘Why did you go so close to the city to fight? Didn’t you realize they would shoot from the wall? 21 Who struck down Abimelech the son of Jerub-Besheth? Didn’t a woman throw an upper millstone down on him from the wall so that he died in Thebez? Why did you go so close to the wall?’ just say to him,‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.’” 22 So the messenger departed. When he arrived, he informed David of all the news that Joab had sent with him. 23 The messenger said to David,“The men overpowered us and attacked us in the field. But we forced them to retreat all the way to the door of the city gate. 24 Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall and some of the king’s soldiers died. Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.” 25 David said to the messenger,“Tell Joab,‘Don’t let this thing upset you. There is no way to anticipate whom the sword will cut down. Press the battle against the city and conquer it.’ Encourage him with these words.”
  • 2 Sam 12:26-31 : 26 David’s Forces Defeat the Ammonites So Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal city. 27 Joab then sent messengers to David, saying,“I have fought against Rabbah and have captured the water supply of the city. 28 So now assemble the rest of the army and besiege the city and capture it. Otherwise I will capture the city and it will be named for me.” 29 So David assembled all the army and went to Rabbah and fought against it and captured it. 30 He took the crown of their king from his head– it was gold, weighed about seventy-five pounds, and held a precious stone– and it was placed on David’s head. He also took from the city a great deal of plunder. 31 He removed the people who were in it and made them labor with saws, iron picks, and iron axes, putting them to work at the brick kiln. This was his policy with all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all the army returned to Jerusalem.
  • 2 Sam 17:27 : 27 When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, Makir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim
  • 1 Kgs 20:22 : 22 The Lord Gives Israel Another Victory The prophet visited the king of Israel and instructed him,“Go, fortify your defenses. Determine what you must do, for in the spring the king of Syria will attack you.”
  • 1 Kgs 20:26 : 26 In the spring Ben Hadad mustered the Syrian army and marched to Aphek to fight Israel.
  • 2 Kgs 13:20 : 20 Elisha died and was buried. Moabite raiding parties invaded the land at the beginning of the year.
  • Isa 6:11 : 11 I replied,“How long, Lord?” He said,“Until cities are in ruins and unpopulated, and houses are uninhabited, and the land is ruined and devastated,
  • Isa 54:16 : 16 Look, I create the craftsman, who fans the coals into a fire and forges a weapon. I create the destroyer so he might devastate.
  • Jer 49:2-3 : 2 Because you did that, I, the LORD, affirm that a time is coming when I will make Rabbah, the capital city of Ammon, hear the sound of the battle cry. It will become a mound covered with ruins. Its villages will be burned to the ground. Then Israel will take back its land from those who took their land from them. I, the Lord, affirm it! 3 Wail, you people in Heshbon, because Ai in Ammon is destroyed. Cry out in anguish, you people in the villages surrounding Rabbah. Put on sackcloth and cry out in mourning. Run about covered with gashes. For your god Milcom will go into exile along with his priests and officials.
  • Ezek 21:20 : 20 Mark out the routes for the sword to take:“Rabbah of the Ammonites” and“Judah with Jerusalem in it.”
  • Ezek 25:5 : 5 I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels and Ammon a resting place for sheep. Then you will know that I am the LORD.