The Capture of Rabbah

Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and took the royal city. He sent messengers to David saying he had fought against Rabbah and taken the city of waters. He urged David to gather the rest of the troops and finish taking the city, so the victory would not be named after Joab.

David gathered all the people and went to Rabbah. He fought against the city and took it. Chronicles adds that earlier in the campaign Joab had led the army into Ammonite land, besieged Rabbah, and overthrew it, while David remained at Jerusalem until this stage.

After the city was taken, David took the crown from the head of their king. It weighed a talent of gold and had precious stones in it. The crown was set on David’s head, and he carried away a great amount of plunder from the city.

The people of the city were brought out, and the account describes very harsh treatment. In 2 Samuel, they are put to work with saws, iron picks, axes, and brick making. In Chronicles, the wording is even more severe. Both passages show the cruelty of ancient war, not something to copy.

David did this to the cities of the Ammonites, and then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem. The passage records a military victory, but it also leaves us facing the hardness of war and the weight of a king’s choices.