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Key: khaki:verbs.
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BrLXXΚαὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ ἐπιόντι ἔτει ἐν τῇ ἐξόδῳ τῶν βασιλέων καὶ ἤγαγεν Ἰωὰβ πᾶσαν τὴν δὺναμιν τῆς στρατείας, καὶ ἔφθειραν τὴν χώραν υἱῶν Ἀμμών· καὶ ἦλθεν καὶ περιεκάθισεν τὴν Ῥάββαν. καὶ Δαυεὶδ ἐκάθητο ἐν Ἰερουσαλήμ· καὶ ἐπάταξεν τὴν Ῥαββὰ καὶ κατέσκαψεν αὐτήν. (Kai egeneto en tōi epionti etei en taʸ exodōi tōn basileōn kai aʸgagen Yōab pasan taʸn dunamin taʸs strateias, kai eftheiran taʸn ⱪōran huiōn Ammōn; kai aʸlthen kai periekathisen taʸn Ɽabban. kai Daueid ekathaʸto en Ierousalaʸm; kai epataxen taʸn Ɽabba kai kateskapsen autaʸn. )
BrTrAnd it came to pass at the return of the year, at the time of the going forth of kings to war, that Joab gathered the whole force of the army, and they ravaged the land of the children of Ammon; and he came and besieged Rabba. But David abode in Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabba and destroyed it.
ULTAnd it happened at the time of the turning of the year, at the time of the going out of kings, that Joab led out the army for war and he devastated the land of the sons of Ammon. And he came, and he besieged Rabbah. And David stayed in Jerusalem. And Joab struck down Rabbah, and he tore it down.
USTIn that region, kings usually went with their armies to fight their enemies in the springtime. But the following year, David did not do that. Instead, he stayed in Jerusalem and sent his commander Joab to lead the army. Joab and his troops ruined the land of the Ammon people group. Then they went to Rabbah, the capital city, and surrounded it. Joab and his troops killed the army in the city of Rabbah and demolished the city.
BSB § In the spring,[fn] at the time when kings march out to war, Joab led out the army and ravaged the land of the Ammonites. He came to Rabbah and besieged it, but David remained in Jerusalem. And Joab attacked Rabbah and demolished it.
WEBBEAt the time of the return of the year, at the time when kings go out, Joab led out 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.
NETIn 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.
LSVAnd it comes to pass, at the time of the turn of the year—at the time of the going out of the messengers—that Joab leads out the force of the host, and destroys the land of the sons of Ammon, and comes in and besieges Rabbah—David is abiding in Jerusalem—and Joab strikes Rabbah, and breaks it down.
FBVIn spring, at the time of year when kings go out to make war, Joab led the Israelite army in attacks against the country of the Ammonites, also besieging Rabbah. However, David remained behind in Jerusalem. Joab attacked Rabbah and destroyed it.
T4TIn that region, kings usually went with their armies to fight their enemies◄in the springtime/when the cold season ended►. But that year, David did not do that. Instead, he stayed in Jerusalem, and he sent his commander Joab to lead the army. Joab took his troops. They crossed the Jordan River and ruined the land of the Ammon people-group. Then they went to Rabbah, the capital city, and surrounded it. David stayed in Jerusalem for a while. But later he took more troops and went to help Joab. Their armies attacked Rabbah and destroyed it.
LEBAnd it happened that in the spring time of year,[fn] the time when kings go out to battle, Joab led the troops of the army and destroyed the land of the Ammonites.[fn] And he came and besieged Rabbah, but David remained in Jerusalem. And Joab struck Rabbah and destroyed it.
20:1Literally “at the time of the returning of the year”
BBENow 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.
JPSAnd 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 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 overthrew it.
ASVAnd 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.
DRAAnd it came to pass after the course of a year, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab gathered together an army and the strength of the troops, and wasted the land of the children of Ammon: and went and besieged Rabba. But David stayed at Jerusalem, when Joab smote Rabba, and destroyed it.
YLTAnd 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.
DrbyAnd it came to pass at the time of the return of the year, at the time when kings go forth, that Joab led forth the power of the army, and laid waste the land of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David abode at Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and overthrew it.
RVAnd 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 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 overthrew it.
WbstrAnd it came to pass, that after the year had 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.
KJB-1769And 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.[fn] (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/waited at Yerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and destroyed it. )
KJB-1611¶ [fn][fn]And it came to passe, that after the yeere was expired, at the time that kings goe out to battell, Ioab led forth the power of the armie, and wasted the countrey of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah (but Dauid taried at Ierusalem,) and Ioab smote Rabbah, and destroyed it. (¶ And it came to pass, that after the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Yoab led forth the power of the armie, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah (but David tarried/waited at Yerusalem,) and Yoab smote Rabbah, and destroyed it.)
BshpsAnd 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. (And it came to pass, that after the year was expired( about ye/you_all time that kings go out a warrefare) Yoab carried out the armie of the hoast, and destroyed the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabba, and destroyed it: But David tarried/waited at Yerusalem while Yoab smote Rabba and destroyed it.)
GnvaAnd 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) and Ioab smote Rabbah and destroyed it. (And when the year was expired, in the time that Kings go out a warfare, Yoab carried out the strength of the armie, and destroyed the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah (but David taryed at Yerusalem) and Yoab smote Rabbah and destroyed it. )
CvdlAnd 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. (And when ye/you_all year came about, what time as ye/you_all kings use to go forth, Yoab brought the power of the hoost, and destroyed the land of the children of Ammon, and came and laid sege unto Rabba. But David abode at Yerusalem. And Yoab smote Rabba, and brake it down.)
WycForsothe it was doon after the ende of a yeer, in that tyme wherinne kyngis ben wont to go forth to batels, Joab gederide the oost, and the strengthe of chyualrie, and he wastide the lond of the sones of Amon, and yede, and bisegide Rabath; forsothe Dauid dwellide in Jerusalem, whanne Joab smoot Rabath, and distriede it. (Forsothe it was done after the end of a year, in that time wherinne kings been wont to go forth to battles, Yoab gederide the host, and the strengthe of chyualrie, and he wastide the land of the sons of Amon, and went, and bisegide Rabath; forsothe David dwelled/dwelt in Yerusalem, when Yoab smote Rabath, and destroyed it.)
LuthUnd da das Jahr um war, zur Zeit, wenn die Könige ausziehen, führete Joab die Heermacht und verderbete der Kinder Ammon Land, kam und belagerte Rabba. David aber blieb zu Jerusalem. Und Joab schlug Rabba und zerbrach sie. (And there the Yahr around/by/for was, to Zeit, when the kings/king ausziehen, führete Yoab the Heermacht and verderbete the/of_the children Ammon Land, came and belagerte Rabba. David but blieb to Yerusalem. And Yoab hit/beat Rabba and zerbrach sie.)
ClVgFactum est autem post anni circulum, eo tempore quo solent reges ad bella procedere, congregavit Joab exercitum, et robur militiæ, et vastavit terram filiorum Ammon: perrexitque et obsedit Rabba. Porro David manebat in Jerusalem, quando Joab percussit Rabba et destruxit eam. (Done it_is however after anni circulum, eo tempore quo solent reges to bella procedere, congregavit Yoab exercitum, and robur militiæ, and vastavit the_earth/land of_children Ammon: perrexitque and obsedit Rabba. Further David manebat in Yerusalem, when Yoab he_struck Rabba and destruxit eam. )
(Some words not found in UHB: and=he/it_was in,time_of return_of the,year at,time go_out the,kings and,led_out Yōʼāⱱ/(Joab) DOM troops the,army and,ravaged DOM earth/land sons_of ˊAmmōn and,came and=he/it_laid_siege DOM enough/great(fs) and,David was_sitting in/on/at/with,Jerusalem and,attacked Yōʼāⱱ/(Joab) DOM enough/great(fs) and,overthrew,it )
This phrase is used here to mark the beginning of a new part of the story. If your language has a way for doing this, you could consider using it here.
(Occurrence 0) at the time when kings normally go to war
(Some words not found in UHB: and=he/it_was in,time_of return_of the,year at,time go_out the,kings and,led_out Yōʼāⱱ/(Joab) DOM troops the,army and,ravaged DOM earth/land sons_of ˊAmmōn and,came and=he/it_laid_siege DOM enough/great(fs) and,David was_sitting in/on/at/with,Jerusalem and,attacked Yōʼāⱱ/(Joab) DOM enough/great(fs) and,overthrew,it )
This is background information from the author. It was harder to fight wars in the cold winter, so kings normally waited for spring to attack their enemies.
(Occurrence 0) kings normally go to war … Joab led the army into battle
(Some words not found in UHB: and=he/it_was in,time_of return_of the,year at,time go_out the,kings and,led_out Yōʼāⱱ/(Joab) DOM troops the,army and,ravaged DOM earth/land sons_of ˊAmmōn and,came and=he/it_laid_siege DOM enough/great(fs) and,David was_sitting in/on/at/with,Jerusalem and,attacked Yōʼāⱱ/(Joab) DOM enough/great(fs) and,overthrew,it )
Here “kings” is a metonym that means the kings sent their armies into battle. Joab was the commander of David’s army. Alternate translation: “kings normally send their armies to war … Joab led David’s army into battle”
(Occurrence 0) devastated the land
(Some words not found in UHB: and=he/it_was in,time_of return_of the,year at,time go_out the,kings and,led_out Yōʼāⱱ/(Joab) DOM troops the,army and,ravaged DOM earth/land sons_of ˊAmmōn and,came and=he/it_laid_siege DOM enough/great(fs) and,David was_sitting in/on/at/with,Jerusalem and,attacked Yōʼāⱱ/(Joab) DOM enough/great(fs) and,overthrew,it )
“destroyed the land.” This refers to when an army will ruin the land where their enemies grow food.
(Some words not found in UHB: and=he/it_was in,time_of return_of the,year at,time go_out the,kings and,led_out Yōʼāⱱ/(Joab) DOM troops the,army and,ravaged DOM earth/land sons_of ˊAmmōn and,came and=he/it_laid_siege DOM enough/great(fs) and,David was_sitting in/on/at/with,Jerusalem and,attacked Yōʼāⱱ/(Joab) DOM enough/great(fs) and,overthrew,it )
“He” refers to the soldiers as well as Joab. Alternate translation: “Joab and his soldiers surrounded Rabbah”
2 Samuel 8:1-8; 10:1-19; 12:21-31; 1 Chronicles 18:2-11; 19:1-19; 20:1-3
The accounts of David’s greatest military victories stand like bookends around the record of David’s most grievous sins. Sometime after David brought the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem and the Lord promised to establish his dynasty over Israel, David achieved a series of victories over virtually all of Israel’s neighboring nations. These began with David’s capture of Metheg-ammah (likely Gath) and all of Philistia and was followed by his victory over Moab. Then Nahash king of Ammon died, and David sent envoys to express his condolences to Nahash’s son Hanun, who had now become king. Hanun, however, intentionally humiliated David’s envoys, shaving off half their beards and cutting off the bottom half of their garments before sending them back to Israel. When David heard of it, he sent word to his envoys to remain at Jericho until their beards grew back. In the meantime, the Ammonites called upon several Aramean nations to help them fight against Israel, which was likely their original intent for humiliating David’s envoys. Warriors came from Beth-rehob and Zobah, which lay between Israel and Hamath farther north, as well as from Maacah (see “Geshur and Maacah” map) and Tob. The writer of 1 Chronicles also notes that soldiers came from Mesopotamia as well. David sent his commander Joab to fight this coalition at Rabbah. The writer of 1 Chronicles consistently speaks of the battle occurring at Medeba, rather than Rabbah, but the town of Medeba south of Heshbon seems an unlikely location for the battle. Perhaps Rabbah was also referred to at times as Medeba. In any case, Joab and his brother Abishai divided their forces into two groups, with Joab leading the fight against the Arameans to the north and Abishai leading the fight against the Ammonites just outside the gates of Rabbah. As Joab advanced, the Arameans fled, which in turn led the Ammonites to retreat behind the walls of Rabbah. After this Joab (and probably his forces) returned home to Israel. But the Arameans regrouped and added more troops from Aramean nations beyond the Euphrates River. David met them in battle at Helam (likely modern Alma) and won a great victory over them, even killing their commander Shobah (or Shophach). After this the Arameans made peace with Israel. Sometime later David also subjugated the Edomites, who lived to the south of Moab. It was likely sometime after this that David engaged in adultery with the wife of Uriah, one of his own valiant warriors (see “David’s Mighty Men” map), and then he tried to cover up his sin by arranging for Uriah’s death in battle. His sin was later exposed by Nathan the prophet, and David repented. After this Joab returned to Rabbah to finish capturing the city, and when victory was close at hand he called for David to come and finish taking the city. Thus the Ammonites became subject to Israel as well. From all these conquered nations David took many spoils and dedicated them to the Lord’s service, including great amounts of bronze from the towns of Tebah (also called Betah and Tibhath), Berothai, and Cun.
2 Samuel 8:1-8; 10:1-19; 12:21-31; 1 Chronicles 18:2-11; 19:1-19; 20:1-3
The accounts of David’s greatest military victories stand like bookends around the record of David’s most grievous sins. Sometime after David brought the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem and the Lord promised to establish his dynasty over Israel, David achieved a series of victories over virtually all of Israel’s neighboring nations. These began with David’s capture of Metheg-ammah (likely Gath) and all of Philistia and was followed by his victory over Moab. Then Nahash king of Ammon died, and David sent envoys to express his condolences to Nahash’s son Hanun, who had now become king. Hanun, however, intentionally humiliated David’s envoys, shaving off half their beards and cutting off the bottom half of their garments before sending them back to Israel. When David heard of it, he sent word to his envoys to remain at Jericho until their beards grew back. In the meantime, the Ammonites called upon several Aramean nations to help them fight against Israel, which was likely their original intent for humiliating David’s envoys. Warriors came from Beth-rehob and Zobah, which lay between Israel and Hamath farther north, as well as from Maacah (see “Geshur and Maacah” map) and Tob. The writer of 1 Chronicles also notes that soldiers came from Mesopotamia as well. David sent his commander Joab to fight this coalition at Rabbah. The writer of 1 Chronicles consistently speaks of the battle occurring at Medeba, rather than Rabbah, but the town of Medeba south of Heshbon seems an unlikely location for the battle. Perhaps Rabbah was also referred to at times as Medeba. In any case, Joab and his brother Abishai divided their forces into two groups, with Joab leading the fight against the Arameans to the north and Abishai leading the fight against the Ammonites just outside the gates of Rabbah. As Joab advanced, the Arameans fled, which in turn led the Ammonites to retreat behind the walls of Rabbah. After this Joab (and probably his forces) returned home to Israel. But the Arameans regrouped and added more troops from Aramean nations beyond the Euphrates River. David met them in battle at Helam (likely modern Alma) and won a great victory over them, even killing their commander Shobah (or Shophach). After this the Arameans made peace with Israel. Sometime later David also subjugated the Edomites, who lived to the south of Moab. It was likely sometime after this that David engaged in adultery with the wife of Uriah, one of his own valiant warriors (see “David’s Mighty Men” map), and then he tried to cover up his sin by arranging for Uriah’s death in battle. His sin was later exposed by Nathan the prophet, and David repented. After this Joab returned to Rabbah to finish capturing the city, and when victory was close at hand he called for David to come and finish taking the city. Thus the Ammonites became subject to Israel as well. From all these conquered nations David took many spoils and dedicated them to the Lord’s service, including great amounts of bronze from the towns of Tebah (also called Betah and Tibhath), Berothai, and Cun.
