1. after the year was expired] R.V. at the time of the return of the year, i.e. in the spring, 2 Samuel 11:1; 1 Kings 20:22.

the power of the army] The Heb. phrase is quite general in meaning: the host of war, the military forces.

Rabbah] the capital of the Ammonites; Jeremiah 49:2; Ezekiel 21:20 (25, Heb). Its site, now called ‘Ammân, is covered with important ruins of the Roman and Byzantine periods. The town lies in a fertile basin, its citadel on a hill on the north side. Bädeker, pp. 185 ff.

David tarried at Jerusalem] In 2 Sam. these words introduce the story of David’s adultery with Bath-sheba, which is omitted from Chron.

Joab smote Rabbah] In 2 Samuel 12:27 Joab reports to David the capture of the city of waters (i.e. the lower city), and invites him to come and complete the conquest (presumably by capturing the citadel) in person. Probably the citadel was dependent for water on the river which lows through the town.

Ch. 1 Chronicles 20:1-3 (= 2 Samuel 11:1; 2 Samuel 12:26-31). The Subjugation of Ammon

The account of the siege of Rabbah is given more shortly in Chron. than in 2 Sam. From the latter we learn that the Ark was in the besiegers’ camp (1 Chronicles 11:11), that the city was defended with spirit (1 Chronicles 11:17), and finally taken piecemeal (1 Chronicles 12:26-29).

2. of their king] So A.V. (rightly). R.V. mg. of Malcam (cp. Zephaniah 1:5), i.e. Milcom, the national god of the Ammonites (1 Kings 11:5). LXX. has a double translation of the one Heb. word: Molchol (Molchom) their king. The name of the god, whether the right form be Molech (1 Kings 11:7) or Milcom or Malcam, means either “king” or, less probably, “counsellor.” In the former case his image would in all probability wear a crown.

it was set upon David’s head] A symbolic action implying that David completely annexed the Ammonite territory; other conquered nations retained a partial independence on condition of the payment of tribute.

he brought also exceeding much spoil out of the city] R.V. he brought forth the spoil of the city, exceeding much. A kind of triumphal procession of captives and spoil such as an Assyrian relief in the British Museum represents as passing before Sennacherib at the capture of Lachish.

3. and cut them with saws] Read (cp. 2 Samuel 12:31, R.V. mg.) and put them with saws, i.e. put them to work with saws, etc. Cp. 2 Chronicles 2:17-18; Joshua 9:21-23. The implements mentioned here and in the parallel passage of 2 Sam. suggest task-work, not massacre. The Ammonites were reduced to bondage like that of Israel in Egypt. The exceptionally harsh treatment of the Ammonites was doubtless due to the exceptional insults which David’s ambassadors had received from them. A very different spirit towards Ammon is shewn in Deuteronomy 2:19.

4–8 (= 2 Samuel 21:18-22). Philistine champions slain

This section is the last in which the Chronicler notices David’s wars. It is taken from 2 Samuel 21, where, however, it is preceded by an account (2 Samuel 21:15-17) of David’s narrow escape in an encounter with a Philistine.

Between the two sections of this chapter the Chronicler omits the account of the rebellions of Absalom and of Sheba, and the story of the Gibeonite vengeance on the house of Saul (2 Samuel 13:1 to 2 Samuel 21:14).

4. at Gezer] See 1 Chronicles 6:67, note. In 2 Samuel 5:25 it is said that David smote the Philistines “from Geba until thou come to Gezer.” In 2 Sam. at Gob, but no place called Gob is known.

Sippai] In 2 Sam. “Saph.”

giant] Heb. “Rapha”; the same Heb. word in the plu. “Rephaim” is translated “giants” in Deuteronomy 2:11, A.V. These Rephaim dwelt east of Jordan, but may have been akin to the Philistines.

5. Elhanan … slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath] In 2 Samuel 21:19 Elhanan … the Beth-lehemite slew Goliath (R.V.). The difference between the two sentences in Heb. is very small, and the Chronicler, or any copyist, might feel that he was making a certain emendation in substituting the brother of Goliath for Goliath himself, who, according to 1 Samuel 17, was slain by David before he became king. But it is not certain that there is a discrepancy between 2 Samuel 21 and 1 Samuel 17, for Goliath may be, not a personal name, but a descriptive title of some kind; e.g. “Goliath the Gittite” might mean “the Gittite champion.” “Tartan,” “Rabsaris” and “Rabshakeh” (2 Kings 18:17) were once taken as proper names, but are now known to be descriptions of Assyrian officers.

whose spear staff) R.V. the staff of whose spear.

6. a man of great stature] In 2 Samuel 21:20 (Heb.) a man of contention, i.e. a challenger or champion.

giant] See 1 Chronicles 20:4, note.

7. defied] R.V. marg., reproached.

Shimea] See 1 Chronicles 3:5, note.

8. These were born unto the giant in Gath] Again “giant” is the Heb. “Rapha.” The meaning is that these belonged to a branch of the Rephaim which was settled in Gath.